|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Brazil - Mexico - Poland
- Philippines - India
Opening up to Continents other than Europe and North America is of rather recent date
in the Society of Missionaries of Africa. This opening up began in the course of the 80s
and continued in the following years.In this way the communities of Brazil and Mexico started in 1984, followed a year later by Poland,
then by the Philippines in 1991 and India in 1992. This openness is not primarily
for an increase in the numerical membership of the Society by way of recruitment.Instead, it has in view the possibilities thus afforded for a greater variety in culture and Christian experience
at the heart of the Missionary family.
Brazil: the Curitiba Community .
The house of formation is closed for the moment
the candidates study in Mexico
2 Missionaries of Africa are present in Brazil and have a pastoral ministry
Missionary of Africa communities in Mexico
The first house of the Society in Mexico was opened in November, 1984. The first candidates were accepted late in 1987.
The first ordination, that of Fidel Salazar del Muro, took place in 1995 and we are 5 Missionaries of Africa
Fidel Salazar del Muro, à Beira Province Southern Africa
Cristóbal Padilla G. Mexico Promotion
Salvador Munoz Ledo Rubalcaba inKisangani, Congo
Sergio Villasenor Salinas, Superior Delegate du Sector Mexico, Province of Americas
Oscar Gonzalez Padilla
We have just completed a process of opening a second community in the country and moving the formation first cycle there.
The community in Queretaro, a medium sized city only 200 kilometers from the capital, has our administration and promotion center.
Celebration at Queretaro of the Missionaries of Africa 25 years of in Mexico
Stationed there are the Superior, Jesus Maria Velasco from Spain.
Lee Angelo Quim Hum: Promotion
Cristóbal Padilla G: : Promotion
In Guadalajara where the formation program was moved in 2005 and where we just moved into a large new house we have four members:
Sergio Villasenor Salinas, Superior Delegate du Sector Mexico, Province of Americas
Francis Thibault from Canada:
Cougil Gil Odilo from Spain
The Blessing of this new house was on the 24th November 2007.
.
Blessing Day
Candidates
There are 4 candidates an a candidate associate member (Miguel) in the first cycle in GuadalajaraIn addition there is a community experience each year in Queretaro where some pre-candidates live in community for four months leading to a final discernment for entry into the first cycle in August.
In recent years vacation promotion efforts have been centered on press and mass media efforts especially using our web site which is now the initial contact for perhaps the majority of our vocations. When time permits our promotion man, Cristóbal Padilla G:, participates in traditional meetings and encounters sponsored by the local church.
Each member of the two communities assists in the effort to familiarize the public with our mission and bring the project closer to financial self support through publications, African art, raffles, events, and attempts to establish a network of regular donors
the Community at Lublin : Poland
Situated 150 km southeast of Warsaw, this community is run mainly by Polish Missionaries of Africa, with the addition of a series of confreres from other Provinces, to bear testimony to the international character of our Society.
Father Jacek Wróblewski is the Rector of the House of Formation. He is backed by confreres in charge of missionary and vocation promotion. Father Otto Katto from Uganda, Adam Cytrynowski and Antoni Markowski from Tanzania, and Father Herman Cornelissen, Belgian, formerly in Burundi. He returned with eagerness 17 years after an initial stay. From seeing many students pass through its doors, the House of Formation now numbers 2 for 2009 - 2010 intake.
The 6 other Polish Missionaries of Africa are on Mission in Algeria (3), Tunisia (1) and Zambia (2).
Philippines: the Cebu communityThe first six Filipino confreres took their Missionary Oath from 2001: Father Bernard Monteron (Superior of the Cebu Formation Community, Fr. Armand Galay from Kidapawan/Mindanao now in Ottawa/Canada, Father Luisito Poe Suarez from Davao, now in Serenji/Zambia, Fr. Walter Tubis of the Diocese of Dumaguete/Negros Oriental, Fr. Dioscoro Pancito Mulagao from Tagbilaran/Bohol in Kitwe/Zambia and Br. Lito Garay Doguiles from Maasin Diocese/Leyte.
From l. to r. Fathers Emmanuel Lengaigne, Thomas Schwiedessen,
Ms. Antoinette Ongvanyo, Frs. Charles Timoney and Fr. Bernard Monteron
Fr. Bernard Monteron (Filipino) and Father Thomas Schwiedessen (German) work as a team in vocation and campus ministry. Fr. Bernard has been the national secretary of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines for Religious (DVP). Fr. Thomas keeps a link with the Association of Campus Ministry (ACM) that facilitates campus ministry in the Archdiocese of Cebu in non-sectarian universities, colleges and high-schools. Both also travel widely to join diocesan campaigns for vocation awareness across the Philippines. There are vocation clubs which help bring young people together, to gather monthly to pray, share and support one another, to awaken interest in Africa and deepen the understanding of the meaning of a missionary vocation. Fr. Bernard and Fr, Thomas visit these clubs to offer accompaniment and facilitate vocational discernment.
Cebu Vocation Club, Sept. 2009
..
From left to right: Geovannie Robilla from Tagum/Mindanao (3rd yr), Fhear Brian Redondo from Digos/Mindanao (1st yr), Fr. Emmanuel Lengaigne (France), Clayb Caputolan from Carmen/Cebu (3rd yr), Fr. Charles Timoney (Irish), Br. Lito Doguiles from Plaridel/Leyte (now in Tabora/Tanzania), Fr. Bernard Amplayo Monteron from Cebu, Fr. Thomas Schwiedessen (German), Christopher Rabelas Manzano from Rizal/Manila (2nd year).
Fr. Bernard Monteron, M.Afr. (Vocation Director) bamonteron@yahoo.com.ph ou bamonteron@skyinet.net
and
Fr. Thomas Schwiedessen, M.Afr. (Assistant Voc. Director) molafricavoc@yahoo.com or schwiedessen@yahoo.comOUR STUDENTS
FIRST PHASE (Cebu)
Fhear Brian Redondo (21), 1st year;
Christopher Rabelas Manzano (28), 2nd year;
Caputolan E. Clayb (28) 3rd year;
Robilla J. Geovannie (27) 3rd year.SPIRITUAL YEAR
Ryan Lungay Contamina (27)PASTORAL EXPERIENCE
Julius Maniego de la Cruz (31) (Tanzania)THEOLOGY
Jame Jaime de la Cerna (35) (Nairobi) 2nd yearTOTAL STUDENTS IN FORMATION 7
ORDAINED
Bernard Amplayo Monteron (38) (Cebu) ord. 2002
Armand Galay Origenes (42) (Burundi) ord. 2002
Loloy Poe Suarez (39) (Zambia) ord. 2003
Walter Bargasa Tubis (37) (D.R.C. ) ord. 2005
Coro Pancito Mulagao (37) (Zambia) ord. 2006
BROTHER
Lito Garay Doguiles (40) Oath 2008
COMMUNITY AND FATHERS.
Community mafrcebu@skyinet.net
Students studscebu@skyinet.net
Bernard Amplayo Monteron (35) bamonteron@yahoo.com.ph or bamonteron@skyinet.net
Thomas Schwiedessen (47) schwiedessen@yahoo.com or schwiedessen@skyinet.net
To see photos of ordination
Fr. Coro Pancito MulagaoPhotos of our house of Formation
India: the Bangalore Community
Located in Karnataka State, to the north-east of the better-known State of Kerala, the Bangalore community numbers 4 confreres, including one Missionary of Saint Thomas, and focuses on missionary promotion and the training of young men. Canadian Father Martin Grenier, is the Superior of the project. Formerly in Zambia, and in India since 1999, he is also in charge of the aspirants and of missionary and vocation promotion.
Dutch Father Cor de Visser is the Rector . Practically all his missionary life has been devoted to young men and their education, firstly in Uganda, then six years in Rome. He is in India since 2003.
There are also Fr.Jean Pierre Roth coming from our house of formation in Ethiopia, Fr John Gould coming from our house of formation in Uganda and Father Léo L. Maria Joseph newly ordained last year
Indian Father Biju John, Missionary of Saint Thomas, is the fourth member of the community. He is the third member of his Congregation to help us. We greatly appreciate his contribution and his presence among us.
..
.
.....................
.
Cor de Visser. Martin Grenier . Léo L. Maria Joseph M.Afr. , . Jean Pierre Roth, John Gould, P. Biju John (MST)
India amazes all those who discover its richness and diversity in its religions, cultures, traditions and languages. The young men who are interested in our vocation for Africa and who come to join the Bangalore community are therefore already, among themselves, a rich experience of intercultural life. As aspirants, they begin learning English as a language in common, before entering into Formation as such.
They then attend courses in philosophy at Suvidya College, run by the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, (MSFS). Our candidates meet up there with 330 students from about twenty different Congregations* Missionaries of Africa : The Indian Project Martin Grenier M.Afr.
