KENYA: PMS Directors Challenge the Church in Africa to be Self-reliant
The Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) National Directors
have challenged the Church in Africa to look for some ways to raise local
resources for her Evangelization work.
The challenge was raised by the team of three
PMS National Directors: Rev. Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, (US); Rev. Fr. Jovitus
Mwijage (Tanzania) and Rev. Fr. Godefroid Manunga
(Democratic Republic of Congo) during their visit to St. Thomas Aquinas Major
Seminary in Nairobi, on Sunday 2nd March 2014.
Their day started off with the celebration of
the Holy Mass presided over by Fr Andrew Small before holding a one-on- one
conference session with the seminarians.
the Holy Mass presided over by Fr Andrew Small before holding a one-on- one
conference session with the seminarians.
During the informal discussions, the
visitors took time to explain the role of the four Pontifical Missionary
Societies which include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Holy
Childhood Association, The Society of St. Peter the Apostle and the Pontifical
Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
visitors took time to explain the role of the four Pontifical Missionary
Societies which include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Holy
Childhood Association, The Society of St. Peter the Apostle and the Pontifical
Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
Among the areas touched on during the discussions
with the seminarians was the role of a Missionary and the need for being self-relent
in their mission.
with the seminarians was the role of a Missionary and the need for being self-relent
in their mission.
Fr. Manunga emphasized on the need for the
Church in Africa to be self-reliant as there was no pride in always going to
the Western countries with begging bowls when Africans were endowed with
numerous human and material resources. He reminded the seminarians on the
exhortation of Pope Paul VI on his visit to Africa that called on ‘Africans to
be missionaries unto themselves.’
Church in Africa to be self-reliant as there was no pride in always going to
the Western countries with begging bowls when Africans were endowed with
numerous human and material resources. He reminded the seminarians on the
exhortation of Pope Paul VI on his visit to Africa that called on ‘Africans to
be missionaries unto themselves.’
Fr Small told the seminarians that the old
Catholics in the western countries, who had a strong spirit of giving to the
mission of the Church, were dying out and the young generation did not seem to
have a similar generous spirit. “Missionaries in Africa must seek ways to raise
local resources for their evangelization work,” he said adding that “External
support is dwindling but missionary work must continue.”
Catholics in the western countries, who had a strong spirit of giving to the
mission of the Church, were dying out and the young generation did not seem to
have a similar generous spirit. “Missionaries in Africa must seek ways to raise
local resources for their evangelization work,” he said adding that “External
support is dwindling but missionary work must continue.”
On his part, the Rector Very Rev Vincent
Lumumba thanked the visitors for finding time to spend a day with the
seminarians. He paid tribute to PMS for the support the seminary was getting for
its various activities, disclosing that he too was a beneficiary of the
generosity of PMS which made him pursue his further studies in Rome.
Lumumba thanked the visitors for finding time to spend a day with the
seminarians. He paid tribute to PMS for the support the seminary was getting for
its various activities, disclosing that he too was a beneficiary of the
generosity of PMS which made him pursue his further studies in Rome.
The directors were in the country as part of
a team attending a PMS National Directors Consultation Meeting at the
Resurrection Gardens, Nairobi.
a team attending a PMS National Directors Consultation Meeting at the
Resurrection Gardens, Nairobi.
SOURCE: KCCB
Waumini Communications Office
Waumini Communications Office
