In the early evening of Friday 4 February, the International Day of Human Fraternity, on the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool, there took place a Vigil of Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine and all other nations in conflict. A banner reminded people of these other countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Mozambique, Sudan. The vigil was organized by the Missionaries of Africa who are in charge of the parish of St Vincent de Paul, Liverpool. Fr Terry Madden, M.Afr., welcomed the group of between 70 and 80 people who had braved the cold and the rain to be present, including representatives of Pax Christi Liverpool. The following took an active part in the vigil: Sr Pennie MacInnes, Mrs Moira Potier, Ibrahim Syed (leader of the Merseyside Network of Mosques), Rev. Dr. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes (Anglican, Rector of St. Luke-in-the-City), Priyanka Mohta (Hindu), Rev. Taras Khomych (Ukranian Catholic Church), Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, M.Afr. and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, O.P who gave the final blessing. Paul Glover led the singing and Barbara Tolmie sent the group on their way with a song for peace.
Cardinal receives OBE
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald MAfr has received the OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List. He has received this for services to Interfaith and Interchurch Partnerships. At present Cardinal Fitzgerald is in community in Liverpool.
Congratulations, your Eminence.
I am appreciative and grateful for this award, particularly considering that my 'service to interfaith relations' has taken place mainly outside the UK. I think the award should really go to the Missionaries of Africa, the Society to which I belong, for having allowed me to have the necessary formation for this service which I exercised first within the framework of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, and then to the Holy See, to Pope Saint John Paul II who, in 1987, appointed me Secretary of the Secretariat for Non-Christians (as it was then) and later in 2002 appointed me President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (as it had become). This gave me the possibility of engaging in fraternal relations on a wider scale than Christian-Muslim relations. Pope Francis, with his actions and his teaching - the jointly-signed Document on Human Fraternity and Fratelli Tutti - is encouraging us to continue building up these fraternal relations which our world badly needs. Quotation from Cardinal Michael on being awarded the OBE.
Fr. George Smith MAfr RIP
Fr. George Smith died peacefully in the Little Sisters Nursing home in Glasgow yesterday (Monday 4th October 2021). More details will be supplied later.
Our condolences go to his family and friends. May he rest in eternal peace.
Get Together. Reunion. Thanksgiving. 4.
On Thursday we finished with the Eucharist in thanksgiving for the various Jubilees of some of our confreres in the sector.
Charles Obanya (Liverpool) and William Crombie (Rutherglen) 25 years of Missionary Oath.
Ciaran McGuinness (Irish sector in a parish in Plymouth Diocese) 50 years of Missionary Oath.
Vincent Davies (Rutherglen) and Aylward Shorter (LEL) 60 years of Missionary Oath.
Fr. Ciaran presided the Eucharist. Vincent and Aylward were not present due to ill health.
The last event was a Jubilee Dinner.
Get Together. Reunion. Thanksgiving. 3.
On the Wednesday Bishop Paul McAleenan came to give us a talk on Christian attitudes to Migrants.
Get Together. Reunion. Thanksgiving. 2.
Over the 3 days we had a report given on the Pre-Capitular meeting held in Brussels earlier in the month, as well as updates on life in our 4 communities (Rutherglen in Scotland, St. Vincent’s Parish Liverpool, Corfton Road Ealing (Promotion and Media) and Little Ealing Lane (Administration and Retirement) over the last year.
Since the last reunion Frs. Gerry Stones, Peter Kelly and Jack Thora have returned to the Father. On the Tuesday we celebrated Mass for them, with friends and family in attendance. Since there was not enough room in Little Ealing Lane chapel, we were welcomed next door in St. Stephen’s House centre for the Hungarian community.
Get Together. Reunion. Thanksgiving. 1.
Every year there was what we called a Provincial Get Together. It lasted 3 days and was a time when confreres working in UK, and those on home leave from the Missions, could meet and relax together and catch up on news.
Some years ago, it became the Sector Reunion when our Province was downgraded from British Province to Sector GB in the European Province. This downgrading took place partly because of lack of numbers. More and more confreres had become ill and died or had come back permanently from Africa.
Last year, due to Covid, there was no meeting at all!
This year we had a comfortably low-key meeting 20th – 23rd September in Little Ealing Lane. Quite a number of confreres managed to get there to take part.
Work and Prayer in the Assembly 5.
The work of the Assembly consisted mainly of discussing the 26 questions previously presented at the different sector meetings. To speed up the work, the participants were divided up into 4 groups - 2 English-speaking and 2 French-speaking and were each given a certain number of questions to work on. They then presented the results of their discussions in the language they had used and the discussion was opened up to the whole assembly. The suggestions coming from the groups and commented on by the assembly were then saved for redaction and presentation at the General Chapter.
Each day there was Morning and Evening Prayer and of course daily Eucharist. Different confreres presided, but on the 2nd Day the Papal Nuncio to Belgium presided together with the Provincial of Europe.
The day after the meeting finished a committee of Redaction tidied up the texts ready for the Chapter in Rome in May 2022.
Delegates to go to Rome 4.
After several rounds the delegates for the Chapter in Rome were chosen. The Provincial Delegate of France, Fr. Emmanuel Lengaigne. The Provincial Delegate of GB, Fr. Hugh Seenan. Fr. Ferdinand van Campen, Dutch, working in a parish in Liverpool). Fr. Frank Rossman (German, working with migrants in Berlin). Fr. Georges Jacques (Belgian, Assistant Provincial). Fr. Gérard Chabanon (French) attends the General Chapter ex officio as European Provincial.
Work of the Pre-Capitular Assembly 3.
The work of the Assembly was helped by the Moderator (Fr. Terry Madden, UK), 2 secretaries (Frs. Emmanuel Noufé, Burkina Faso and Michael Heap, UK) and 2 interpreters (Frs. Nicholas Aayire, Ghana and Peter Mateso, Congo). None of these were allowed to vote or take part in the discussions.
Pre-Capitular Meeting Preparations 2.
Once the 21 delegates and representatives were assembled together with the Provincial, the Assistant Provincial and the Provincial Bursar of Europe they got down to the business of voting. Before they arrived in Brussels, a vote had been taken of confreres as to who should eventually represent the Province at the General Chapter in Rome in 2022. These postal and e-votes were counted and announced in the full assembly. They were counted by the oldest member present (Fr. Jésus Zubiria from Spain) and the youngest Fr. Boguslaw Zero from Poland).
Pre-Capitular Meeting in Brussels 1.
Every 6 years the Missionaries of Africa meet in a Central Chapter to choose the General Council (Superior General and 4 Assistants) for the following 6 years. This Chapter also proposes the priorities to be taken by this General Council.
Each Province of the Society has preparatory meetings to discuss the local and general issues which confreres consider important enough to be discussed at the General Chapter. In a large Province like the European Province there is first of all a consultation in the various Sectors (in practice the different countries of Europe where there are Missionaries of Africa). At Sector level a report is produced and a delegate is chosen to represent the confreres at the Provincial (Pre-Capitular) meeting. The Superior of the Sector (Provincial Delegate) accompanies this representative to the Pre-Capitular Meeting (meeting to prepare the General Chapter at the Provincial level). The Pre-Capitular Meeting of the European Province was held in Brussels 13th - 16th September 2021 (although because of Covid restrictions some had to spend 9th - 17th on site. There were 21 representatives/superiors from 9 countries.
Fr Aylward Shorter MAfr Diamond Jubilee
On Wednesday 16th June 2021 Fr Aylward Shorter, MAfr. celebrated 60 years of Missionary Oath. As a member of the Missionaries of Africa Fr Aylward served in East Africa and UK. As a well-known anthropologist, writer and educator he was prominent in the running of the Missionary Institute London (MIL) Mill Hill, London. Together with his confreres base in London, he thanked Almighty God for his ministry in an extended Evening Prayer in the chapel in Little Ealing Lane followed by a buffet supper and of course a cake!
Fr. Baptiste Mapunda MAfr. Funeral
Fr. Erasto Shayo MAfr, a fellow Tanzanian wrote, “ There were bishops at Mapunda’s funeral and lots of people from all walks of life, Indeed he had touched the hearts of many people during his life.
Bp. Flavian Kassala, Bishop of Geita said in his homily, “Mapunda was an apostle of the people on the road and he died on the road as an apostle”
Fr. Baptist Mapunda MAfr RIP
Returning from saying Mass in Mwanza Tanzania on 3rd. June 2021, the car he was in came off the road somersaulted and hit a billboard. Fr. Mapunda was killed. Mapunda was 61 years old and a Tanzanian. He had been a Missionary of Africa for 30 years in Zambia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. May he rest in peace.
From Fr. Hugh Seenan MAfr. “Baptist Mapunda first came to Glasgow in 1989 with a large group of students from St Edward's College for the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Hugh Seenan MAfr on the 24th June of that year in Our Lady and St. George's Parish, Penilee.
Fr Baptist was the leader of the ones who sang some African hymns at the Ordination and the First Mass of Fr Hugh the following day. They made a great impression and a few of them became friends of families in the parish. They found people from Glasgow very friendly.
Fr Baptist was a regular visitor to the parish during his time as a student and on some visits to Britain after his ordination. When I would come on home leave from Mozambique people would always ask how Fr. Baptist was and would be happy to hear that I had met him on a journey. In the parish, they still sing the Alleluia that he taught them at mass on that first visit. May he Rest in Peace.”
Fr. Edward "Eddie" Ndahinda MAfr RIP
Fr. Eddie’s death was reported on 1st June 2021. He had been working in Abyi-Addi, Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Eddie was 56 years old and Ugandan. He had been a Missionary of Africa in Great Britain and Ethiopia for 23 years. No news has been received about the circumstances of his death. May he rest in peace.
Fr. Jack Thora MAfr 29th September 1927 – 14th May 2021. RIP
Fr. Jack Thora MAfr passed away peacefully in hospital in Glasgow on 14th May 2021.
On Friday 7th Jack slipped whilst walking in the garden after Mass,. He was rushed to hospital where it was discovered he already had a serious lung infection. He was put on oxygen but died one week later having received the last sacraments.
His funeral will take place in St. Collumcille’s Church, Rutherglen on Wednesday, 26th May at midday. May he rest in peace.
News Snippets in Africa 2nd to 15th May 2021
News Snippets in Africa 2nd to 15th May2021
Algeria: After an increase in street protests calling for systematic change, the Government is to ban all unauthorised protests. (Al-Jazeera English)
On 8/05/21 Algeria marked first national day of remembrance over mass killings (allegedly 45,000 mainly unarmed Algerian Muslims) by French forces 8th May 1945 in Setif. It was a celebration of victory over Germany which turned into a claim for Independence. Algeria is waiting for apologies from Paris for colonial-era crimes. (France 24)
Chad: Sunday 9th May, the army returned to barracks claiming victory over northern rebel group FACT. The previous president died in action against them. FACT have not commented. (France 24)
Democratic Republic of Congo:
Two rival Muslim groups fought outside Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on Thursday at the end of Ramadan. 40 people wounded, 35 arrested, 30 people sentenced to death. 1 policeman was killed and a police vehicle was burned. (Al-Jazeera English)
More than 20 women in Eastern Congo claim they were coerced into having sex with aid workers during Ebola crisis. (France 24)
Uganda to set up joint army offensive with Congo against Islamist rebels in East of DRC. (Reuters)
Partly because of fake news only 500,000 people have been vaccinated in a population of 90,000,000. Therefore of the 1,700,000 vaccine doses received in March through Covax 1,300,000 are being passed on to other African countries before they expire at the end of June. (BBC)
Egypt: Suez Canal Authority has started to dredge a second lane in the Canal to allow two-way traffic. (Reuters)
Ethiopia: Vote originally foreseen for August 2020 and which was delayed because of Coronavirus, was supposed to take place on 5th June 2021. This has been postponed again for 3 weeks. (Reuters)
Save the Children claims that 5,000 children have been separated from their parents in the Tigray region because of the conflict (Reuters)
Ethiopian military claim to have destroyed a group of 320 Tigrayan rebels on 15 May trying to enter the country from Sudan. It is said their aim had been to link up with and support rebel leaders in the country already. (BBC)
Guinea: US has lifted flight restrictions to Guinea which were imposed because of Ebola outbreak in Guinea (Reuters)
Ivory Coast: PM Patrick Achi in hospital in France suffering from “fatigue”. He was appointed PM after the death of 2 PMs in 8 months. Both his predecessors were originally reported to be suffering from fatigue until one died of cardiac issues and the other from cancer. (Al-Jazeera English)
PM returned from France 15th May “in good shape” (Reuters)
Online disinformation still hampering anti-Covid vaccinations. (France 24)
Kenya: High Court ruling that Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta’s attempts to alter the Constitution by Building Bridges Initiative is illegal and civil proceedings can be initiated against the Pres. (Al-Jazeera English)
Kenya has suspended all flights to Somalia for 3 months. No reason was given. (Al-Jazeera English)
Police used tear gas to disperse protestors in Nairobi against Israeli air strikes on Gaza (13/05/21) (France 24)
Rights groups have asked Qatar for information about Kenyan man detained and disappeared in Qatar after he wrote about migrant rights in Qatar. (Reuters)
Burial site found in cave 12th May in cave Panga ya Saidi (near coast). Dating from 78,000 years ago it contains the remains of a Homo Sapiens child and shows beginnings of cognitive and emotional abilities amongst those who buried the child. (Reuters)
Libya: 17 African migrants who set off from Libya for Italy drowned off Tunis 13th May. 2 Nigerian women rescued by Tunisian coastguard. (Reuters)
UK imposed sanctions on Kaniyat militia. (Reuters
Madagascar:
Malawi: Tobacco use in terminal decline worldwide so Pres. Lazarus Chakwera suggested that tobacco growers switch to other foreign exchange earning crops like cannabis. (Reuters)
Mali: Last month the Govt. announced a constitutional referendum for 31 Oct. 2021 and elections in Feb. 2022. There have been doubts expressed as to the likelihood of this timetable being adhered to. Fri 14th May 2021 the PM appointed by the military, Moctar Ouane, resigned but was immediately reinstated to begin consultations to form a broad-based government. (Al-Jazeera English)
The largest trade union, UNTM, is threatening a 4 day strike over salary issues next week. (Al-Jazeera English)
UNTM (national Union of Malian Workers representing 80% of Malian workers) to start strike on Monday 17th May. This will include miners, teachers, and health workers. (Reuters)
Kidnapped French journalist, Olivier Dubois, pleads for help in video released last week. He was kidnapped in Gao in April 2021. (Al-Jazeera English)
Mozambique: Allegations have been made by Amnesty International that in the recent airlift to rescue civilians from a hotel in Palma, white people and even 2 dogs were given priority over local black people. These allegations were denied by DAG (Dyck Advisory Group), a South African company hired by the Mozambique government. (Al-Jazeera English)
Portugal is to send another 60 troops to Mozambique on training mission in order to help tackle the Islamic-state linked insurgency in the north of the country. (Reuters)
Nigeria: Rising cement costs impede building of housing estates. (Reuters)
Seychelles: WHO reviewing coronavirus data after claims that more than 1/3 people who tested positive had been fully vaccinated. (Al-Jazeera English)
Sierra Leone:
Somalia: Kenya has suspended all flights to Somalia for 3 months. No reason was given. (Al-Jazeera English)
South Africa: Ace Magashule has appealed against his suspension from ANC. He claims the charges of embezzlement against him are baseless. (France 24)
Ace Magashule has taken Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa to court over suspension. (Reuters)
Official death total for Covid deaths in the last year of 55,000 claimed to be in excess of 133,000 in reality (Reuters)
South Sudan: In line with the 2018 peace accords, Parliament has been dissolved with a view to lawmakers from opposing sides to be appointed. The new assembly will consist of 550 members, including 332 from Pres. Slava Kiir’s ruling party. Members will be directly appointed by the different parties. No date has been given for the beginning of work for the new Parliament. (Al-Jazeera English)
Sudan: Saudi Arabia is to push for debt restructuring ($50 Billion +) (Reuters)
Tanzania: Settlement agreement reached over abuse claims against Petra Diamonds concerning beatings, detentions and killings (7) of artisanal miners who trespassed on Williamson mine. (Reuters)
Tunisia: A week long increase in coronavirus restrictions has begun over the Eid al-Fitr holiday. (Al-Jazeera English)
Illegal Italian waste shipments still rotting in Tunisia. They arrived in May/June 2020 declared as recyclable plastic waste, but are in fact household waste. 26 people arrested so far including the former environment minister. (France 24)
17 African migrants who set off from Libya for Italy drowned off Tunis 13th May. 2 Nigerian women rescued by Tunisian coastguard. (Reuters)
Uganda: Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his sixth term as president. Bobi Wine (chief opposition rival) was surrounded by police in his home. He described the inauguration as a “sham” (Al-Jazeera English)
Dominic Ongwen, former leader of Lord’s Resistance Army sentenced at ICC to 25 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Avoided life sentence because he had himself been abducted at the age of 9. (France 24)
Uganda to set up joint army offensive with Congo against Islamist rebels in East of DRC. (Reuters)
Zambia: New Kazunguka rail and road bridge opened across the Zambia-Botswana border over Zambezi river. This will help avoid the congested crossing at Beitbridge between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Presidents of Zambia and Botswana were present at the opening as were the presidents of DR Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and Chairpersons of AU and South African Development Community. A similar facility is being put up between Zambia and DRC. (Al-Jazeera English)
Zimbabwe: Chief Justice Luke Malaba was due to retire 15 May 2021 on attaining age of 70, but his tenure of office has been extended by 5 years by Pres. Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Chief Justice has been criticised for dismissing a petition seeking to annul the 2018 presidential election results after allegations of vote rigging. (Al-Jazeera English)
Zimbabwe Justice Minister accused judiciary of being captured by foreign press when it ruled the extension of the tenure of office of the Chief Justice by the Govt as illegal. (Reuters)
Re-introduction of rhinos into Gonarezhou (second largest wildlife park in the country) (Reuters)
Govt proposals to bring in a law to punish citizens who are deemed “unpatriotic” because they criticise the country whilst abroad. (BBC)
Fr. Jack Thora MAfr R.I.P
Fr. Jack Thora MAfr born 29/09/1927 died peacefully today (13/05/2021) in Rutherglen, Scotland.
Further details will be given as and when they become available. May he rest in peace.
A reflection on the recent apostolic journey of Pope Francis to Iraq.
We now have an event page for our upcoming webinar, "The Visit of Pope
>> Francis to Iraq: Its Significance for Religious Relations." (The
>> webinar will be held on Thursday, May 6th at 12pm Washington time, 5pm
>> London time, and 6pm Rome time.) Our colleagues at the Berkley Center,
>> here at Georgetown University, have kindly put this webpage together
>> for us:
>>
>> https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/events/the-visit-of-pope-francis-to-iraq
>>
>> Please feel free to share the link with your networks.
>>Samuel Wagner
>> Director, Dialogue and Catholic Identity
>> Office of the President
>> Georgetown University
>> Washington, DC 20057-1789
>> wagnerse@georgetown.edu