Jos Das, cicm
Missionary in DR Congo

I arrived at Centre Théophile Verbist (CTV) at the beginning of January 2009, along with Father Herman Coenraets. Father Wilner Pierre was the director, and I was appointed treasurer, while Father Herman took on the role of retreat and recollection animator. I didn't have much time to dwell on my personal issues because Father Wilner immediately asked me to lead a week-long initial formation session for formators (R-6). I had to work hard to prepare for that week, which was quite a challenge. Father Wilner soon asked me to lead two retreats for the Sisters of Mary in Popokabaka. Once again, I had to work diligently to prepare for the retreat. The following year, Father Wilner made another proposal. The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, holding their provincial chapter in Goma, needed a moderator. I accepted the proposal. Father Wilner pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I am very grateful to him. Another thing I appreciated was that at our team meetings, he always started with the question: "How do you feel? Are you comfortable and happy?" It allowed each member to express themselves freely and emphasized the person's importance over the work.

Two sessions: R-12 and R-6

When I arrived at CTV, the Center organized two sessions a year. The first, programmed by Fr. David Ngondo, was a 12-week healing session called R-12. On a few occasions, I led a week on Mission Today. A second session called An Initiation to the Ministry of Formator was later added and called R-6. Initially, I led a week on Religious Life and Mission in this session. The day Father Wilner left for South Africa, in response to a call from the General Government, I took up the theme of Leadership in the Formator's Ministry.

A third session was added: V.P.

On several occasions, provincial superiors have requested a short session to prepare some of their sisters for perpetual vows, which I agreed to do. However, when the session was again asked about, we considered planning a 6-week session. With a few colleagues, we created a program with selected themes that met the participants' expectations. Initially, only four sisters registered for the first session. We intended not to program it again because the second edition didn't take place, as there were only two registrations. However, the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk (Goma) requested a session for six sisters the following year. After issuing invitations, the second edition had ten nuns participating. Since then, the session has been held yearly with a fairly large turnout. I also lead a week in this session, which we call V.P. (vœux perpétuels). My contribution to the three sessions mainly consists of individual evening accompaniment.

Retreats and week-long sessions

The CTV organizes annual week-long retreats in addition to the three long-term sessions. Most of these retreats are led by CICM confreres. It's not just about making our beautiful Center available to others; we CICMs also need to participate as retreat leaders and facilitate some of the themes of the three sessions. In 2022, we have planned three one-week sessions: one on Leadership, another on La Communication bienveillante, and a third on "Une initiation au ministère d’accompagnement spirituel." Several nuns wish to have individual retreats with accompaniment. I steer them towards group retreats as they provide a richer experience, although I accept such requests when I have time. The CTV is a Missionary Spiritual Center, and our commitment to supporting the spiritual life of our visitors must be a priority, even if it requires a great deal of availability.

People in difficulty

These are challenging times for religious and priestly life. Many religious individuals and priests are influenced by negative societal values, which can have detrimental effects. Some also carry deep emotional wounds due to life circumstances or a lack of supportive leadership and community. As a result, bishops and superiors often ask if we can provide temporary support for these individuals. I always recommend that they participate in the R-12 resourcement session. This program allows skilled leaders to live in a diverse, supportive community with other religious and diocesan priests. Personal guidance is also available during the session. However, in emergencies, I still accept those in need, as helping others in distress is an act of compassion. I can say from experience that those who open themselves to God's grace leave here renewed and re-energized. Witnessing the positive transformation in people's lives brings me great joy.

Leaders, programs

Finding and contacting leaders for retreats and sessions and creating the annual program of activities for the CTV is another vital task. Since most participants are nuns, we have been searching for more Sisters to act as animators, considering their expertise. Luckily, many nuns here in Kinshasa have received thorough training and have valuable experience in religious life. The program of sessions, particularly the R-12 renewal session, is regularly updated and adjusted to meet the current needs. We also present Pope Francis' exhortations and encyclicals to the participants, including The Joy of the Gospel, Praise be to You, Amoris Laetitia, Christus Vivit, and Fratelli Tutti. These are all relevant and essential themes for everyone. They help us live in harmony with the universal Church and broaden our understanding of the significant issues facing the world and the Church today.

The CTV team

Over the 15 years that I've lived and worked at the CTV, the Provincial Government of KIN has changed the team members several times. Two Sisters from the Congrégation des Salésiennes de la Visitation form the CTV team with us, one in charge of housekeeping and the other in charge of food services. There have also been changes, each of which has challenged me. Each person is unique in their qualities and temperament. I had to be flexible each time to adapt to this new situation. But I must admit, these changes went smoothly, without too many difficulties, because everyone was motivated to commit wholeheartedly to the CTV's activities. Small team meetings, a good distribution of tasks, and respect for each person's job all contribute to good collaboration. Teamwork requires good communication to avoid minor problems. The two sisters have their convent, but the four of us have meals together. Confreres and Sisters who know our team call us the "mixed community." Yes, we can learn from each other by living a fraternal life, like brothers and sisters.

Waiting for a successor

I had waited for a colleague to take over for several years, but the successor still had not arrived. I believe in rejuvenation and renewal and that a new person can develop new ideas. On the one hand, I'm grateful and thank the Provincial for his confidence. But on the other hand, no one is indispensable or irreplaceable. Finally, the good news came: Father Jean Lugbu has been appointed Director of CTV-Mbudi, effective January 1, 2024. I will continue my missionary life in Menkao, St. Eugène parish, with a young Cameroonian confrere, Father Stephen Fuka, as parish priest.

Thanksgiving

I've had some happy years at CTV. Many people have passed through here, some for a session, others for a retreat, and others for personal accompaniment. I have spent many hours listening to them! Where does this trust come from, for people to come and open the door of their hearts to me, to share their joys and sorrows, their struggles and worries, their hopes and dreams? I have witnessed God's work in the hearts of those who open up to him. It's God who touches hearts, and it's God who heals.

It wasn't always easy. I have my limits, my weaknesses, my impatience. I met with incomprehension, and I experienced failures. At times, I was discouraged. I asked myself: "What am I doing here? Am I not wasting my time?" There have been mistakes in my life. But as Pope Francis says, mistakes are the great teachers of our lives. Through ups and downs, I've learned to move forward. And he, the Lord, has always been with me. I've always been able to count on him.

Pope Francis said, "Where there are religious, there is joy." I've experienced that here at CTV. The joy, youth, and enthusiasm of religious groups of religious men and women delighted me and helped me remain enthusiastic and young at heart. I was able to take part in a beautiful liturgy with beautiful songs. The psalms of Lauds and Vespers are sung. All this came down on me like a grace. I can never forget the nature excursions and picnics at St. Eugene's parish in Menkao or the botanical garden in Kisantu. Monthly birthday celebrations with merrymaking and dancing, even though I don't dance myself. I thank God, my superiors for their trust, the CTV team, and all the people who have been here and shown me their confidence.

Through my presence and commitment over these 15 years at CTV, I have given something I have sown, but the Lord provides growth. At the same time, I have received a hundredfold. My ministry here at CTV has invited me to stay dynamic, study, and follow current events. It's a school of lifelong learning. The encounters, the accompaniment, and the sharing with speakers and participants have enriched me. Living and working in this Missionary Spiritual Center has helped me stay in touch with the Lord, root myself in Him, and continually orient my life towards the one who has called me to be his disciple-missionary, a priest according to his heart. That's what I've tried to be and try to be every day. Thank you, Lord, for your trust and for so many years of life that you have granted me, and above all, because you have kept me in your love. I am one of those privileged people whom the psalmist says: "The number of our years: seventy, eighty for the strong!" (Ps 89:10)

Romain Clement, cicm
Missionary in Belgium

In August of 1914, the First World War began. Today, we can learn about the events of a century ago through various media. In the upcoming articles, we will discuss the impact of the war on Scheut and, more specifically, on the young Belgians who were studying there at the time. In 1914, these students were primarily located in our Scheut-Anderlecht houses (for novitiate and philosophy) and in the Leuven house (for theology and university studies).

Stamford Hill

In the weeks leading up to the war, approximately 20 young people had already been called up for their militia service, becoming our first "front-line soldiers." When the war broke out on August 14, the remaining students were sent back home, at least those who could still leave. At this point, Superior General Florent Mortier and his Council decided to move to unoccupied territory in order to remain in contact with the various mission areas. Father Mortier took with him the archives of the Congregation and traveled to London. He found a spacious lodging in an unused retreat house of English Sisters, the “Cenacle,” in Stamford Hill, located north of the capital. As soon as possible, Father Mortier invited as many novices, theologians, and professors as possible to London to continue their formation. Meanwhile, the philosophy students moved to Sparrendaal in neutral Holland.

From the beginning of the war, the houses of Scheut and Leuven were equipped and officially recognized as Red Cross emergency hospitals. Scheut would never be used as such; in Leuven, however, many wounded would find shelter until the end of the war.

"The good Sisters put in a great effort to accommodate our community in this edifice. At that time, there were no fewer than 109 of us: theologians, novices, and students. We, unknown strangers, received the most generous welcome in Stamford Hill. In that way, on foreign soil, the Cenacle became like the Motherhouse of our Congregation. It was in Stamford Hill that our jubilee was solemnly celebrated, the ordinations of our priests were held, the poignant departure of our missionaries took place, and our fellow brothers who returned weary and exhausted from foreign lands found a home, motherly care, and a restoration of their strength."

(Testimony of one of the residents of Stamford Hill, published in "Missiën van Scheut," 1920)

Auvours 

A military law of March 1915 had significant consequences for our students. All Belgian men between 18 and 25 who resided in unoccupied Belgium were called up to make themselves available to the Belgian army. Of course, many of our students who lived at Stamford Hill or Sparrendaal were included. Religious and priest students were requested to go as soon as possible to Auvours, just north of Le Mans in France. Among other things, a branch of the C.I.B.I. found a place in the spacious barracks of Auvours (C.I.B.I. = Centre d'Instruction pour Brancardiers et Infirmiers - Training center for stretcher-bearers and nurses).  Very quickly dozens of young Scheutists settled there. Their preparation for “the front” began. Some Belgian theology students who were not accepted in Auvours went with the Dutch to “Huize Gerra” near Sparrendaal and continued their studies there.

In Auvours, the “cibists” (as they were commonly called) received a solid preparation for the task ahead of them. Camp life consisted of military and Red Cross exercises: marches, theory lessons on the organization of the Belgian army, and practical lessons. Moral and spiritual preparation for front life was also considered. This usually took place exclusively in the morning. There was time for personal study, prayer, and relaxation in the afternoon.

Fatines

Very soon, the Superior General joined his confreres in France. With the help of the local bishop, he could avail of the spacious presbytery of Fatines, a village near Auvours. From there, he served four parishes without a pastor and kept in touch with the cibists of Scheut. Soon, however, he returned to London to continue leading the congregation from there. He was succeeded by Father Albert Gueluy, his first assistant, who temporarily became the superior of the “army Scheutists,” thus including those already working at the front or in military hospitals. The latter maintained a regular correspondence with Father Gueluy. To this day, the preserved letters constitute a very rich source of information about that period.

Every evening, the confreres of Auvours could, if they so wished, go to the presbytery of Fatines for some rest and supper. From May 1916 on, they were even allowed to spend a whole Sunday in Fatines. However, none of that lasted very long because the first cibists left Auvours and were deployed to the front in the summer of the same year. At the end of 1916, everyone would have left, although throughout the war, there was always a certain presence of confreres in the camp, including those who were wounded at the front and needed care.

Scheut in Auvours also had its misfortunes. On September 18, 1915, theology student Karel De Croo died of intestinal infection in the neighboring hospital of Yvré-l'Évêque. The funeral service was presided over by camp chaplain Karel Servranckx, SJ. Shortly after this, on October 13, 1915, Maurice Serulier,  who celebrated Mass daily in Yvré-l'Évêque, was accidently hit by a train while crossing a railroad track. He had been ordained a priest on June 29 of the same year. Superior General Florent Mortier himself came over from London to preside over the funeral.

In the summer of 1916, when the first cibists arrived from Auvours, the front line, at least as far as Belgium was concerned, was more or less stabilized around an 84 km long line of trenches extending from Nieuwpoort to Ploegsteert. West of that line were the Allied armies, and east of it were the Central armies.

Life at the front

About 120 Scheutists were assigned to the Allied armies as stretcher-bearers and about a dozen as chaplains. Six postulants (candidate Scheutists) were regular soldiers. The Belgian government did not call up the actual missionaries (in the mission fields, on leave, or ready to leave). A large proportion of Scheutists enlisted in the army were deployed to the front, while others worked as nurses in military hospitals at the rear of the front.

We are all familiar with the classic image of stretcher-bearers: people who venture into the front lines with a stretcher to carry away the dead or wounded. The dead were given a temporary burial place, and the wounded were taken to a field hospital or further away behind the front. It must have been a tremendously hard and risky job. Yet our Scheutists did it (together with so many other religious and seminarians) for two to three years, depending on their arrival at the front.

Stretcher-bearers with a religious background were asked to do more than just take away wounded and administer some primary care to them. Spiritual support was also part of their duties, and this, of course, was also the task of the chaplains. Here and there on the front lines, very simple places of worship – front chapels – were provided that were part of the labyrinth of the trenches. Besides, churches nearby were also available. The stretcher-bearers were supposed to listen to the soldier's daily concerns, encourage them, and share their suffering. They were sources of upliftment amidst the general feeling of depression and moral distress. And yes, dealing with criticism, ridicule, and open opposition from embittered soldiers and their commanders were also part of their task.

Promotion of one's own spiritual life

In connection with their training at the C.I.B.I. in Auvours, we have already mentioned that in addition to preparing them for their task as chaplains or stretcher-bearers, much time and attention was also devoted to maintaining the spiritual life of the young Scheutists. Through the efforts of Father Albert Gueluy and other confreres who resided in Fatines, classes, conferences, and spiritual exercises were organized for the future frontline Scheutists, and the latter had also access to spiritual literature.

In the spring of 1916, as instructed by Superior General Florent Mortier, Fr. Albert Van Zuyt had purchased a house for the congregation, Villa Héloïse in Le Tréport, a town on the French coast between Dieppe and Amiens. Albert Gueluy remained in Fatines for quite some time while Fr. Mortier entrusted the spiritual care of the front-line soldiers to Albert Van Zuyt. Thereafter, the men at the front had to maintain regular correspondence with Fr. Van Zuyt and report, among other things, on their income and expenses. Most of this correspondence has also been preserved and is a rich source of information about the turbulent war period. The soldiers were invited to Le Tréport during their periods of furlough to attain as much outer and inner peace as possible. And they made the most of this! The Scheutists tried to take their furlough, especially during periods of feast days, to celebrate these days in a fraternal atmosphere.

Front-line Scheutists were also encouraged to meet monthly for what we would today call a “recollection”: a talk by one of the chaplains, a reading of a few articles from the Scheut Constitutions, the celebration of Mass, and a meal. The rest of the meeting was spent in “Scheutist revelry”!

Confrere chaplains cooperated as much as possible in the spiritual formation of Scheutists at the front. Not only did they occasionally hold a spiritual conference, but they also rented rooms where the Scheutists in their division could meet and avail of useful books for spiritual reading.

"Once, at the entrance to the church in Hoogstade, a soldier approached me out of breath.
-'Can I go to confession, chaplain?' (every word was interrupted by a sigh, and on closer inspection, I noticed that he was covered with mud).
- 'Sure, boy, come in; there's still a confessor at the confessional on the left.'
- 'Good, because it's terrible.' We came out of the trenches and got shelled by big bombs along the way, more than enough to kill us all. I'm so glad to be out of it. Three guys were killed, several wounded. I threw my bike into the cantonment and walked straight to the church."

(testimony of army chaplain Fr. Jaak Leyssen, see Missiën van Scheut, 1919, p. 183)

Other activities

From Le Tréport, Albert Van Zuyt, in collaboration with several chaplains, began the publication of a front magazine for the Scheutists. The first issue appeared in June 1916, and the last in July 1918. The first title was “The Scheutist and later became “C.I.C.M.” Chaplains wrote articles in the gazette, and young people at the front were also invited to send some news from the front to Le Tréport. The gazette was distributed at 125 copies.

Some frontline Scheutists extended their activities to give simple instructions to ordinary soldiers, such as learning to read and write and lessons in French or Dutch. Still others founded choirs or drama groups.

For any mutual gathering, the Scheutists were always welcome at the Blue Sisters in De Panne and in the house of the mother of Edmond Devloo (in his turn a temporary frontline Scheutist) in Oostvleteren. The Devloo family sent us a picture of such an informal meeting.  We are pleased to publish the picture. Edmond himself is sitting on the far right. On the back of the photo, someone wrote “1916.”

The Belgian newspaper "De Standaard" of March 18, 1919, had the following text: “We used to know our missionaries only by hearsay; their field of work was far from here. The war, however, brought them into our midst. We saw them working in our ranks and on our own soil on a mission field—a battlefield.” So wrote “The Standard” on March 18, 1919.

The end of the war

When the final offensive against the central forces got underway in the summer of 1918, four Scheutists had already died. The first two – Karel Decroo and Maurice Sérulier – killed at Yvré-l’Evêque in 1915, have already been mentioned when talking about Auvours and Le Trépont. Two others died a few months after they enlisted in the army: Kamiel Trap and Hector Vandeputte. Eugeen Requette  died in 1919 at a Rouen hospital due to injuries sustained. During the final offensive itself, other stretcher-bearers died: Leonard Dirckx, Herman Chielens, Karel Rathé; Gaston Devel and Paul Impe both died at Houthulst on September 28, 1918; Gervais Toussaint died on October 9, 1918; and finally three more men died in November, during the very last days of the war: Jan Cops, Jozef Tirez and Frans Maes, the latter on November 10, one day before the armistice. Also, about 30 stretcher bearers were seriously or lightly wounded.

That was the sad balance sheet of the participation of about 130 Scheutists in the war as stretcher-bearers or chaplains. Bishop Jan Marinis, in charge of the entire army sector since September 1915, afterwards praised the Scheutists who had participated in the war. The army authorities in their turn seemed satisfied, given the many military decorations bestowed upon our confreres.

The demobilization

It is not so that after November 11, 1918, all confreres could return immediately to their study houses. First, all stretcher-bearers were assembled in the C.I.B.I. of Veurne and, from there, deployed to various military hospitals in the former front region to care for the wounded. In May 1919, this changed. Part of the former stretcher-bearers were temporarily stationed in a "center for military students" in Brussels, another part in Leuven. The first group could then follow the novitiate or philosophy training in Scheut; the others could continue their theology in our house of Leuven. However, they all remained soldiers and thus had to appear in uniform each time. Finally, in August 1919, the general demobilization followed.

New adaptation to monastic life

First let us go back in time for a moment. In September 1915, the Congregation had again begun accepting novices under the leadership of novice master Fr. Arthur Surmont. Each year, those novices naturally moved up a year: first to philosophy, then to theology. This meant that by the school year 1918-1919, our study houses at Scheut (novitiate and philosophy) and Leuven (theology) were again occupied. Suddenly, a whole group of former stretcher-bearers, who had to interrupt their studies in 1915, joined them at all levels. It could be foreseen that  problems would arise!

It must have been extremely difficult for the ex-soldiers, after years of confrontation with the violence of war and deep physical and moral misery at the front, to assimilate into a monastic discipline that they were no longer used to. They had to bend to the wishes of those in authority who usually had little or no experience of war conditions. They had to conform to the rhythm of a monastic life that had become foreign to them. A regular and intense prayer life was on the program; the study life had to be arranged to perfection, silence had to be maintained, and politeness had to be imposed. And then, as just mentioned, there was the fact that from now on, they had to share life with other young people who had only known the war from a distance and sometimes felt somewhat “overwhelmed” by these often rough newcomers

A positive element in all this, at least as far as the house of Louvain was concerned, was that the superiors of the Congregation had appointed Father Albert Van Zuyt as their rector. Through the front soldiers’ visits to Le Tréport and their regular letters, Father Van Zuyt knew them well. Thus he was the ideal man to be an encouraging and conciliatory factor in an often tense situation in Leuven.

"If the task of our confreres was varied and difficult, all the greater is their joy and happiness now that they have all returned to our midst, satisfied with the work done. Steeped in their working power, they are now preparing in our houses of Scheut and Louvain with new zeal to fight paganism on foreign soil one day."

- Fr. Jaak Leyssen in "Missiën van Scheut,"

The strict movement

There has always been a tension within the Congregation between the religious and missionary aspects of the Scheutist vocation: is a Scheutist first and foremost a monk or a missionary? This tension reached its peak, especially in the years following World War I. A great deal has already been published on this subject, so we will limit ourselves here to a few isolated observations.

Those who especially emphasized the religious element – the adherents of the “strict movement” – liked to refer to Fr. Arthur Surmont as their pioneer. The latter had been a novice master for 19 years, from 1919 to 1930, and had clearly left his mark on the young people of that time, thus also on many young people whom the ex-soldiers met in Scheut and Leuven. For the latter, this constituted an additional problem in addition to all those mentioned above. However, Father Van Zuyt and a few professors, including Fr. Jozef Calbrecht, could also play a conciliatory role. However, this did not take away the fact that about 20 ex-soldiers left the Congregation shortly after the war. Others, however, grew into energetic and courageous missionaries.

Albertus Padang, cicm
Intern in DR Congo

Gaudencio Amaral, cicm
Intern in DR Congo

An experience of learning Swahili

Being a missionary can be a challenging task, particularly when it comes to language barriers. As a native Indonesian speaker, my first language is Bahasa Indonesia. However, since I joined CICM, I have had to learn how to speak other languages like English and Swahili. Though it has been a challenging experience, learning these languages is necessary to communicate effectively with the people I serve.

Since joining CICM, I have learned to adapt to living in different countries to continue my missionary work. Initially, I had to learn two languages, English and French, as I come from Asia. I learned English before attending the novitiate and studied theology in the Philippines. After English, I was assigned to work as a missionary in the AFA Province, which led me to Cameroon, where I had to learn French. This language is essential as it is widely spoken in my mission province.

Missionary work is my response to God's call to serve His people. As a missionary, I must immerse myself in the life of the people I serve. This required me to learn their language, as language plays a vital role in bridging the gap between us and the people. I learned this quickly after my experiences in the Philippines, Cameroon, and Congo. I had to learn their language to integrate and connect with the people's culture, which was a great challenge. However, learning the language of the people we are sent to is an essential part of missionary work, so there is no excuse to avoid it. Therefore, I prepared myself accordingly to face the challenge of learning the language of my new mission in Lubumbashi. When we arrived, the people welcomed us warmly and encouraged us to start our apostolate.

I want to share my recent mission land in Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in Congo after the capital, Kinshasa. People in Lubumbashi speak two languages, namely French and Swahili, with Swahili being the most widely spoken language. I had just finished learning French in Cameroon before going to Congo, so I needed to learn Swahili to communicate with the locals. This is a tough challenge for me as it is not easy to master two languages simultaneously.

I have organized my Swahili lessons with two teachers for my companion, Gaudencio Amaral. Initially, I had a lesson from 1:30 to 3:30 pm with my teacher, and Gaudencio had his lesson from 3:30 to 5:00 pm with his teacher. However, learning was difficult as our teachers were busy and needed more time to teach us. After a month, we decided to change teachers, and Father Jean-Paul Kasengu found a new teacher for both of us. We had separate lessons at different times - Gaudencio in the morning and I in the afternoon. Gradually, we started picking up the language and having small conversations with people. However, we don't think one month is enough to master a language.

We still have two more months left for learning and the immersion program with host families, which lasts for three months, to improve our language skills. To strengthen my Swahili personally, I read during morning masses in our community and the parish. I also joined a parish choir to learn the words of the songs. However, singing in Swahili is challenging because it is a tone language. Nonetheless, I draw two important values from this experience that remain engraved in my heart. I seek the presence of God during difficult times, and secondly, I seek the strength to continue my vocational journey to serve the people to whom God has sent me through prayer.

As the letter to Hebrews 13:5 states, "I will neither leave you nor forsake you." So, when I am having a good time alone or with others, I thank God, who is always by my side. I feel so blessed that everything I am, have, and do are fruits of divine providence.

The second important thing to me is having the support of God's people. The teachers here are incredibly kind. They help me improve my Swahili so that I can converse with people in practice. My colleagues are also very supportive and guide me through my training. I feel very grateful for all of this. I pray to God to grant me more of His grace and to put people of goodwill in my path who can help me advance in my missionary and religious life for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind. - Albertus Padang

An experience of Living in Community

My name is Gaudencio Amaral. I am an Indonesian national and currently working as an intern with the CICM Province of AFA. Over the past few months, I have been learning the Swahili language and also involved in a pastoral experience in Lubumbashi, under the guidance of Father Jean-Paul Kasengu, the Parish Priest of Notre Dame de Guadalupe Parish. I am writing this article to share my experiences and information about community life with you.

As mentioned earlier, I am currently doing my internship at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is a part of the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi. Our arrival has made our community more diverse and international. Our parish priest and mentor, Father Jean-Paul, is a Congolese, while my longtime companion, Albertus, and I are from Indonesia. Despite our different backgrounds and cultures, we live and work together like brothers, striving to fulfill our mission. After having lived in this community for almost seven months, our life's dynamic here is lively and enriching.

As religious missionaries, prayer is an essential part of our daily routine. For us, prayer is crucial to fulfilling our mission of serving the Lord, as without Him, we are nothing. Therefore, we have community prayer and Mass every day. We attend morning mass with Christians on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, we have mass in our community. In the evening, we pray vespers together as a community in a spirit of fraternity. This spiritual exercise not only helps me grow in my faith but also brings me closer to God. It provides me with the steadfast support and strength I need to carry out my mission.

I cannot ignore God because he inspires my prayers and missionary work through the Holy Spirit. Fraternity is our congregation's second most important aspect after the priestly life. As our motto says, “one heart and one soul,” we share our experiences daily with a bottle of beer at 12:00 and 21:00. Father Jean-Paul is a model of a CICM missionary. Despite being busy with pastoral work, he always finds time to be with us for meals and community prayer. He is always available to listen to our difficulties, gives us advice when necessary, and encourages us as we follow Christ. Living in an international and multicultural community takes work. Still, with a bit of openness and self-denial, I have learned to adapt, integrate, and appreciate the cultural habits of the environment in which I now live. That is why I am proud to say that I am delighted to work and live in our Lubumbashi community. - Gaudencio Amaral

Franck Tchiengang, cicm
Student in Cameroon

Initial Formation Following the 16th CICM General Chapter: An Unfolding Experience for a Changing World

At the 16th CICM General Chapter held in Rome from June 4 to 30, 2023, the attendees discussed the topic of initial formation. Although no specific memo was dedicated to this subject, it is noteworthy that the General Pre-capitular Commission ensured its inclusion in the Chapter's agenda, recognizing its importance for the various provinces. It has been almost a year since the conclusion of the 16th General Chapter, and it remains to be seen how the recommendations and exhortations related to initial formation in CICM houses of formation have been received.

Intercultural Living in the “Communauté Internationale de Formation en Afrique (CIFA)” after the 16th CICM General Chapter

As per recommendation 8 of the Acts of the 16th CICM General Chapter, the CIFA included talks on interculturality or aspects of intercultural living in its annual strategic plan. These discussions help us to embrace multiculturality as a valuable gift and view our differences as a source of richness. They also enable us to appreciate the benefits of multiculturality while being aware of the challenges we may face.

The Joys

Liturgical celebrations in our community bring great joy to our confreres. We use different languages in our liturgies which provide a unique spiritual experience. From the Gloria chant in Lingala to the Communion song in Ewondo and the Agnus Dei in Creole, each liturgical celebration is a source of great joy. Our refectory is another source of joy, where delicious dishes from different cultures delight the bellies of our confreres. This culinary variety, which we experience particularly during the celebration of the independence festivities of the various countries represented at the CIFA, delights the taste buds of all and prepares us to acquire a “missionary belly.”

The Challenges

Intercultural life at CIFA is a beautiful gift from God, but it also comes with some challenges that can be overcome. One of these challenges is the tendency to compare cultures and make others believe that our culture is superior. It can lead to frustration or even harm to others. Another challenge is the language barrier. Many of our fellow students struggle with the local language, Ewondo, which limits their ability to communicate with the people in the host village.

Reception of the Exhortation for Intercultural Living

The CIFA has been good in implementing exhortation 4 of the Acts of the General Chapter, which deals with interculturality in the formation communities and the selection of formators. For this academic year 2023-2024, the CIFA has welcomed students from six different nationalities, from the Philippines, Zambia, Indonesia, Haiti, Cameroon, and the DR Congo. This diversity is also reflected in the team of formators, which includes an Indonesian and a Cameroonian. The CIFA's diverse composition provides ample opportunities for intercultural experiences.

CIFA and social media: Positive Points and Challenges in the Light of the Proceedings of the 16th CICM General Chapter

Starting from the 2021-2022 academic year, CIFA has been installed with a high-speed fiber optic internet connection. This technological advancement enables the community, especially the students, to be more connected with the evolving and globalizing world. Connecting your smartphone or laptop to your room is convenient, but it also comes with its fair share of risks.

The Impact of Internet Connection on Academic Performance

If I had to give an opinion on the subject, I would say that it wasn't easy to do academic research before fiber optics were installed in our community. Of course, we already had an Internet connection by modem, but it was unstable and slow. The new fiber optic connection makes it easier for us to research. We can quickly consult digital libraries and watch online courses. All these greatly enrich the quality of our academic work.

Social Networks: An Enemy for CIFA Student Confreres?

Acknowledging the positive role of social networks in our community is important. A great example of this is the existence of a WhatsApp group for CIFA students. This internal digital channel allows us to receive communications and digital documents from the Congregation (Chronica, provincial newsletters, etc.), making it easier to circulate information within our “common home.” However, social networks can also have negative consequences for student confreres. They can become "digital hermits," constantly staying in their rooms to communicate with the outside world. It can cause serious integration problems, not only within the community but also in the apostolate. Additionally, they can absorb the attention of confreres to the point of making them physically present but absent. Finally, the time spent on social networks can positively impact studies, explicitly leading to the late submission of research work.

Upon re-reading my experience of initial formation in the context of the 16th General Chapter, I find it to be a source of personal growth. If the recommendations and exhortations of the Acts of the 16th CICM General Chapter are implemented progressively, CICM Formation Communities can train effective missionaries who can respond to the challenges of today's world. To achieve this, each Formation Community and each student confrere would benefit from regularly evaluating their annual journey based on the recommendations and exhortations of the 16th CICM General Chapter regarding initial formation. Ultimately, what is important is to abide consistently and to move forward.

Mark Steven Joyce, cicm
Novice in the Philippines

Storytelling during the Novitiate Annual Retreat

From being in a room with Fidel Castro to the real joy of his missionary experience doing community development and human development, Fr. Alejandro “Alex” A. Ulpindo, CICM, made storytelling the theme of our retreat. The story began with all of us novices arriving at Home Sweet Home after spending two weeks at various CICM schools. In the cool Baguio weather, we were animated and excited to see one another and share our stories from our school immersion. Yet, through the examples and guidance of Father Alex, we broadened the horizon of the stories we told, which made the retreat much more than just a reflection on our two-week exposure. During our annual retreat, Father Alex provided a grounding experience for our batch through which we learned more about ourselves and each other, found rest and recharge after a two-week exposure, and found inspiration in a CICM expression of the missionary experience.

As part of our novitiate program, we have told “our stories” in many different formats. Usually, “our story” means our vocation story or the narratives on why we decided to join CICM. Yet, on this retreat, I heard my brother novices tell their stories in new ways. On the first day, Father Alex told us he preferred teaching through storytelling instead of lecturing. The format was that he would spend an hour with us in the morning telling stories, after which we would receive reflection questions. We were told to listen to each other and tell stories in the afternoon. I came to the afternoon session with a story I thought I could tell based on my reflection, only to feel prompted to tell a different story based on the stories I heard. One thread in several stories was “How do we define ourselves.” Through these stories, I realized we have all gotten to know ourselves better through our novitiate, which has allowed us to tell our stories in new ways.

 Early in the retreat, I asked Father Alex what he felt about us going for runs or walks during the retreat. He encouraged it by saying, “Happy mind, healthy body, that is the point of a retreat.” I think this mentality helped all of us make the most out of our time during the retreat. After two weeks in the schools, we could rest, exercise, and reflect on our half-year journey with CICM. For some congregations, the idea that novices can go for runs while on retreat may sound unacceptable. However, I think it was a perfect addition for a missionary congregation with an ad gentes priority. After hearing Father Alex tell stories emphasizing the importance of being close to the people, we ran around a soccer field in Burnham Park. There, we saw the young people of Baguio congregate, play sports, laugh, and practice the traditional dances of the Igorot people. To me, not only did these runs help me feel mentally balanced, but they also helped me reflect on an ad gentes-oriented missionary life.

During our retreat, Father Alex told a range of missionary stories that were shocking, inspiring, and informative. One theme that encompassed many of his stories was the reality of living with and serving the poor. These stories opened our eyes to what could be ahead of us. One exercise that stood out to me was reading a letter our founder, Theophile Verbist, wrote to the first CICM novices. I liked the fact that Father Verbist wrote the letter from his mission in China. Even though the letter was written over 150 years ago, the lessons and teachings are still relevant to me as a CICM novice today. Especially when he said, “The missionary has only the spirit of faith to support and protect him.” What stood out to me in the letter and the stories Father Alex told us was the hardship involved in a missionary vocation serving the poor.

These tales of CICM experiences in mission helped us reflect on what we are working on in our life journeys with CICM. Our batch truly appreciates the hospitality we received from the Home Sweet Home community. At close to the halfway mark of our novitiate year, it was nice to experience how far we have all come in self-knowledge and self-understanding. It was also important and helpful to have time to find a grounding experience and recharge for what lies ahead of us. Most importantly, though, the retreat helped us focus on some key themes of missionary life that can inspire us in our vocational journey. The retreat helped us become aware of the “spirit of faith” needed to succeed in a mission environment.

Eric Michael Imbao, cicm
Missionary in the USA

It has been months since pilgrims from the World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, returned home. Yet everything we have seen, heard, and witnessed on the pilgrimage still feels unreal. Undoubtedly, it left an indelible mark in our hearts and faith that we will carry for the rest of our lives.

A week before WYD, our pilgrim group was blessed to visit holy sites in Rome and Italy. Visiting the catacombs of the first Christians and first martyrs filled us with deep inspiration. We also visited the four major basilicas in Rome, with special access permission to the Necropolis or the tomb of St. Peter (underground Pope’s grottos at St. Peter’s Basilica). The group immensely enjoyed our visits to saints like St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis, Blessed Carlo Acutis, and St. Claire in Assisi, Italy. 

Arriving in Portugal, we spent a day in Fatima, visiting the houses of the three little children and walking meditatively at Via Sacra in Aljustrel (Shepherd Way). We also had the opportunity to visit all the apparition sites of the Our Lady of Fatima. These were meaningful and unforgettable blessings that our group would carry in our hearts.

According to the Vatican News, the week-long event was an electrifying tapestry of encounters, reflections, and prayers by young people from around the globe. United by the theme "Mary arose and went with haste" (Luke 1:39), participants answered Pope Francis’ call to come together and explore the depths of their faith and spirituality amidst diversity. These pilgrims rose to the challenge of the pilgrimage and went with haste to be messengers of joy.

The journey itself is filled with ups and downs, and one word that can sum it all up is – “challenging”. When faced with challenges and difficulties in accomplishing a task, there is also much to learn and gain. It can be likened to the principle of life: where there is much to gain, there will be pain. Or, putting it in another way, no pain, no gain. Our pilgrim group gained so much from the sacrifices that our group had to make for the WYD experience. From the long walks in the heat of the day to sleeping on gym floors, eating unfamiliar food, having nights of less sleep, and talking to people who speak a different language, these are all life-changing and impactful challenges that made our experience truly unforgettable.

Our pilgrims are happy to share their testimonies here:

“One thing that will stay in my mind is the joy I’ve felt meeting people who are passionate about God. We sang and danced practically anywhere. We found ourselves exhausted and tired. But instead of being impatient and complaining, our group remained joyful at every moment. I believe we should take life the same way.” - Fr. Eric Michael Imbao, CICM.

Among the pilgrims, Anthony Pablo (18 yrs. old), a parishioner of Maria, Reina De Las Américas in Mount Olive, cherished the memory of being in the presence of Pope Francis. He shared the message he took to heart: "No tengan miedo, tengan coraje" – "Don't be afraid, have courage." For him, these words meant embracing God's path without fear. Karen Hildalgo (29 yrs. old), a parishioner of St. Mary of the Angels in Mount Olive, said, “The sheer sight of thousands of faithful gathered never failed to inspire awe within her. She mused, this time, I thought I was ready not to be surprised, but it felt like starting over again." For Fatima Gloria Mesa-Romero (17 yrs. old) from Sta. Teresa, Beulaville, “Seeing thousands of people travel all over the world to worship one God is so amazing. I am not alone in the Catholic Church. There were thousands of us sharing the same faith.” 

Edwin Castaneda (20 yrs. old) from St. Catherine of Siena in Tarboro said, “I walked into WYD not knowing what to expect. I knew I wanted to grow in my faith, and I felt like I did tremendously! I enjoyed the Masses, meeting different people, and especially learning about my faith in ways I wasn’t sure about.” “The moment that will stick with me forever would be when Pope Francis said, “Don’t be afraid.” “Those three simple words meant so much more to me because I feel like a teen who was trying to grow in my faith. I felt afraid. I was afraid to speak about my faith. I was afraid to acknowledge it. Now, I feel like instead of avoiding my faith and looking at the other way, I should embrace it! I should never be afraid to share my faith!”

Edwin added that when things get hard, he can look back at this pilgrimage as a reminder that he encountered many obstacles, so there was nothing impossible that he was not willing to try. He added: “I think life gets difficult sometimes, and we often lose ourselves from those difficulties, whether it’s our faith or our passion for the Church. I believe the Lord chose each of us in that group to be there, so it’s our responsibility to share those experiences with others and encourage them to strengthen their faith in God or maybe try to encourage them to go to the next WYD!”

Other pilgrims shared their thoughts, too:

“When it was time to sing, we sang; when it was time to dance, we danced. And when it was time to pray, we prayed. We prayed for our families and all our communities. It was so nice to pray for others in different basilicas in Italy and Portugal, which left us amazed by the beauty and holiness of these sacred churches.” - Amy Galvez Ortiz, 18 years old.

“The main thing I learned about WYD was how not to take everything for granted at home, to be grateful for everything we have, and always be thankful to the Lord that He gave us another day, food, and a roof over our heads. Also, a time I will remember was when we were going up a mountain on a bus trip (this was a day after WYD). I was telling Fr. Eric I saw people hiking and how they looked exhausted, and it just reminded me of the time we were going up on a bridge on our way to the last activity at the WYD vigil site, carrying so much food and being very tired. WYD taught me so much to be humble and to be glad about what I have.” - Joseph Vasquez, 16 years old

“Not a day went by where I wasn’t tired, yet a day did not go by where I didn’t experience God’s love and joy. Walking extensively alongside 1.5 million people in the heat daily gave me the happiness I didn’t know I lacked (and an awful Chaco tan line). You gave me dance parties in the street and packed metros. Thank you, WYD; because of you, I realized how comfortable it is to sleep on the floor. For all of this and more, I am grateful. – Dulce Perez Berduo, 18 years old

“The moment I loved the most was how each day we worked as a team by encouraging one another.” - Franuel Chima Cagal,15.

“The thing I experienced personally with my faith was accepting who I am. As Pope Francis said, "God calls us to the faith as we are." We do not have to change ourselves to be like everyone else; we are uniquely made in God’s image. I will carry this moment with me because I have always struggled to fit in and to get along with others so I can call them friends. I was too scared to tell them my life story, for they may not want me. So, I closed off. But now, I embrace my background and experience because they make me who I am. The struggles, the pain we endure, even the good moments, are what made us the people we are today, and that is who God tells us to be, and we all have a purpose.” – Anthony Pablo, 18.

“I experienced calmness and a true connection with God. A moment that will stay in my memories is singing in the metro with other pilgrims. That brought me joy and inspiration.” - Diana Hernandez, 16.

“During the pilgrimage, I learned to be patient with God’s timing and to trust in him. I experienced how huge the love of God is.” - Alexa Hurtado, 16.

Pope Francis’ words that the Church is always a place "para todos, todos, todos" continue to echo in the hearts of the pilgrims. World Youth Day is a pilgrimage for everyone, but what you will gain from it depends on the extent of your willingness to invest in it. Our group invested in the sacrifice and the challenge of living the pilgrimage. Because of this, we gained more to last us a lifetime. We seek discomfort by being comfortable in being uncomfortable. Just as Jesus’ disciples were called so much more than just having a comfortable life, we, as pilgrims here on earth to journey towards our destination – in heaven, are also called for greatness, holiness, and discipleship. It is the road that God calls us to walk.

For pilgrims, WYD is not the destination, nor does the journey end in Portugal. Our pilgrimage continues, and WYD Portugal is just a one-stop along the way to heaven.

At the sending mass with the Pope, CICM confreres from different missions met and shared the joy of our One Heart and One Soul. (photo) In the picture (from left to right): Fr. Louland Escabusa-Hongkong, Fr. Joseph Gao-Hongkong, Fr. Galuh Arjanto Bubun-Japan, Fr. Ryan Carnecer-Texas, Fr. Frederick Mizengo-North Carolina, Fr. Sonny Aryanto-Texas, Fr. Eric Imbao-North Carolina, and Fr. Bakatubia Madiayi Sébastien-Taiwan, and Fr. Francis Javelosa-Taiwan.

Source : Chronica No 5

By Jacques Thomas, cicm
Missionary in Belgium

The first session of the universal phase of the Synod has been taking place in Rome since September 29. This was preceded by meetings at the level of communities, parishes, dioceses, bishops' conferences, and continents. The diocesan phase coincided with our preparations for the General Chapter in June 2023, which unfortunately meant it took a back seat.

Synod and the Synodal Process

The very theme of the Synod could be defined as follows ... "for a synodal Church". This is no mere play on words. The practice of Synods was introduced in the wake of Vatican II, with the desire to involve dioceses and episcopal conferences more closely in reflecting on specific significant themes. However But practical implementation has only sometimes lived up to expectations. I remember a joke by Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, then Superior General of the Jesuits, who had the luxury of being invited to all Synods, including the special Synod for Lebanon, because he had been a missionary there. He said, "What I can say about all the Synods I've taken part in is that, in fact, the outcome was already known in advance." In fact, having taken part in the 1994 Synod for Africa myself, I noticed that some of the more daring reflections never made it past the small discussion groups and onto the Assembly table. What could have been the subject of controversial debate was discreetly relegated to the back burner.

An Open and Dynamic Process

Things have changed. Pope Francis wanted the dynamic to be as open as possible and wanted everyone to be able to express themselves freely. That's why today, no one can predict outcome. To allow time for the process to mature, he even decided that this universal phase would take place in two stages and postponed the final part until 2024.

All commentators agree that this Synod is, in fact, no more than the reactivation of a dynamic initiated by the Second Vatican Council, which has so far not been sufficiently developed or exploited. As Cardinal Jozef De Kesel said in his October 2022 pastoral letter concluding the diocesan phase of the Synod: "If Pope Francis touches the hearts of so many people, it's also because he picks up the thread of the Council and the questions that arose then."  But even more than the results, the way of being Church is at stake.

The synodal dynamic is a combination of participative and respectful listening, a never-ending process. The cardinal added: "It's wrong to believe that now that the synodal process is behind us, we can simply wait for results from 'above'. We've learned something that will always be important: we've learned to listen to each other. Not only were we able to say everything we thought was important for the Church and its future, but we also listened to what others had to say on the subject. Listening, entering dialogue, discerning together what is important for the Church and what the Spirit is asking of us - this is the path we have travelled. There can be no dialogue without listening. Entering dialogue is more than just being right as quickly as possible. Listening to each other and discerning together isn't just important for getting results, they're part of the goal we want to achieve."

The Diocesan Phase

Several trends have been highlighted at the level of the Archdiocese of Michelin-Brussels, I want to highlight two of them. Firstly, the need for a Church that, while aware of the radical nature of the Gospel, but with a great deal of tenderness and mercy, does not want to exclude anyone. Pope Francis this confirmed at the World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, repeatedly hammering home the word: ALL. There's also a strong desire for a less clerical Church that gives women an equal place. At the closing celebration of the diocesan phase in the Koekelberg basilica, this was illustrated by an entrance procession in the image of the people of God: adults and children, men and women, young and old, able-bodied and disabled in wheelchairs. That's why I regret the image the Church gave itself on the main square in Mechelin, in front of the terraces filled with an amused public, during the ordination of the new archbishop: a long procession of several hundred priests, flanked by a dozen bishops with mitres, while lay collaborators and pastoral assistants, men and women, waited in the cathedral. It was a missed opportunity to show the world a new face of the Church, less masculine and clerical. This invites us to reflect more deeply on age-old practices, which are certainly valid, and we take for granted but do not bring the renewal we claim.

The Continental Phase

The continental phase, in which lay people and not just bishops took part, brought to the fore a diversity of sensibilities and approaches, including among European churches. This makes us realize that our way of seeing things in our hyper-secularized society is not to be generalized or imposed, and this principle will also apply to the diversity of realities at the level of continents and the whole Church.

Diversity, a Sign of Vitality

As the cardinal says: "It's obviously impossible to meet every expectation. The final report from our diocese gives a good account of what's going on in the Christian community, but it also shows that not everyone thinks the same way or has the same expectations. Expectations vary, as do options as to the path to follow. We have to learn to live with this fact. That’s even a good thing. It's important for everyone in the Church to be able to say what they think. Diversity as such is not a threat to unity, but a sign of vitality. ... But no one should believe that the next Synod, and the synodal process that precedes it, will be a success unless his own conceptions and expectations have prevailed."

The synodal dynamic knows no end. In fact, it is destined to become a permanent way of working. We already had some experience of this in our religious Congregations, particularly in preparing ourChapters, with our Provincial and Regional Assemblies, not forgetting the valuable and always relevant work of the Pre-capitular Commission. But this synodal dynamic can inspire us even further: Chapters are not terms in themselves. We look forward to the publication of the Acts of the Chapter to continue to share and reflect while listening to each other and respecting our different sensitivities.

Source : Chronica No. 5 2023

By Ronald Magbanua, cicm
Missionary in Mongolia

An Experience to be in Service during the Visit of Pope Francis to Mongolia

"Taste and see because the joy and goodness of the Lord are not fleeting."

I felt very excited upon hearing that the Pope was coming to Mongolia. In 2003, Pope John Paul II was scheduled to go to Mongolia. However, due to unfavorable circumstances, the visit was cancelled. Almost everyone then was ready and eagerly waiting for Pope John Paul’s coming: the entourage, the news agencies, etc. I was involved in the preparation then because I lived with the late Bishop Wens in the Bishop’s House.

This time, I told myself: “What is important is that the Pope will come, which is already enough for me. I am already satisfied with it. I do not even need to get closer to him.” But the confreres told me I could be near or seated near the pope as the local superior.  I replied to them that there was no need for that. His coming to Mongolia is already a blessing and a privilege, and I will already be delighted.

As a member of the Prefecture's Mission Council and a Parish Priest, I was well informed and took part in the preparatory committee. I saw how immense the work that needed to be done. I committed myself to all the work entrusted to me and to all the areas that needed my help. I was part of the Family Commission, which oversaw the decoration of the Cathedral, the House of Mercy (a shelter blessed by the Pope himself), and the altar for the Pope’s Public Mass. Along with the other commission members, we cleaned the surroundings of the Cathedral, planted flowers around it, put up tarps, and ironed the vestments of the bishops and cardinals.

Many pilgrims came from many countries in Asia. Some confreres also came for the Pope’s visit, including our Superior General, Charles Phukuta; our ASI Provincial Superior Antonius Harnoko; Gilbert Sales, who is one of the pioneers of the Mongolia Mission; Rene Cabag, RP Vice-provincial Superior; and André Aboudi from Cameroon. I humbly offered to pick them up from the airport with other pilgrims. Thanks to the help of Jay Mark Ame, we were able to welcome them and offer them our community hospitality.

The time for the Papal visit was nearing, and the plan had yet to be finalized. The Vatican Security and the State Security kept changing parts of the plan. We could only understand that they were concerned about the safety of the Pope.

The day, September 1, 2023, came. We were all excited for his arrival. I was asked to be at the airport to welcome the Pope, but I did not go. Instead, I joined and stayed with our parishioners along the road.  While waiting for the Pope, I had the great privilege of being approached by the pilgrims for the sacrament of confession. Right there on the road, people were coming for confessions. Mongolians and pilgrims came to confess. I felt profoundly blessed for this privilege. When the Pope’s entourage was coming, someone from the crowd shouted, “Father, the Pope is coming near. Please, come.” I blessed the last pilgrim who came for confession, and together, we joined the crowds. We waved our flags as Pope Francis passed by.

I saw the Pope right in front of me as he opened the window of his official car to wave at us. Wow, what a privilege! I was jumping as other pilgrims were crying for joy to see the Pope. Pope Francis was so amiable as he waved and smiled at us. We all returned to our parish church, sharing our unique experience while on the bus. As we arrived at our church, I invited all the pilgrims to the Holy Mass. We all thanked the Lord for the great opportunity of seeing the Pope pass by in front of us. After the Mass, some of the pilgrims went home. Those who stayed behind helped prepare the food for the following day.  Our parish was asked to prepare lunch for people of other parishes and other pilgrims. We thank the Lord for the workforce He gave us to be able to prepare the food for 600 people.

Late in the afternoon, the Cardinal Giorgio Marengo called up, saying that Pope Francis was inviting us for a private Mass in the Bishop’s House the following day, September 2, 2023. The pope wanted to thank us and  recognize the many works done by CICM for the Mongolia mission. Only three of us, CICM fathers, were invited, namely: Charles Phukuta, Gilbert Sales, and me. The Pope’s invitation for a private Mass could only tell us that the Mission of Mongolia entrusted to us as CICM would remain with us. And, no matter what happens, we will never abandon the Mission.

September 2, 2023 came. Early in the morning, I went to pick up Gilbert and Charles. Immediately, we proceeded to the Bishop’s House. Upon arrival, the state security police came to check our passports, and reaching the main door of the Bishop’s House, the Vatican security came to check on our passports again.  Cardinal Giorgio welcomed us inside the Bishop’s House and brought us to the chapel . He also introduced us to  Pope Francis’ entourage. The excitement was mounting as the time for the Mass drew near. We did not know what to do anymore.

When Pope Francis came in, Cardinal Giorgio introduced us to him. The Mass started. I was seated next to the Pope. I was so nervous and conscious of the way I sat and the way I stood. I was placed next to the Pope! The Pope was so humble, unassuming, and very simple. I kept talking to myself and thinking of how blessed I was to be invited to a private mass with the Pope. I could not believe it! I was praising God for all these blessings.

At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Giorgio invited us to the reception area, where the Pope met us. Father General, Charles Phukuta and Gilbert Sales  must have had previous experiences meeting the Pope. But for me, this was the very first time, and may even be the last. I was asking myself what to say when I met the Pope. Thoughts did not come at all. And when the Pope came to meet us individually, I could not say anything. I was mesmerized by his smile and voice. The Pope gave each of us a special rosary, that we would surely treasure every day of our lives. The three of us went home very happy and grateful, thinking about sharing our experiences with our confreres and others when we got home.

Returning to our parish church, pilgrims were found all over, with everyone waiting for the signal to leave the church and proceed to Sukhbaatar Square, where the official state welcome happened. Patrick Taveirne was then with the Hong Kong Pilgrims. I told the drivers of the buses to move so they would arrive on time for the official welcome. I and the parish couples› group stayed in the parish church to finish preparing the meals. Thanks be to God. We were able to prepare the 600 food packs. We followed the pilgrims in Sukhbaatar Square to give them their lunch. We distributed the other food packs to people in the parishes and on the Cathedral grounds. Many pilgrims from the countryside came thirsty and hungry. We gave them food and drinks as well.

Pope Francis greeted all the pilgrims stationed around the Cathedral grounds. After greeting the people, the Pope met the bishops, priests, missionaries, and pastoral workers. Sister Salvia, Father Peter Sanjaajav, and Rufina gave their testimonies. After hearing the testimonies, the Pope thanked them and everyone in the Cathedral. He started by remembering Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, CICM, the first Apostolic Prefect, a pioneer in the contemporary history of the Church in Mongolia. He then invited us to reflect on Psalm 34, saying, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Reflecting on this Psalm, he said: “Taste and see, because the joy and goodness of the Lord are not fleeting. They remain within us, giving flavor to our lives and making us see things in a new way…. To spend one’s life for the Gospel…. At the same time, I urge you to taste and see the Lord, to keep returning to the original gaze from which everything began. Otherwise, our strength will fail, and our pastoral work will risk becoming an empty delivery of services, a roster of duties that end up inducing only weariness and frustration. Yet we remain in contact with the face of Christ, seeking him in the scriptures and contemplating him in silent adoration before the

Tabernacle, we come to see him in the faces of those we serve and experience an interior joy that, even amid hardship, brings peace to our hearts.”

I felt that the Pope was talking to my heart. I have been here in the Mission for 21 years now. I felt that the Pope was telling me to taste and see the gift of what I am and the beauty of giving myself entirely to Christ, who has called me to witness His Love in Mongolia. After the Pope delivered his message, we were all invited to meet him individually. I could still feel the blessing I had received earlier that morning. Here again, I would be receiving the blessing of the Pope! I could only thank the Lord for His Goodness!

In the evening, while others were already resting, we were still in the Steppe Arena, ironing the vestments for the cardinals and bishops. We wanted to prepare for the Mass, but the altar still needed to be ready. The architect and his men were still working on the altar and stage. We went home at almost 3:00 in the morning. The following day, all the local superiors were invited to join the Interreligious and Ecumenical Meeting in Hun Theatre. I, together with other local superiors, joined the meeting. All the religious denominations present in Mongolia were well

represented. One by one, the religious leaders gave their shares, and the Pope was the last to share. Everyone was happy with the result of the meeting.

After the ecumenical meeting, the local superiors went straight to Steppe Arena to prepare for the Public Mass of Pope Francis. When we arrived, pilgrims were already lining up to enter the Arena. As usual, the security was strict. The security checked the pilgrims one by one. Without our knowing, the Arena was filled immediately. Everyone was ready to welcome the Pope. In the meantime, I was called to help with the confessions. Confessional booths were placed on the side of the Arena. I was happy to receive confessions from Mongolian and English-speaking pilgrims. It did not take me long in the confessional box because I was called to be at the altar to

practice for the Mass. I was so blessed to have been chosen to serve at the altar for the Pope’s Public Mass. I gave communion to the Pope. What a blessing! Of all the priests and religious present for the Pope’s visit, they chose me to serve the Pope. Thank you, Lord!

After the Mass, I received many congratulatory messages from home and abroad saying they saw me at the altar and heard my voice. I gave praise and thanks to the Lord for choosing me to serve. If you ask me why I was chosen, I surely do not know the answer. One thing is sure that I can say.  I am blessed by the Pope.  I will share this blessing with the people I serve and continue to be a blessing to others whom I shall encounter. 

Source : Chronica No. 5 Sept-Dec 2023

By Prosper-B. Mbumba, cicm

The CICM Novitiate in Mbudi celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2022. Indeed, after the first experience in Katoka, Central Kasai, from 1954 to 1964, the CICM Novitiate in Africa reopened in 1972 in the Kinshasa suburb of Mbudi. Cardinal Frederic Etsou, then Vice-Provincial of the CICM Province of Kinshasa and Elder of the African CICM, was a key figure in establishing the Mbudi Novitiate. Candidates would receive a missionary and religious formation that was authentically African, according to Msgr. Léonard Kasanda, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Luiza (DR Congo) and the first Director of Novices at the Novitiate, known as the Buisson Ardent (Burning Bush). Initially founded for African candidates, this Novitiate is now one of only two in the world for our Congregation. The English-speaking second Novitiate is located in Taytay, Philippines.

This Golden Jubilee culminated in the Eucharistic celebration on September 8, 2022, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the theme “Fifty Years of Fidelity and Perseverance for a Flame always Lit.” The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Léonard Kasanda, and the sermon was delivered by our Superior General, Father Charles Phukuta. Several other CICMs were present to commemorate the Golden Jubilee, among others, the former Buisson Ardent Novitiate Directors of Novices, Msgr. Godefroy Mukeng’a Kalond, Archbishop Emeritus of Kananga (DR Congo) and the first African CICM priest; Msgr. Louis NKinga, Bishop Emeritus of Lisala (DR Congo), and Msgr. Ernest Ngombe, Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro (DR Congo).

In his homily, Father Charles encouraged the congregation and the ten Novices who were to take their first vows at the same time to trust in God who had called them and to make themselves available to listen to God, as Joseph and Mary had done:

“Today’s Gospel, with its long genealogical list, leads to Mary, Joseph, and the Son of God made Man. But it is Joseph, the lowly Joseph, who is highlighted. Having learned that Mary was pregnant before they had even lived together, Joseph decides to divorce her: yet he will be gentle and careful with her, planning to separate from her in secret. And then, before Joseph can act, God intervenes in a dream and overturns Joseph’s decision. An angel tells him not to be afraid and to take Mary into his home. It was complex advice to follow. Yet, Joseph’s faith, control, and courage will prevail. Obeying the angel’s message, he will do what is right... Like Mary and Joseph, let us listen to God and our neighbor. Listening implies availability: let us air our lives and eliminate all kinds of clutter to make our hearts available.”

In his jubilee address, the CICM Superior General emphasized the significance of the name given to this Novitiate, Buisson Ardent:

“The name ‘Buisson Ardent’ is inspired by Exodus 3, when God called Moses through a burning bush and sent him to free his people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt. Through this burning bush, God proclaimed his name to Moses, YHWH. The burning bush is, therefore, a powerful symbol. It represents the miraculous energy of God, the sacred light, the illumination, and the heart burning with purity and love. It also means the reverence and awe of Moses before the divine presence... Like Moses, this place has become a sacred ground for hundreds of us, where we have discovered and deepened our CICM calling for the world.”

During its half-century existence, the Buisson Ardent Novitiate welcomed and formed 669 Novices, some of whom went on to join the secular life. There are currently five bishops among the missionaries who were formed in this place, namely, Msgr. Philibert Tembo, Bishop of Budjala (DR Congo); Msgr. Ernest Ngombe; Msgr. Oscar Nkolo, Bishop of Mweka (DR Congo); Msgr. Félicien Ntambue, Bishop of Kabinda (DR Congo) and Msgr. Faustin Ambassa, Archbishop of Garoua (Cameroon). In addition, the Novitiate of Mbudi counts among its former Novices two Superiors General: Fathers Edouard Tsimba (2005–2011) and Charles Phukuta (2017 -).

Finally, the Superior General expressed the hope that this Novitiate, as well as the one in Taytay, will continue to fulfill their noble vocation of forming religious missionaries capable of responding to the changing needs of the world and Church:

“May God, the author of all good, help us in keeping this burning bush burning for many years to come. May the Buisson Ardent Novitiate in Mbudi and the Théophile Verbist Novitiate in Taytay, Philippines, grow in effectiveness and fulfillment of their high vocation and noble mission of forming future CICM religious missionaries through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord and Patroness of our Congregation.”   