ECHO du MIAMSI 33 ECOS del March 2015 Mouvement International d’Apostolat des Milieux Sociaux Indépendants ECHOES from Movimiento Internacional de Apostolado de los Medios Sociales Indipendientes International Movement of Apostolate in the Independent Social Milieus

ECHOES OF OUR MOVEMENTS’ LIFE

Special Inter-Isles

In this issue Edito Dear Friends, Des témoignages diversifiées In September 2014, I have realised a missionary trip to the Inter- is- Editorial 111 lands of the Indian Ocean (Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Reunion Island). The InterInter----IslesIsles General Assembly 222 My trip started in Mauritius where I participated in the Inter-Island InterInter----IslesIsles G. A. (follows) 333 General Assembly taking place there in Rose-Hill. Maurice: Foi et Vie, international concept! 333 We have together been through their assessment of the previous years and examined their respective future projects with much sincerity, seri- One call, one mission for the service of mankind, 444 ousness, realism and creativity. the world and the Church!

Seychelles: personnal, professionnal and spiri- 444 After the GA, I have had the opportunity of meeting several teams of tual development Mauritius, of Reunion Island and of Madagascar (Diego, Antananarivo, Tamatave and Sambave). New Indian Ocean Island Board: « Keep our 555 lamp burning» Much of the questioning in this region converge with those of our other ACI in Réunion: witnesses and missionary 666 continents such as the “to live together”, with dynamism, with an im- pressing will to move forward, to participate in the construction of a Madagascar: apostolic fervor aroused in our 666 hearts world, more just and brotherly, deeply united in the in the name of Christ. Madagascar: , from JIC to ACI 777 Good reading Diégo, Antananarivo: Maryse testifies 888 Maryse ROBERT 999 President of MIAMSI Mauriitius: At Bois marchand, a social miracle! Relay Inter-Isles Indian Ocean

Our relay regroups the ACI move- The ACI movements of the Relay ments of Madagascar, the Sey- Number of members: Different themes approached by chelles, Mauritius and Reunion Is- Mauritius 57. the movements of the different land. Seychelles 7. countries between 2012 and 2014: Madagascar 54. Mauritius – is a volcanic island. Reunion 20. The fundamentals of our faith: Area: 1 865 km2 - 1 313 000 in- The inter-islands relay totalises 139 • Baptism habitants. It is a republic. members. • The place of the lays in the The Seychelles - are a granitic ar- Church chipelago of 115 small islands. To- The functioning of the Relay • The transmission of faith tal area: 455 km2 - 82 250 inhabi- In turn, each country organises and • Hope tants. It is also a republic. receives: • Promotion of the 12 fundamen- Madagascar – “The large is- • One yearly meeting of the Bu- th tal values land” (5 largest one in the world) reau (President – Secretary – Treas- The new evangelisation. 587 000 km2 - 21 000 000 inhabi- urer – one member and the chap- tants. It is equally a republic. lain). Reunion Island – is a volcanic is- Themes related to society : A general Assembly every 4 years • land. Area: 2 512 km2 - 840 000 in Our countries are quite apart, so Old age habitants. It is an Overseas Depart- these meetings are extremely im- • Plead for a simple mode of life ment of France. portant as they keep the link be- • Marriage for all The closest islands are Mauritius tween us alive. These links unite us • Euthanasia and Reunion (200 kms apart) other- as a relay. All the modern technical • Poverty wise, more than 1000 Kms separate communication facilities can in no Education for good citizenship, the other islands. way replace these “physical” en- family education, parents educa- counters. tion.

INTER-ISLES General Assembly, 12th—16th September, 2014

The Inter-Island General Assembly ion, 2 from the Seychelles and 12 The problems and difficulty of ac- took place in Mauritius at Rose- from Mauritius. companiment of the teams Hill from the 12 th to the 16 th of The program as established accord- Presentation of MIAMSI September 2014. ing to our methodology: Day 2 : Discerning It has been an honour to welcome Day 1 : Looking • Spiritual resourcing in relation to this assembly Maryse Robert, Presentation of the Indian Ocean with ESE. the President of MIAMSI, accom- region • Meeting with the other Mau- panied by André, her hus- ritian movements. band. Mass in the parish. Lygie Raoeliarimanana, our delegate at the Interna- Day 3: Transforming tional Bureau, unable to • Common research of new attend the assembly was challenges replaced by Monique Jista Synthesis of the main strong from Reunion. Ella Cangy, points of the AG. MIAMSI’s secretary in Rome, on holiday in Mau- Also: • Report of 2010–2014 ac- ritius, has spent one day Inter-Isles General Assembly’s participants with us. tivities Presentation of Mauritius • Financial report The participants: Presentation of the different move- Presentation of the new delegates 8 from Madagascar, 4 from Reun- ment’s reflexions for the Bureau.

Page 2 INTER-ISLES General Assembly, 12th—16th September, 2014

Common preoccupations of the The organisation The encounters with the other AC 4 countries: The choice of the location: com- movements. The dynamism of the • Need to redynamise our teams fortable and agreeable. ACE (the youth showing us the (our movements are a bit out of The planning of the works struc- way) tured on our method: looking - The call to have an inter-island breath) discerning – acting • identity (Indianoceany) Need to revise our way of pre- The presence of Maryse Robert The presence of Jesus and prayer senting our spirituality (to touch concerning the international part in the core of our works. the youth and create new teams). and the presentation of the next Work towards more implication GA of MIAMSI General atmosphere : of our members, more responsibility actions. Conviviality, openness of all, friendship, trust, Continue to work on the courage. awareness of our mem- The words of truth bers about the regional from the new members and international dimen- of the Bureau about sions of our movement. their motivation (We must feed the site) The nice relax day Define a new form of with a meditation face accompaniment of our to the sea. teams by lay persons to The atmosphere of make up for the lack of Relaxing day with time for spirituality and sharing brotherhood: like a priests. family. The quality of the intervenient This GA put us back on trail. What we have appreciated about the Indian Ocean and Mau- about this General Assembly: ritius Extracts from the minutes of the General Assembly

Mauritius: Foi et Vie, an international concept !

The assembly of 2014 has Catholic Action of the revived the strong moments Working Class, Move- spent at Diego Suarez Inter ment of Top Manage- Island encounter of 2013. It ment Christians, and has been great pleasure to intervenients sharing meet again the delegates about the political, from Madagascar, Sey- economical and social chelles and Reunion. realities of our Indian Ocean Region. We have worked together on the theme:”throw your We all went back fishing net”, in the peaceful and international president, first at home resourced and motivated. magnificent setup of the interis- my base team meeting and later land seminary of Beau Bassin. at the GA. We wish good luck to the new Inter Island Bureau. The concept of the international We have been enriched by the dimension of Foi & Vie has sharing in small groups, by the Vicky Duval, been concretised by the partici- lectures of representatives from Foi et Vie Mauritius pation of Maryse Robert, the diverse Mauritian organisations:

Page 3 One Call, One Mission for the service of mankind, the world and the Church!

Eight years as the Chair of the lot of apprehension and deep feel- mountable!!! Indian Ocean island board! ings. Being at meetings of the Bureau, But in terms of commitment, as you the GAs, and international meetings The 2014 GA of the Indian Ocean know, the call does not always cor- broadens horizons, builds relation- Island Board in Mauritius was the respond to a personal desire! It's ships .... where fraternity, humility, end of my responsibility as chair more a mission in the service of attention to others combine. which began in 2006 during a GA held in Reunion. 2006-2014: eight mankind, the world and the Church. years! One either answers the call or I want to thank everyone who has As our GA is held every trusted and supported me four years, that makes 2 during these eight years: terms. Yolande, Marie-Louise, Christophe, Martha, Dora, I took over then from Françoise, Dominica, Marie-Louise Mauxion Joëlle, Corinne Elizabeth, of Madagascar who had Monique, Nicolas, Pascal, held the job for the pre- Gerard, Samy and many vious 4 years. others.

This responsibility had Now it’s my turn to trust the new team taking over made me very afraid, Old and new Inter-Islands Bureau knowing I have trouble working at a and I thank them. distance. not.... That was a lesson for me. The distance between our islands Looking back, I can say that the Edith de la Giroday and little attraction for the experience was very rewarding and Past Pinter-Isles President "function" had engendered in me a ultimately neither scary nor insur- ACI Reunion

Meetings in Mauritius: A look at the poorest!

At the end of the Assembly, we Meeting with the President of the ily member has been invested by the had the joy of being received by Association « Kolektif Rivier family to follow up the relocation Bishop Piat: Nwar », Geneviève Tyack, a former project with an architect socially en- gaged. The work has been extraordi- He strongly encouraged us to con- President of MIAMSI. nary. The promises of Fiuggi have tinue our reflections and invited us to “The riches of the world are owned been there positively implemented. communicate more about our by all. We are all responsible of all” To day, these 30 families are correctly method which is included in the New housed and have found back their Evangelization. The region is developing at two dignity. speeds, high luxury is aggressively This situation is seen today as an inci- During my visit in Mauritius, accom- prospering and extreme poverty is tation in the region, inspiring the panied by Françoise Lamusse, Secre- sadly continuing. NGO, Pont du Tamarinier, to take tary of Inter Island Relay and co- Large private properties exist in the similar action. Other owners of the President of the Mauritian movement region where “squatting families” region are also examining possibili- of Foi & Vie, I have had the opportu- have dwelled for long, having no- ties. nity of meeting some teams of Foi & where else to go. One of these large Vie whose members are strongly properties, where about 30 squatter Meeting the Bois Marchand Asso- implicated in the development of the families were hosted, having been ciation actually active on four pro- poorest. These engagements are sold, these families had to be dislo- jects cated. A member of the selling fam- proof that members of our milieu are • Street children ily, also member of ACI, instigated caring for others and don’t hesitate • Formation to invest themselves and to take im- reflections among the family. Finally a large budget has been allocated, by • portant decisions for the future bene- Health and environment the selling family, in view of relocat- fit of all. Housing ing the poor families. This ACI fam- (more information on page 9)

Page 4 SEYCHELLES: PERSONNAL, PROFESSIONNAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT!

Being a member of Bureau Inter Reflecting on those 9 years or by MIAMSI, our international Islands ACI --Seychelles in office brought back many good affiliated body proved to be very How times fly? I can’t believe it enriching and stimulating. myself? I have been a member on the Inter Islands board for 9 years, one Site visits, meet- year as an ordinary member and ing with other partners or eight years as its treasurer. NGOs organized by the I remember vividly my first host country were always exposure to the board meeting was in eye openers of the state of Mauritius in September 2005 at the affairs. This reflected Rivière des Créoles as a replacement very well with the saying to the designated person who was on that “Life puts our faith to overseas mission. I was rather an Dora Ernesta, Inter-Isles GA in Mauritius the test.”. observer than a participant. Thanks During my tenure to the vigilant eyes of Father Ranga memories. Our yearly meetings were in office in 2007, Seychelles man- who noticed my silence, prompted occasions to share realities of our aged to host and organised the Inter some questions so that I could give relevant countries be it economic, Island Board meeting from 24 -26 my opinion on the topic that was political or social. September at La Misère, Beauvoir. I being discussed. Eventually, at the It was an opportunity to ex- am sure those who attended still hold end of that meeting I was nominated change good practice, to reflect, to very good memories. as an ordinary member. discuss, to share real situations Recently, at the last general which affect human dignity. This is Summarising , I must say these years meeting held in Mauritius at the where I found the initiation to the were a period of personal , profes- Seminary de Rose Hill from 12 th - Teaching on the Doctrine of the sional and spiritual development. 15 th September 2014, it was time to Church to be very practical. pass over the responsibility to a The various themes identi- Dora Ernesta, younger person. fied for discussion locally, regionally ACI Seychelles

New Indian Ocean Island Board: « Keep our lamp burning»

Four of our members answered the call and mis- sion of the Indian Ocean Island Board.

Françoise from Mauritius, Yolande from Mada- gascar, Holbert from the Seychelles and Corinne from Reunion.

We share a land surrounded by water, if we refer to the definition of the word Island. During our Sep- tember 2014 General Assembly, held in Mauritius, we were all facing the water, the same water, the same Holbert, Françoise, Corinne and Yolande ocean. We talked about infinity, movement, opening up, connecting, nature, mystery, beauty and humility! Our islands belong to the World.

We are four different people, in culture, lan- All four of us have made the commitment to keep guage, and history, but in the same spirit we wanted to our lamp burning to warm us up and lead us all, every take over the torch from our seniors to enlighten us day, a little further on the road to eternity! and help us better love our world.

Thank you to Yolande, Francoise, Corinne and Holbert

Page 5 ACI IN REUNION : witnesses and missionary!

Before leaving for Madagascar, I had talk about their lives during a the pleasure of visiting teams from hike. We discovered that we are Reunion Island and experience sev- different, we do not all experi- eral meetings. ence the same realities while being from the same social back- We visited the various teams accompa- ground (how can civil service nied by Elisabeth Barau, President of the Reunion Movement, Edith Giroday officials and company execu- the former chair of the Indian Ocean tives in positions of power think together?) Island Board and Monique Jista, deputy Radio Arc-en-Ciel to the MIAMSI International Board :

Radio meeting: Accompanying persons Movement presented by Elisabeth meeting: Barau, President of ACI Reunion, Edith About fifty people gathered Giroday, former Chair of the Indian to reflect on the topic: Ocean Island Board, Monique Jista, dep- "How do our movements uty member of the MIAMSI Interna- help us to be witnesses and tional Bureau and Maryse Robert, MI- missionaries?" presented AMSI President. by Maryse, followed by a debate. Together we then We explained the method of our move- looked at how to support ment and its impact on our lives: Meeting with Bishop Aubry and call on people in our - Our attention to the various concerns of circles to join us. the world including the future of Chris- New forms of meetings: Meeting Bishop Aubry tians in the world and the rise of a cer- About sixty people agreed to meet and tain intolerance of religion. Bishop Aubry stresses "living to- - We are full members of the Council of gether" as absolutely necessary and Europe and advisors to the ECOSOC in well carried by Christians in inter- Geneva. faith dialogue. But how do our We are Ordinary Christians, as high- movements react to major national lighted by our foundress Marie-Louise decisions? Do such decisions re- Monnet, animated by the Word of God. flect the whole of civil society? The Church’s Social Doctrine urges us to respond and defend the poor.

Madagascar: apostolic fervor aroused in our hearts

After the GA in Mauritius, on 19 October 2014: helped us to be ever more open to Maryse Robert visited countries "Maryse coming has brought us others! A dynamic has been trig- and teams ... accompanied by all together!” gered: an apostolic fervor aroused Marie-Louise Mauxion, Presi- "We were all joyful! We really in our hearts! love each other!” dent of the Efikri movement and “Bibiane took the initiative of The Maryse Robert couple of- Lygia Raoeliarimanana, MI- having us visit her company! She fered their friendship by coming AMSI Vice President. saved face!” to us in Toamasina and to the "We all took part!” house of a militant, Josie Chris- In Madagascar, she met the "We spent a very enriching day of tine! Maryse coming to teams and the bishop of discovery, getting to know our- Toamasina coincided with the Toamasina. selves and others, sharing, build- celebration of Josie’s sixtieth Below are some impres- ing connections! We were close to birthday! What a party!!! sions heard during the Toamasina each other!” team -International Board meeting The International board has Odette, Zoe

Page 6 Madagascar: Sambava, from JIC to ACI

In addition to the teams in , Vohémar, and move to the ACI. Now, ACI has been Toamasina and Antananarivo, Amboangibe. Currently the JIC move- set up in the SAVA and grass-roots Maryse Robert had the opportunity ment has a strong presence in the teams have been formed. of meeting the young ACI team in SAVA region. An annual meeting is the SAVA (Sambava, Vohémar, An- held, a regional board has been formed. In the case of Sambava where dapa), which is in the northern part I am, there are thirteen (13) of us, di- of the great island. Georges, the In 2011, when former mem- vided into two teams. As this is a new team leader, and head of the depart- bers of the JIC National Board were in movement, we are now in the process ment of education in the region, Sambava during the JIC Regional of contacting people who can be re- Cisco, shares with us his testimonial Council held there, they told us about cruited as members of ACI. to the creation of the JIC We are in the development movement in the region, and stage and we hope that the the recent passage of JIC SAVA ACI will follow the members to ACI. path of the JIC.

In 1999, Father Raph- Georges Radebason, ael Novy, the JIC national ACI Sambava chaplain, newly assigned to Sambava as Parish priest of St. We experienced this wonder- Teresa’s, took the initiative of ful meeting with many young setting up the Sambava JIC Meeting with different movements people who ask the question: movement. One day he invited Why and how can we join the ACI us (Georges, Sandrine, Dabo, Wurfel, the ACI and drew our attention to pre- and we have to think about these as- Viviane) to speak briefly about the JIC. paring to move from the JIC to ACI. pects that call us to adapt our methods Convinced by his presentation, we de- Father Raphael NOVY also advised us to the rhythm and expectations of the cided to engage in the JIC movement. to set up the ACI. young. A team was made up of the five of us. But we also experienced the very mov- A few months later, we recruited two The project materialized in ing, encouraging experience of a rally new members, Francine and Jackson. 2014. We invited the ACI/EFIKRI in the bush about a literacy campaign. The seven of us have lived in brother- National President to the JIC Regional The message of Georges, our ACI offi- hood and it has become the strength of Council from 29 May to 1 June to cial, was a true reading of his life and our team. We have organized several enlighten us a little more about the strongly influenced the parents, their life reviews and from this we have de- ACI. We even funded her trip and liv- faces lit up, and for me this was a high- fined our actions (in society, our fami- ing expenses ... She was accompanied light of faith and hope. lies, our parishes). by the ACI chaplain in the Northern For instance: Since 2002, we have Madagascar Diocese. Their explana- The teams expressed difficulties with taken over managing and distributing tions showed us that the JIC and ACI youth violence (youths from 8 to 18 medicines for state health centres and are two similar movements and this who spread terror in the city). hospitals in the District of Sambava. similarity facilitated the decision The judicial system cannot act because it is corrupt. In 2003, seeing the The movements help us to increase in prostitution, we overcome difficulties and set up a project to educate especially enable us to con- and help sex workers. We stantly avoid sinking into got funding and we worked corruption to help them leave their Faced with such cases, shameful occupation. our membership in the UN and the Council of After 2003, we Europe becomes impor- decided to create a second tant. grass-roots team in Sam- We are aware of these bava and also implement children’s violence and the JIC movement in other Call to literacy, Sambava the urgency of reaching cities in the SAVA region: , made by other activists at Andapa to out to them and protecting them.

Page 7 Diego, Antananarivo, Maryse testifies!

We experienced this wonderful ANTANANARIVO always present and welcoming. meeting with many young people This meeting with the Indian who ask the question: Why and Many difficulties in the country Ocean members reminds me how how can we join the ACI and we discernment in our actions pro- have to think about these aspects vokes us, helps us to discover that call us to adapt our methods to our way of thinking and urges the rhythm and expectations of the us to continue our mission in young. Christ's name. But we also experienced the very What courage and strength I moving, encouraging experience of witnessed through all those a rally in the bush about a literacy people who work to develop campaign. 1st meeting with the group of Tana their countries! The message of Georges, our ACI We will retain the importance of official, was a true reading of his were discussed: miscegenation in these islands. life and strongly influenced the - the institutional crisis, lack of There will certainly still be a lot of parents, their faces lit up, and for confidence, corruption and the questions but major lines of en- me this was a highlight of faith and power of money. quiry are already proliferating: hope. - the habit of always being prison- ♦ Reflecting on the problems of ers of foreign aid. insularity. - the young wanting to leave the ♦ Going towards Indianoceania The teams expressed difficulties country, violence against children. (some teams are already think- - interference from France. ing about it) - language problems. ♦ Developing better communica- Yet some ideas for hope: tion about our history, chal- - Educating families and lenges, and risks. young people, explaining their ♦ Promoting inter-culturalism, rights and the possibility of solidarity. developing. ♦ The key to our future is youth, - Seeking international recog- but let us protect, educate nition Meeting with the group of Diégo (through parent-children confer- The teams help us to discern ences on citizenship) with youth violence (youths from 8 and understand realities. ♦ Opening up to tourism to to 18 who spread terror in the city). unite the islands and East The judicial system cannot act be- Africa as well as Asia. cause it is corrupt. ♦ Respecting the common The movements help us to over- good (sobriety and the prob- come difficulties and especially lem of water reminds us that enable us to constantly avoid sink- we are all tenants of the ing into corruption planet) ♦ Strengthening the Marie Louise, Lygie, Maryse, Madeleine Church’s Social Teaching Faced with such cases, our mem- Conclusion ♦ A big thank you to everyone for bership in the UN and the Coun- your welcome, for sharing so cil of Europe becomes important. This last picture is symbolic: sev- intensely and for your faith in We are aware of these children’s the future! violence and the urgency of eral generations of MIAMSI lead- ♦ reaching out to them and pro- ers meet and Madeleine from tecting them. Madagascar always impresses with Maryse Robert her drive and determination to be MIAMSI President

Page 8 MAURITIUS: at Bois Marchand, a social miracle!

Bois Marchand is a locality in Lagesse” of the Group Mon ment program equally takes Mauritius where for years, the Loisir, a large Mauritian con- place on this site including of residents have ex- course local representa- perienced a lot of tives of the population, social injustice: pov- they are the first actors erty and misery of the program. These characterised by un- gatherings allow regu- employment, lack of lar evaluation of the access to education, actions taken by all, inadequate housing, promote a very rich and isolation and diverse interesting exchange of scourges due to experience, and con- drugs, alcoholism solidate the construc- etc… tion of this community. Approximately seven hundred fami- At Bois marchand, Mauritius Of course everything is lies live in this locality. not always perfect, but each of glomerate. the partners tries to question However, slowly, some NGOs himself so as to progress to- were alerted, sometimes started A real social miracle has gether with the others towards by the dwellers of the locality emerged from this locality: the the best for the community de- themselves, sometimes by per- inhabitants are now standing velopment. Through this ex- sons coming from outside. A on their own feet, participating periment, the village of Bois communitarian sense has then in the amelioration of their en- Marchand has become a new developed progressively with vironment. Some volunteers, and unique model and example the help of the department of called “éclaireurs”, make the of the possibility of struggling Social Studies of Cardinal Jean link between the population against poverty and misery in Margeot’s Institute of the dio- and the educational complex the Republic of Mauritius. It cese of Port Louis. These steps (built by the JL Foundation in has succeeded in mobilising were based on the conviction the heart of the village). Apart citizens of all sorts to fight that persons from different ap- from being a place where edu- against society prejudgements, proaches could unite and work cation is dispensed through social discrimination and op- together towards the same aim: preschool and primary classes, pression. to generate a communitarian this building is also used by development program, which entrepreneurial women of the Françoise Lamusse received the financial support locality. A monthly meeting of Faith & Life, Mauritius of the “Fondation Joseph all the partners of this develop-

Thank you to all those who have accepted to testify, to share what they live, and those who have translated the articles

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