1 Ofm International Jpic Meeting, La Verna Retreat

OFM INTERNATIONAL JPIC MEETING, LA VERNA RETREAT CENTER, SOUTH AFRICA, 1-14 DECEMBER 2004 FRANCISCAN RESPONSE TO CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE by VUMILE NOGEMANE, O.F.M. (MINISTER PROVINCIAL) 0. Greetings and Presentation of the paper My very first duty and privilege at this meeting, I believe, is to greet and welcome all of you. And I would like to do so in the Franciscan manner of “Pax et Bonum! Pace e Bene! Peace and all good to all of you!” It is with joy, gratitude and humility that I extend my personal warm welcome and also that of the Franciscan Province (OFM) and, indeed, of all the Franciscans in this part of the world. We are all very glad to have you here, in South Africa, and particularly at this Franciscan Retreat Centre which, in many ways, is the home the entire Franciscan Family here in Southern Africa. It is here that many meetings that were significant in the establishment of our Franciscan Federation - which led to the present Province of the Order of Friars Minor -took place, in the early 1970s. It is also here that the various groups of the larger Franciscan Family meet every year, when they participate in the Franciscan Convention. The present paper is not a scholarly treatise on the particular theme and discussion of this meeting. There are people who would deal better on that matter. Rather, this is a simple, opening reflection to this very important meeting. My hope and prayer is that this presentation will be an inspiration and support to all of you who are involved in the crucial work of animating, in various ways, the Franciscan vocation, especially in its very important and integral dimension of JPIC. Therefore, the importance of this meeting cannot be overestimated. I would like to consider this gathering as very significant due to, first of all, its international character - here will be shared the rich and invaluable experiences from the various parts of the world. Another significance of this meeting lies in the fact that it is the very first International JPIC of its kind here in the continent of Africa, the continent that is known for its conflict situations, caused - as we all know - by a variety of factors that are both internal and external. And so, because of these factors, Africa deserves to be granted a chance of a reflection and, hopefully, some practical implementing of such a reflection that are so much part of our Franciscan charism. My dear sisters and brothers, we Franciscans are women and men of the Church. Francis, as we know, was a true son of the Catholic Church. He was so loyal and also very dedicated in implementing the sound and practical teachings of the Church. It is in that spirit that we too gather here, to reflect and plan together what the good Lord wants of us and of all his beloved children in this continent of bondage, corruption, poverty, famine, diseases and all sorts of evils that threaten the image of God in each and every human being. Let us bear in mind, as well, that the holy season of Advent invites us to “seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness…” (Mt. 6: 33). In this way we will truly be those who hunger and thirst for what is right…those who will be satisfied… those who are the peacemakers and so be blessed as sons and daughters of God (Mt. 5: 6, 9). I propose to develop this paper along the the following plan, with these sections : 1. Introduction; 2. St. Francis of Assisi and Conflict situations; 3. African perspective; 4. The Church’s role;5. Franciscans in Africa; 6. Conclusion. A short bibliography is provided at the very end. 1 1. Introduction The association of the Franciscans with South Africa goes back a few centuries. It is a known fact that when the European voyagers, especially the Portuguese and the Spanish, sailed along the coast of Africa, on their way to India where they were trading…, they passed the Cape of Good Hope. This was in the fifteenth and sixteenth century - Bartholomeu Diaz landed in Algoa Bay (Cape) in 1488, on his way to India; Vasco da Gama followed the same route in 1497; Manuel de Sousa is also mentioned by the historian Lord Bryant - who was a Trappist monk, in Mariannhill, South Africa, and is also a great historian - as another Portuguese sailor…1552. (The Coming of the Franciscans…to South Africa…page 20). While the Europeans were sailing around the Africa coast – and were also involved in slave trade – they fortunately or unfortunately had Franciscan friars with them, as chaplains…At these points (Cape of Good Hope; Port of Natal) the celebration of the Holy Eucharist took place. In fact, my mother belongs to one of the few clans that are descendants of those sailors – Amamolo, who are also known as Abelungu (the Whites/Europeans) – and their only isiko (ritual) very much resembles the Holy Mass. Was their ancestor an ex-priest? Who was he? These are some of the questions that surround this man who is just known as “Bhayi” from “Bye-bye!” So, then, the European sailors left their mark on the continent, and the Franciscans were part of this. Again, when the European settlers came to South Africa – (17th -19th centuries) – they brought with them the Secular Franciscans so that when the friars came to the country later they were to assist them…The Capuchins came to the country in 1929 and they have concentrated mainly in Cape Town. In the past decade or so they have also moved to Kwazulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg) and very recently they have opened a Formation house in Pretoria, next to the OFMs. The very first historically known (OFM) friar to come to the country was Daniel Burke. He came with the first bishop of South Africa (1838, Cape Town), Patrick Griffith, who was a Dominican – Daniel was the bishop’s secretary but died two years later. The first group of the Order of Friars Minor came to our country in 1932. They were from the Bavarian Province, St. Anton, in Germany. They went to the diocese of Mariannhill near Durban, where the Provincial house is situated and where you will be spending at least one night (12th December). After three years (1935) those friars were sent to another place where they had to start a new Mission, the present diocese of Kokstad. In 1946, as the German friars met with difficulties – due to the Second World War – and so could not continue working and supplying personnel to the new Mission, the Irish Province came to their help. The Irish friars were, therefore, the second group in this country and they soon spread to other parts of the country, like the present day Gauteng Province (Pretoria – where they opened a new National Seminary, St. John Vianney, and also took over some parishes in the area of Johannesburg). The third group of friars were the English who went to what we call today the diocese of Dunde, in Kwazulu-Natal. As part of the background to our Franciscan presence and ministry in South Africa we have to refer to the situation of the country, the Church and, therefore, the Order too. When the Franciscans came to this country it was a racially divided land – a country in which a person was identified and treated according to one’s colour of the skin. I trust that we have all heard about the question of apartheid. This evil system was formally introduced into the law of our country in 1948. I do not intend to go into a lecture on this matter here. However, it has to be noted that one cannot think of South Africa, one cannot talk about this country without referring to this historical phenomenon which has certainly left an indelible mark on the people. Thank God, apartheid was formally done away with in 1994 when for the very first time the peoples of this land voted for their own democratically elected government. 2 During the time of apartheid the Church tried its best to side with the poor and oppressed. The friars were also participating in various initiatives and projects in the fight against this evil system. In this regard, one has only to read Br. Patrick Noonan’s book, with a quite attractive and interesting title They are Burning the Churches (2003). Still more interesting for the participants at this meeting is the fact that most of the incidents narrated in that book took place in this very area of our land, the Vaal Triangle. It is also here that the Franciscan friars have been doing much work for the freeing of the peoples both spiritually and politically. I was glad to be informed that you will be given a chance to visit some of the places that are part of the history that is so moving and inspiring and, once again, particularly in this section of South Africa. 2. St. Francis of Assisi and Conflict situations As followers of St. Francis we have to take him as our model in his imitation of Christ. He was so radical in that imitation that he would want to do everything, whatever he had to be and do, just as Christ had done. I think we will all agree that St. Francis was a man who was familiar with conflicts and these were in various forms and degrees. Included here are the following: clashing with his father; battles as a knight; disagreement with some of his followers (the Brothers); differences with Church authorities; the Church crusades.

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