IN THIS ISSUE

This issue contains the texts of coordinate and stimulate missionary the two papers delivered at the SEDOS efforts of the Latin American Seminar on the MISSIONARY OUTREACH OF Churches on a continental level. THE LATIN AMWICAN CWRCH. FR. MERTEN, SVD has lived his BISHOP IVO LORSCHEITER asked the entire active life as a missionary in question "Church of Latin America. Ghana yet he entitles his piece THE how is your missionary awareness and MISSIONARY DILEHMA. He sees the con- practice today?" Five reasons made tinued "European-ness" of the Church this a particularly important in Africa as the greatest obstacle to question: The 500th Anniversary of its growth and wonders whether mis- the arrival of the Spanish; the mis- sionaries will be seen as the "grave- sionary commitment of so many diggers of the Church" if they do not Europeans since that event; the fact make radical changes in their ap- that by the year 2000 approximately proach to the African mind and heart. 50% of the world's catholics will be in Latin America; the 25th Anniver- Missionaries increasingly draw sary of Vatican 11; and the Fourth attention to the importance of General Assembly of the Latin respect for the environment as a American Bishops which will be held specifically missionary concern. An in Santo Domingo in 1992. Dom Ivo important manifestation of this con- commented on these and then outlined cern was the first Awards Ceremony of some missionary initiatives of the the INTERNATIONAL ST. FRANCIS PRIZE Latin American Churches in situations FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: CANTICLE OF CAN- of mission within Latin America. TICLES. This was held in October in the Franciscan Basilica at Assisi in He gave priority to the serious the presence of an influential challenge of evangelization among the gathering of people dedicated to the Indios - the indigenous people, still environment. We give here the State- strangely the most neglected of ment from the Seminar held on that peoples, and the Afro Brazilians. The occasion; the members of the pres- main effort overseas is being tigious Awards Jury; the names of directed to Mozambique in Africa be- those who received awards and finally cause the pastoral policies of the the Canticle of Canticles. Church there are close to those of Dom Ivo's diocese. (see also News. We draw your attention to the Page 314) SEASONS OF MOTHERHOOD, a classic ex- ample of contextual theology. We FR. ROMEO BALLAN, MCCJ who is propose it as an Advent and Christmas coordinator of the preparatory com- meditation for all missionaries. It mittee for COMLA 4 brought us up to comes from a laywoman JUNE JOHNSTON a date with the preparations for that mother who also works outside her meeting which will be held in Lima, family. Peru, in February 1991. He did this in the wider historical context of There are important items of the COMLA meetings which aim to news and coming events. MISSIONARY OUTREACH OF THE LATIN AMERICAN CHURCH

SEDOS Rome, October 9th- 1990

Dom Ivo Lorscheiter

"You will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth." (Acts. 1.8).

The Lord promises the strength of the Holy Spirit for this work. This is what is important, what sustains us in our effort. We worship this Spirit and we call on the Spirit at this very moment as we meet here and consider with trepidation the missionary responsibilities of Latin America.

The Lord tells us that the Father has determined by his own authority the times, the moments, the ways of this task. Who knows? We in Latin America could even say that the Lord, of his own authority, has fixed the time, the steps, the ways of this task so that we, too, in Latin America may take upon ourselves this universal missionary responsibility.

As we worship this Spirit and prepare ourselves to know "the signs of the times" that the Father has determined, we call his presence upon us today.

TBE RELIGIOUS CEAlUSU hierarchy has its own charism of coordination. You have the gift of I would like to greet the mem- being the first, the pioneers, the bers of SEDOS whom I have the honor spearheads. This is your joy and your of meeting for the first time, with specific responsibility. its leaders, staff, and all the mis- sionary and religious institutes that I recall reading a biblical are part of this service. It is my meditation by the famous Fr. Bernard wish that here at SEDOS it may be Haring, who was comnenting on what possible to produce a growing steady happened on the morning of the resur- flow of comnon activities on behalf rection of the Lord Jesus when the of the missionary cause. two apostles, John and Peter, ran to the tomb. The Bible tells us, (in an Since we are dealing here with acute way, I might add) that John was religious families allow me to tell running faster than Peter. Haring you with all my heart: never be says that it is a symbol of what must afraid to be what your religious also happen in the Church. John rep- charism calls you to be within the resents the religious charism, and Lord's Church. Your religious charism must be faster than the hierarchy. - and we must say this with great joy But Peter, representing the hierar- - calls you to be the spearheads. chy, must gather up also those who Religious must be the pioneers in lag behind and so he must not be too discovering the pastoral and mission- far ahead! ary needs of the Church. This is your gift. And you must not even wait for It would have been a false the hierarchy to call you. The respect on the part of John, if he had slowed down. It would have yourselves. I think it is important damaged Peter himself. In fact, to keep this talk in the form of a seeing John so far ahead, even made question, so that we may appreciate Peter make a greater effort not to the stimulating challenge it con- arrive too late! The hierarchy is tains. I would like to consider some stimulated by the charism of special circumstances and motivations religious. that prompt the question.

But then John himself tells us in his gospel that, when he reached 1) 500th Anniversary the empty tomb, he waited for Peter. He did not wait out of fear. He did First, in October 1992 we will not enter the tomb; not because he celebrate the 500th anniversary of was afraid of angels or the dead but the history of the Americas. We all because he wanted to recognize the know that there is a lot of con- charism, the responsibility of Peter. troversy around this 500th anniver- Peter arrived, surveyed the scene and sary. Today, even among us bishops then John, having followed protocol, there are ever stronger opinions. On later described the scene in the most the one side we have a "gloomy minute details. reading" that sees in the history of these 500 years only mistakes, So please! All religious, mem- crimes, grave errors, violations of bers of SEDOS or not, must live with human rights and of traditional cul- joy this pastoral and missionary tures. Everything is gloomy. Every- gift. This is written also in the thing was a sin. On the other side Mutuae Relationes of 1968, issued by there is the "rosy reading" of his- the two Roman Congregations, for tory which sees everything as beauti- Religious and, of Bishops, that the ful, clear, bright and sees only the charism of religious is to be agents advantages, the merits, the great of renewal and of creativity. Because realizations of missionary evan- of this, the charism will often be gelization. uncomfortable - this is exactly what the document says. We Bishops are not The history of tQese 500 years, afraid. The Church will get along not unlike the rest of human history, well in the measure that you must always be looked at "with the religious will live this missionary humility of truth" - the words of charism. Pope John Paul I1 in this context. We should avoid unilateral triumphalisms Having made this important point on the one side, and false scruples I would like now to try to express on the other. For this reason we try the theme of this morning's talk in to ensure, and we pray to the Lord. the shape of a question: that this historic event may lead to Church of Latin America, how is serious studies that make us recog- your missionary awareness and prac- nize the mistakes which are many and tice today? serious, but also remember, even with joy and gratitude, the undeniable ex- amples of heroism of the missionaries who did so much. Hay it be an objec- tive history without being I believe that we in Latin unilateral. It is in the context of America must ask this question of this 500th anniversary celebrations ourselves: How do we live this mis- that we find the first and strongest sionary consciousness? How do we reason for asking the question: translate it into a missionary Church of Latin Aperica, how is your practice? You too, in SEDOS from many missionary awareness and practice Churches, and Congregations, will today? want to ask this same question of 2) Thn Hissioaary History position to other religions. But a Presbyterian priest in Brazil, a Cal- There is a second historical vinist, has challenged us. Compared reason. During these 500 years of to North America or Europe the history, there have been numberless Catholic ethical outlook is useless. missionaries, who left their own Catholic Brazil. Catholic Latin countries. They faced the unknown - America has nothing but poverty, in- often in poor and very difficult justice, discrimination, while in the situations. They tried to do a work North there has been progress, social of evangelization in their own way harmony, etc. He has thrown this and according to their own pastoral challenge to us. The challenge has insights. We in Latin America must been answered rather polemically, as give thanks to the many religious or- was customary at the time, with a ders and congregations that have made famous work - The Church. The Refor- this history possible. We must remem- mation and Civilization, but the ber the many nations and countries - challenge still exists today, perhaps Spain, Portugal, Ireland. Holland, in a new form. What is there about Germany. Italy, France, Belgium, Catholic morals that we are so lack- Switzerland and others that have sent ing in this respect? their sons and daughters to us for this work of the Church. Allow me a personal note. I have a brother who is a Jesuit missionary. Since so many people have worked He has been in Japan for 40 years so hard in the past, and are still where he teaches at Sophia University working among us at the present time, in Tokyo. He told me once that his we must ask ourselves how is our own students in Japan often challenge missionary spirit? Perhaps this ques- him: "Well, Father Lorscheider, we tion should be asked even more are happy to know that you came from seriously because we are told that in Brazil to stay with us, we are even the countries I just mentioned, mis- sympathetic towards your religion, sionary and priestly vocations are Christianity. Catholicism. But you decreasing. must understand that we cannot become Catholics. It is a matter of being consistent. You in Brazil are the 3) Catholic Latin Amrica largest Catholic country in the world, but you have so much corrup- There is a third reason. Latin tion and injustice. Your system does America is practically the only not work. We would rather remain in Catholic continent in the world. Soon our political and cultural system and it will have 50% of the Catholic follow the religions we have in Japan population of the world. This is a because at least here we are doing powerful challenge. What is our well." And I asked my brother: "But responsibility before other peoples you, what did you answer?" "I could and regions of our planet? There are not answer anything," he said. "The over 300 bishops in Brazil alone. The answer is up to you who still live in Pope always tells us, "You are the Brazil. You must show that Catholic first episcopal conference." Perhaps ethics have the power to be the he says the same thing to the leaven of transformation." Americans and the Italians1 I do not know. This is what he tells us and so Their question is still per- the question arises: what does it all tinent to Latin America in general. mean for us? What has happened in our history? What is happening today? Perhaps a You may have already read else- new missionary spirit and practice where that Brazil is 90% Catholic. In could change the situation? the past there has been strong op- 4) 25th Anniversary of Vatican I1 Previous Assemblies

And now a fourth reason for the The first of these Assemblies question. On December 8 we will took place in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. celebrate the 25th anniversary of the in 1955. It was important, not only end of Vatican 11. How have we under- because it was the first, but also stood and translated into practice because it gave birth to CELAM (Latin the missionary directives of the dog- American Episcopal Council). This is matic constitution Lumen Gentium or not the same as the GENERAL ASSEHBLY of the decree Ad Gentes? Twentyfive OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES. CELAM is years have gone by. What have we small, simply a Council, nothing done? Soon after the Council the mis- more. The General Assemblies instead sionary fervor declined. Some say or involve the whole episcopate of Latin believe that the decline is due to a America and we must clearly distin- way of understanding and reading guish this from CELAM. other statements of Vatican 11, - on the respect due to the religious con- The importance of the 1955 meet- science of the individual, or on the ing is also due to a famous letter of values present in other religions. Pius XII. In it he wrote: "May you cultures and the dialogue that we accomplish in this vast continent, should all have. Perhaps it has not which is so proud of its Catholic been easy for all to reach a correct faith, the mission that Divine theological interpretation of these Providence seems to have prepared for statements. you, - that you too, may take part in the noble task of sharing the pre- Even among ourselves, there are cious gifts of peace and salvation those who say that today the age of also beyond your frontiers." John missions is over. We Bishops too say Paul I1 has repeated these words. that the age of missions is ended, but that "Mission" continues. Others The second general gathering say that today even Europe is a mis- took place in Uedellin. Colombia, in sion land. Everything is mission, and 1968. As you know, that gathering be- nothing is mission. The vision be- came the turning point of the pas- comes confused. and so, 25 years toral renewal of our continent. after the end of the Council because Medellin applied to Latin America the of this confusion we must ask the ideas and the spirit of Vatican 11. question: Latin America, how is your But without taking away any of its missionary awareness and practice? merits, Medellin did not touch the missionary dimension of the Latin American Church. 5) 4th General Assembly of Latin American Bishops The third general gathering took place in Puebla in 1979. The Puebla The fifth motivation for asking meeting tried to give flesh in Latin the question arises from the fact America to that masterful apostolic that we are beginning to prepare the exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi. That 4TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LATIN document may be the reason why Puebla AMERICAN BISHOPS. This is not the 4th produced its famous page on the mis- Missionary Congress, (COMLA 4) but sionary dimension of the Latin the 4th general gathering of the American Church: "Finally, the hour Latin American bishops, which will has arrived for Latin America to in- take place in October 1992 at Santo crease the reciprocal help between Domingo in the Dominican REpublic. local Churches and to open beyond The theme will be. A New Evangeliza- their boundaries, namely, ad gentes." tion for a new Culture. This 4th N.368. The hour has come to change. gathering is already raising many We must look more to mutual respon- serious discussions. sibilities. We must open up ad Gentes. The hour has come! This was Preparatory Consultation - "Elements in 1979. for a Pastoral Reflection". It is not a proposal; nor is it a working And so we arrive at Santo draft; it is only a consultation Domingo in 1992. It has given rise to which will be successful inasmuch as serious discussions. There is not a it will surface criticism. Therefore real enthusiasm for it. we tell our priests, religious and lay people, please, to express their (1) Many groups in the Church criticisms, bring out their suggest- are even a little afraid of what may ions. This is important. It is not up happen there and I could identify to CELAM to set the direction of the myself with some of these anxieties Assembly. and fears. Today, with the neo- conservative winds blowing through (3) Another difficulty arises the official Church, some ask what from the Quincentenary of 1992, a can we expect from a gathering of date which is full of polemics in it- bishops? Personally I would answer self. For many people, 1992 is al- with great freedom of spirit that if ready suspicious. I think that Santo there were no difficulties, if every Domingo will be very important for problem had been solved, if we all us. There we will again ask the thought the same way, then truly we question: church of Latin America. would not need these expensive as- how is your missionary awareness and semblies. The present Synod is impor- practice today? tant because, on the formation of priests, we do not all think the same way, neither does the Roman curia, nor do the bishops. This is the im- portance of the Synod and the jus- SDCIE LATIN MERICAN INITIATIVES tification of the expenses involved in keeping over 200 bishops in Rome for a whole month. Now I will try to tell you quickly how Latin America is trying The Assembly in Santo Domingo to give some answers to the,question. will take place in difficult times. Naturally, I will speak mostly of when this neo-conservative wind will Brazil because I know it better. In be very strong. For this reason, other countries, for instance in basic to it all we must feel the Mexico and Colombia, there are presence of the Spirit. worthwhile projects, even better than ours and their mission plans are al- (2) Another difficulty raised is ready more advanced, - but I know that the presidency of CELAM does not Brazil better. inspire trust today. Many people are not very happy with the way CELAM is The meeting at Puebla in 1979 going. Perhaps CELAM might want to spoke with good reason, not only of manipulate the meeting. I have al- missionary areas, but also of mis- ready said that no matter how one may sionary situations. This distinction judge the present executive of CELAM, has helped us quite a lot. and I myself have good reasons for not being totally enthusiastic about it, CELAM cannot dominate Santo The Indians Domingo. CELAM is much smaller than the episcopal conferences. That is Puebla directed our attention. why, in the process of preparation for instance, to the serious and im- for Santo Domingo, we want the par- mense situation of the indigenous ticipation of all the churches, all population, the Indios, and the the communities. All of 1990 should problem of pastoral work among them. be used to study the text of the How is this working? Better in some countries than in others. In Brazil arises from the great number of for several years we have had the migrants within the country. Our well known CIMI (Indigenous Mission- problem is not emigration, but inter- ary Council) which officially belongs nal migration from one area of the to the Church. It is rather progres- country to another, from the sive in the best meaning of the word. countryside to the city and the It defends and fosters inculturation problems of mission in the urban con- and the protection of the rights of centrations. Today in Brazil 72% of the indigenous people in the dis- the population is in the cities. In tribution of land, etc. Europe perhaps this would not be a serious problem, but for us it is CIMI works in spite of the offi- catastrophic. The last 15 years have cial policy of the government which seen a reversal of a trend. We were is an absolute disaster. I notice in mostly a people of farmers, but today the audience, Bishop Conti from the we witness a disorderly and rapid Consolata Fathers whose founder was change. People come to the city canonized last Sunday. Bishop Conti without any preparation, hoping to is from Roraima in the extreme North find better living conditions. The of Brazil where there is perhaps the cities grow to an incredible size - highest concentration of Indios in Sao Paulo, for instance. The chal- all Brazil. There they experience the lenge to our missionary outreach is very serious problems that you read enormous. about in the papers. Having resigned because of poor health, he is now with me in Santa Maria. He could "Twinning" really tell you how the official policy of the government is a total Since 1972 we have tried to do disaster and how the Church there something in Brazil. Allow us, even comes into conflict with the govern- though we are poor, to have a holy ment. I believe that the witness to. pride in this. We are proud of our the interest in, the respect for, and Twinning Project. It came about be- the defense of these Indios will be cause of a visit by members of the one of the most important pages of episcopal conference to some regions the history of our missions. of the Amazon in 1971 and 1972. Some- thing had to be done. The gap was too wide and so we launched the twinning The Afro-Brazilians project. The dioceses of South- Central Brazil are in a better shape The same situation applies to than the others and so they try to the Afro-Brazilians. It is said that come close to dioceses of the North in Brazil 60% of the population has or Nordeste or the far West for pas- more black blood than white. We are a toral and spiritual twinning. It has very mixed population. The work we do been working well. Dozens of Churches to combat racism and discrimination are involved. We in Santa Maria are is gaining more and more attention in the twin Church of Roraima - the ex- Brazil. In 1988, the 100th anniver- tremes of North and South for Roraima sary of the abolition of slavery in is next to Venezuela while we are Brazil, we built our Lenten programme next to Uruguay! We do not do enough, around this theme: the rights of the I am sure, but two of our best Blacks. We were able to make some priests are in Roraima. We pray for progress in this mission situation. and with them, we help in the main- We would like to see the abolition of tenance of their parish, and we help all types of discrimination. materially and spiritually. Other dioceses probably do even better. For Migrants us it is an important project. It has helped us increase our missionary Another missionary situation awareness. Ad Gentes order to go to the foreign missions.

This concerns missions outside The missionary spirit will be, Brazil. There has been a slow growth not only a consequence, but also a in the number of foreign mis- cause of the maturity of the local sionaries. We are almost ashamed to Churches. For this reason, we, the say it, but for a long-time there was Bishops have said that, in Brazil, we nothing. Now we have 974 Brazilians must organize a national programme in the foreign missions - for us a for the foreign missions. We are now cause of satisfaction, - for you per- at the phase of asking ourselves how haps a ridiculous figure. Ever so to organize it. We have just pub- humbly, we are doing something. The lished a detailed pilot project which largest number, 353 are in Africa; has been published in various offi- 261 are in other Latin American cial bulletins. It is still in the countries, such as Bolivia. Paraguay, discussion stage, but the time to act Haiti; 208 are in Europe, - maybe in is near. We respect the work done by the various Generalates (perhaps that religious. Now the time has come also too may be a mission situationl); 85 for the secular clergy, the laity, are in the USA; (I do not know and for religious who want to join whether that is a mission land or a the project. This project gives us mission situation! 55 are in Asia and hope. 9 in the Pacific Islands. We have already clarified For the most part these several points, while others still Brazilians come from Congregations remain to be decided upon. For in- founded in Brazil. Some of our stance, how do we include the laity?. religious cornunities of women are and the secular clergy? What type of very much imbued with the missionary national coordination should we have? spirit. - the Missionaries of Jesus Freedom must be preserved. Some say Crucified who work in Angola, the that we should establish a Brazilian Franciscan Catechist Sisters also in Society for the foreign missions. It Africa, the Franciscans of the Ap- is a time of great hope and parition of Our Lady in Guinea Bis- creativity. sau, etc. These new Brazilian founda- tions are born already with the spirit to go ad gentes. Uoeambique Twinning Project

In this sense, out of the spirit Brazilian Episcopal Conference of mission ad gentes, our region in Uission Project the deep South of Brazil. Rio Grande do Sul with 15 dioceses, is preparing In 1988 the plenary assembly of a project to link us with Mozambique. the bishops' conference of Brazil Within the national programme, we published a very important official want to become the twinning region of document in which it proclaimed "the Mozambique. At the end of this month missionary hour of Brazil". This of October we will meet for three document is extremely important for days in Porto Alegre to study the us. While thanking all the religious situation, the history, the problems institutions and safeguarding their and the hopes of Mozambique. If you autonomy, the Episcopal Conference have documentation on Mozambique, has said: now the hour has come also please let us have it. These three for us. It wants to make a statement days will be for people, including that, yes, the religious are mis- diocesan priests, who have already sionaries, but now also the secular offered themselves to go to Mozam- clergy must be missionary, and the bique. Two are already scheduled to dioceses too. Brazil should not wait go there. I think that early in 1991 until it will be rich in vocations in the first group should be able to go. We would like to start with the Angola, where we already have many archdiocese of Beira. missionaries. However, officially the bishops' conference there does not I have said all this with great see eye to eye with us. What can we simplicity in order to show that. do about it?. We are not as good as with humility and enthusiasm, we are we would like to be, but Angola fol- trying to give a first answer to the lows a different direction from us. question: Latin hrica, how is your They are a little afraid of those mission awareness and practice today? Brazilians who are too far to the left, Communists, subversives, stand- ing for liberation1 What can we do about it? We seek fidelity to the Because we want to be present Holy Spirit, and for this we ask your and useful in a place that is com- prayers. We made this choice so as patible. We have set two priorities. not to give rise to controversy. We First we want to go to Africa, be- will not exclude Angola and many cause we have heavy historical debts religious will still work there, but to pay to Africa for all the slaves we will send our first groups to that have come from there and we feel Mozambique. this historic responsibility. The second priority will be the rest of I am here also to thank you all Latin America. We thought of Mozam- at SEDOS, and to ask for your bique, because several bishops from prayers, your contribution of ideas. there have visited us. Furthermore. since you have a lot of experience to we have the same language. Also, I offer to our Brazilian project. If think I can say it here without of- your Congregations have people in our fending anyone, that the Church of area, tell them to get in touch with Mozambique is very close to us in its us and we will put together a good pastoral policies, in the belief in programme for Mozambique. basic Christian communities, and in the line of the theology of libera- Thank you for your attention. tion. All this makes Mozambique a Pray for us. If there are gaps to be very attractive field. filled, Bishop Conti can fill them. If you have any questions, I am at Mozambique is different from your disposal.

Will you found a national missionary tensions and even to conflicts in our institute? pastoral planning. Personally I tend to have a conciliatory approach, for Our Conference of Bishops is consid- 'in my Father's house there are many ering this. We see that the relig- mansions". Canon Law assures Chris- ious/missionary institutes have al- tians the right to belong to these ready their structures for this various movements. I am not enthusi- purpose. We need a central coordi- astic about them, but as bishop I nating structure for the secular must give them liberty to be and to priests and laity. We are studying act. But 1 say to their members: "Be the initiatives taken in other coun- truly Catholics! Respect the dioce- tries. We are in contact with the Be- san pastoral programmes. Do not thlehem Society based in Swizerland. separate yourselves or act as if all people should belong to your particu- How do new religious movements fit in lar movement ! " with your plans? In Latin America movements such as Tell us about the state of ecumenism Cursillos, Charismatics, Neo-cat- in Latin America echumenate, Focolarini already ex- Brazil has a great ecumenical rela- ist. They give sometimes rise to tionship with the main Evangelical The Bishop qualified in catechetics Churches. We are partners in the and chosen by us to accompany this National Council of Christian programme is neither enthusiastic nor Churches (CONEC) on a level of equal- wholly condemnatory. We Bishops do ity with other evangelical churches not want this movement to become a (Episcopalian, Methodist, Lutheran, parallel structure to the diocesan Presbyterian, Calvinist) . This bears pastoral plans, but to be integrated good fruit. People see, that those into the diocesan pastorale. Also the who read the Gospel arrive at the incredible sums of money supporting same important pastoral conclusions the Communication project "Lumen in face of social, political and 2000" to go with "Evangelization cultural problems. 2000" worries us. We are not in favour of this huge expensive conti- But sects are another matter. Far nent-wide project We already have more numerous than the mainline . 120 Catholic radio stations in Bra- evangelical churches in CONEC, they zil. My diocese of Santa Maria alone cater for simple poor people - espe- has 4. There are 700 altogether in cially the Assembly of God and the the Latin American countries. We Pentecostals. Sometimes their suc- favour these local programmes nearer cess is attributed to their access to to the people of the dioceses - even North American dollars but I be- - if CELAM seems to favour a central- lieve the causes lie deeper. They are ised information service. solely "spiritualist". We tend rather to search for God in an interior spirituality which always reaches out What about the CLAR project "Palabra to consideration of social problems. y Vida" (Word and Life)? Our pastoral programme does not lead to a deeply personalist presence This has been and still is a painful among these poor and simple people. problem for the Latin American Church. The CLAR project seemed to us The sects emphasize "giving wit- in Brazil to be very good, not without ness". They do not stay at the level some faults of course - but what of "ideas". They study the Bible project is perfect in this world? We superficially and their approach is: Brazilian Bishops were very happy "I have experienced Jesus Christ as with it. But for years now the my Saviour." This impresses simple presidencies of CLAR and of CELAM people. We are studying the causes of have not followed the same path. It this phenomenon, how to deal with it, was not so in the past when Cardinal what strategies to use. I am not in Lorscheider was President of CELAM. favour of a crusade against the sects Now CLAR is said to be subversive, a as some Latin American Churches seem parallel organisation, etc. I do not to favour. Is their spiritualist cam- wish to judge intentions, but the paign not better than the cras mate- Congregation for Religious has en- rialism against which there is no tered into this question and it has crusade? Sects do not thrive where now become a painful public problem there are active basic christian and continues to be so for the Latin communities. American Church. CLAR now does not wish to continue What is your attitude to "Evangeli- with this project on a continent-wide zation 2000"? basis as had been planned; it does not wish to be in conflict with the The motto "New Evangelization" backed Holy See. And if CELAM is not inter- up by the strong personality of Pope ested, it remains for the Bishops, John Paul I1 is widespread. He calls and people of each country to make also for re-evangelization in Europe their own decisions. National pro j- and as a response to his call the ects of Palabra y Vida have now project "Evangelization 2000" has begun. In Brazil the Conference of been launched. It is backed by con- Bishops, through its Commission for siderable financial support from Hol- Doctrine and in collaboration with land. The charismatic groups support the Conference of Religious has taken it, so do "Communion and Liberation" up the project. and others. Fr. Forest, its organ- izer, has come to Brazil to promote The first volume has already been it. He has founded groups with their published dealing with "Lectio own schools for the formation of Divina". Is was precisely the manner "Evangelizers 2000". of reading the Bible which had caused the difference of opinion. The read- some more to the right and some more ing of the Bible in Palabra y Vida to the left. was seen as ideological and slanted, the Exodus being interpreted as liberation theology, etc. The problem Why does injustice and poverty per- still exists but we in Brazil have sist in Latin America? solved it - the Religious saying to the Bishops - "We want to produce This is a source of deep pain for me. something good and valuable, let us The answer perhaps is that we have do it together !". too much dependency on the 1st World? Possibly our pastoral planning is not sufficiently integrated with jus- tice. We must finish once for all the Radio and Television - which is more useful in the pastorale? opposition between these two. Even James in this Letter wrote about We have made and option for the poor social justice - help the poor and and the poor have opted for radio! TV the widows. All that oppresses, be it is powerful but the poor everywhere political, social or economic is can tune into radio even at work, against the gospel. walking, everywhere. Local radio stations are "theirs". We have had to resist grandiose projects which might Why has the plight of the poor not be financed by Misereor or Adveniat. changed 25 years after Vatican II? Has the Church learned anything at all about trasmitting Gospel values Is the experience of the L.A. Church in Latin America? valid for the universal Church? Many say that the Santo Doming0 We are a poor Church, a sinful Church, Meeting in 1992 should stress "New we do not want to be triumphalistic Evangelization and the Poor" instead about what is our experience, we have of "New Evangelization and Culture". some characteristics which we see as We have ongoing difficulties with the important - option for the poor, central authority in Rome about how basic christian communities, theol- to do theology - how to transmit ogy of liberation. These three go gospel values. Our approach is induc- together. The letter of approval tive. The Congregation for Doctrine's written to us by John Paul I1 in March approach is deductive, from prin- 1986 seemed to put an end to Rome's ciples. Why must there be only one opposition to liberation theology. He possible method? We prefer to look even said that the rest of the Church at reality and ask what does it teach could learn from it. When Cardinal us. We emphasize the signs of the Gantin read the Pope's letter to us times as well as the deposit of the Bishops sang "Alleluia!". But now faith. This may be a simplistic the opposition continues. Why? We do explanation of a complicated process, not want to be triumphalistic flag but I invite you to read again and wavers. But we are 300 Bishops, and to study John XXIII's opening address we have 13 000 priests and 40 000 to Vatican II! Religious. There will be obviously be MISSIONARY OUTREACH OF THE LATIN AMERICAN CHURCH and the FOURTH LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARY CONGRESS (COMLA 4) Lima, Peru, February, 1991

Romeo Ballan. MCCJ

Latin America is not only the called for help, both in personnel continent in which a certain theology and finances, from sister Churches of liberation was born, it is becom- and other continents.The very fact ing also the continent of the mis- that in these few years there has sionary hope of the Church. been an awakening of such a strong missionary awareness is surely a sign of the Spirit who is guiding this The Hissionary Hope of Latin America Church along new paths.

Presently there are between two In addition to what Dom Ivo said and three thousand missionaries born this morning, there are other facts in Latin America working "beyond that justify the missionary hope their frontiers." as Puebla puts it, emanating from Latin America. First many of them in Africa, Asia and the of all there is the impact that the Pacific Islands besides those who Latin American church has had within work in Europe. Two or three thousand the universal Church. Evidently this are not many. We are still trying to impact, giving rise to seeds of a define the exact number a little bet- different ecclesial presence in ter. In fact in Bogote at COMLA 3 we sister Churches and on other con- spoke of about 2,000, but it seems tinents cannot be measured in num- that the number is perhaps close to bers. We can only gauge it from the 3,000. However, if we consider that diffusion of some ecclesial intui- Latin America by 2000 A.D. will have tions typical of Latin America, such about half the Catholics in the world as the creation of basic Christian 40 or 50% of the missionaries of the communities and the flourishing of third millennium should come from ministries among the laity. I quote Latin America. Instead, out of the former Director of the Propaga- 200,000 missionaries in the world, tion of the Faith in Belguim: only a little over a mere 2% are from this continent. "It is very surprising to see how the Latin American Church has ar- This small proportion has a very rived in a very short time to be a complex historical explanation. But Church which is young, dynamic and there is a new fact that truly makes prophetic, a Church which has us refer to Latin America as the detached itself from its powerful and "continent of the missionary hope of rich allies to move instead towards the Church." Only 20 or 30 years ago, the poor, the marginalized, the it was exceptional to even hear about oppressed. By choosing to stand by the possibility of a missionary ex- the poor, with the poor and at the pansion of Latin America. Tradi- level of the poor, it has experienced tionally it was a continent that a conversion and has become a leading model of Church renewal. In its of mission, I mention the Center for fidelity to the Gospel. the example the Formation of Missionaries, the of this Church suggests an examina- result of a promise made to Cardinal tion of conscience that would fit Tomko by Msgr. Castrillon the presi- even other Churches. The Latin dent of CELAM at the end of COMLA 3 American Church is fighting to free in Bogota, 1987 that he would create itself from the consequences of another structure within CELAM, de- colonialism.. ." pendent from the secretariat of CELAM itself to form missionaries from Besides this pastoral inspira- Latin America. This experiment has tion, there are other elements of a not worked out very well as yet, and more institutional nature. The Latin those in charge are the first to ad- American Church was the first to or- mit it. ganize itself at a continental level. CELAM was founded in 1955. The Federation of Episcopal Conferences Episcopal Conferences of Asia, (FABC), SECAM in Africa, the Council of Episcopal Conferences of The missionary commitment of Europe, etc., have followed the Latin various episcopal conferences is American model in different forms. growing. For the first time bishops, gathered in a collegial atmosphere are taking clear positions in regard The Journey Towards Puebla to the missionary involvement ad gentes. Colombia, for instance has In the last few decades the mis- published a document on it after sion department of CELAM has done a having spent several days on the com- service of animation within the Latin mitment ad gentes. Just before COMLA American Church. It has produced 4 in Lima, the episcopal conference several booklets, perhaps not very of Peru will give three full days to impressive, but certainly relevant. a reflection on its commitment ad They have served as instruments of gentes. reflection, gathering the thoughts of mission theologians from Latin Dom Ivo already talked about America, or who work in Latin Brazil this morning. I would like to America, and spreading them at the underline the importance of the docu- level of the episcopal conferences. ment he quoted: "Church, Communion and Mission in the Evangelization of The journey towards that No. 368 the Poor in the World of Labour, of of Puebla, has been long. There are Politics and of Culture." Above all I at least 20 numbers in Puebla that draw your attention to numbers 113 speak of the universal missionary through 131 dealing with the comit- thrust coming out of Latin America. ment to the evangelization of the Numbers 365-366 especially, are the poor. result of various conferences and meetings of the Latin American epis- Smaller Churches such as Hon- copate called by the mission depart- duras, Panama, and others are realiz- ment of CELAM - Ambato in 1967, ing that a "new hour" has come for Colombia in 1968, Caracas in 1969, the whole Latin American Church. In Mexico in 1970, Quito in 1971, and fact several bishops are ready to others. These led to the famous No. send their priests ad gentes. In 368: "Finally the hour has come for answer to an initiative of the mis- Latin America to reach beyond its sion department of CELAM it was the frontiers." bishops who most needed priests who were more willing to send some of Among the more recent Latin theirs to sister Churches. American institutions at the service nission congresses tion of mission awareness - but here we must express some reservations. Mission Congresses have been They come from Dom Ivo's predecessor, among the activities that have most Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida, who is helped the Latin American Church to attending the Synod. When he was grow in its missionary commitment. secretary of the Episcopal Conference There have been many such in Latin of Brazil he chided the missionary America, especially in Mexico. As we orders. - "You missionaries have made meet here the 11th National Mission Christians out of us, but not mis- Congress is taking place in Tijuana. sionaries. The specific role of mis- The COMLAs were born in Mexico. The sion orders is to inculcate in the first and second COMLAs were held people the holy germ of missionary there in 1977 and in 1983. Peri- awareness." This reproach is jus- odically there have been mission Con- tified. I and other missionaries gresses in other countries as well. believe . that many missionary Con- in Colombia, Argentina. Ecuador, gregations in Latin America have be- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru. These Con- come part of the establishment. There gresses have a very popular style. are missionaries who leave their They are not gatherings of experts countries just to be pastors in Latin for a small number of people. They America. We need pastors, but I are for the masses with the idea of believe that a missionary Congrega- implanting a missionary fervor. They tion which exhausts most of its may romanticize the missions which energies in providing pastors in can be dangerous. These gatherings Latin America is not answering the have a festive atmosphere peculiar to specific purpose of its charism of the Church in Latin America and also ensuring that the Church will be a the African Church. It is not pos- missionary Church. This task demands sible to have a gathering without a a type of freedom which evidently is festive celebration. COHLA 4 too, not compatible with the many demands will be a celebration. on a pastor's time.

Mission Magazines Another very positive indication of the missionary outlook of the The preparation for COMLA 4 has Latin American Church is the presence been long. Mission magazines have of missionary Congregations born in been an important tool these past Latin America. Examples are the years awakening and forming a mis- Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal, sionary awareness in God's people. In founded in 1927; the Society of Santa spite of serious financial dif - Maria de Guadalupe for the foreign ficulties, difficulties of distribu- missions founded in 1949; the Mis- tion and the high rate of illiteracy sionaries of St. Clare of the Most B- the magazines of Brazil, Mexico, Ar- lessed Sacrament; the Missionaries of gentina, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica. Jesus Crucified, who are, at present Chile. Ecuador, Paraguay and the largest missionary congregation Venezuela, provide a very important in Latin America. We already find service of information and formation projects, and desires (already of missionary awareness. Fortunately realised in Chile), to found mission- our superiors - and I include Father ary Congregations. Francesco Pierli, your SEDOS Presi- dent - are backing us. There is no financial gain in producing these magazines.

Missionary Congregations COMLA 4 is an exclusively Church Missionary Congregations have event. On February 3 through 8, 1991. had a very special role in the forma- this 4th Missionary Congress will take place in Lima. From the very ment has now become one of the most beginning the aim of the "COHLAs" has common themes in the missionary been to coordinate and stimulate mis- reflection which is going on in Latin sionary efforts on a continental America. level and to encourage local Churches in Latin America to take respon- Pope John Paul I1 has often ap- sibility for the evangelization of pealed to the Latin American Church, all the peoples of the earth. The that it may open ever more to its bishops of Peru put the aim thus: "To mission ad gentes. The emphasis has strengthen the answer of the local increased from the beginning of his Churches in Latin America and, from pontificate up to his declaration of Latin America, to face the challenges last June. This is evident in the 500 of the mission ad gentes". talks given by the Pope during his 10 journeys in Latin America and in his The local Churches are called to talks ad limina. strengthen efforts that already ex- ist in their own internal missionary During his first journey in 1979 situations. At no time must the mis- to Puebla, there is only a short men- sion ad gentes mean a running away tion of the invitation to move from local realities and duties. But towards missions ad gentes when at the local Church is also called to go the end of the opening talk he said, from Latin America towards other con- "I too repeat with Jesus, go and tinents. COMLA 4 means to support. preach the gospel to the whole guide and prepare the local Churches, world. " so that they may answer the mission- ary call out of their own experience But, as the years go by he seems of the Christian faith especially by to be more and more aware of the ur- sending out Latin American mis- gency that Latin America should open sionaries. This sending of mis- beyond its boundaries. sionaries will be a meaningful part of the Lima Congress. At the closing "In closing these reflections on ceremony, departing missionaries will the new evangelization of this con- be given the mission cross. tinent I wish to refer to a challenge that is about to awaken a certain Along this journey, we have apostolic restlessness among many of received very precise directives both you, namely, the necessity and the from the bishops and from the Pope. responsibility to evangelize beyond First of all we have the document of your borders. The hour has come when Puebla which reads: you, consecrated men and women of Latin America, will have to be "Finally the hour has come for present ever more in other Churches the Latin American Church to inten- across the world with a dynamism sify the mutual services between lo- without barriers, and that you too, cal Churches and to go beyond one's may offer with generosity, out of own boundaries, ad gentes. It is true your poverty, a help to the evan- that we, ourselves, need mis- gelizing mission of the Church in sionaries, but we must give out of other nations. This mutuality, proof our own poverty. " of Christian and missionary dynamism of the Churches where you work, will Speaking with some bishops at also be a manifestation of the Puebla about this very statement, I maturity of a continent which, evan- found that they themselves at that gelized five centuries ago, wants to moment were not even aware of the im- be today, within the universal portance of their statement, of the church, an evangelizing continent". inspiration to be found in it, of the 1#29 in Allocution of the Pope to courage that made them say: we must Religious in Latin America). give out of our poverty. This state- On other occasions, such as at of mentality for it is not easy to Bogota, he has repeated very clearly, make people understand when they see "The hour has come for Latin America situations of great poverty in their to start an evangelization without own dioceses. This qualitative change frontiers." Speaking again in Bogota, consists in having courage and faith, in 1986, he said, "The Holy See asks to give like the widow of the gospel of CLAR collaboration, fidelity and gave. It is not an escape from inter- responsibility for the evangelization nal problems, but a special grace. It of Latin America and of the world." is a source of renewal (AG37) and a sign of an awakening of vocations We spoke with the executive body also for the local needs. The mission of CLAR about the upcoming Congress ad intra, and the mission ad extra at its meeting last March, near Lima. are tied together. They enrich each There is a clear commitment on their other, and must be developed part: "As religious we must take upon together. They are simultaneous and ourselves the mission ad gentes as a complementary. task, a field proper to us."

Immediate Preparation for COHLA 4 The Historical Context of COHLA 4 There have been at least 6 meet- I would like to underline the ings at continental level of bishops. points mentioned by Dom Ivo - the mission office directors and experts. celebration of the 500th anniversary Many preparatory gatherings are al- of evangelization, the fact that 50% ready taking place at diocesan and of Catholics will soon be in Latin national level. Various episcopal America, the programme of new evan- conferences such as Peru and gelization, the upcoming 4th General Venezuela are studying the theme. Meeting of Latin American bishops, Booklets have already been printed. etc. These make us reflect that it is There will be an estimated 2,000 par- necessary to make a qualitative leap ticipants - no small challenge in the in the contribution of the Latin present situation of Peru. Religious American Church beyond its borders. and missionary superiors, and SEDOS as well, are asked to encourage their Finally, after 500 years, the members to attend. Major superiors Church will be able to outgrow the too should attend. Their presence almost total dependency on outside by will help COMLA itself and will ener- finally having missionaries leave gize their members - one of the main from Latin America. This is not a objectives of COMLA. Otherwise we end loss, but, in the ways of the Gospel, up as so often with beautiful state- an enrichment for the very same ments. The missionary commitment can Churches. The time has come to pay be measured more from the number of our foreign debt1 Not the 500 billion missionaries who actually go, than by dollar debt, but the foreign debt the beautiful statements. If no one that the Latin American Church has goes, it means that the tree is not accrued from having received freely bearing fruit. Beautiful leaves, the gift of faith. Today this Church but ... is called to share this same gift freely with the 3.5 billion people who do not yet know the Saviour, I11 A MSSIONAKY REFLECTION Jesus Christ. IN TEE LATIN AMERICAN

We are faced with a change from receiving to giving. We will still "New" The theme of a mission ad need help, in kind and in personnel, gentes coming from Latin America is but we must give out of our own new and very promising. As recently poverty. This demands a great change as 20 years ago, because of the magnitude of its internal needs, no resurrection comes the task of an- one even dreamed that Latin America nouncing the good news of Jesus as would open so much to a mission ad new life. The death and resurrection gentes. This opening is already bear- of Jesus Christ are the center of ing fruit. There is greater awareness gravity of any missionary considera- about foreign missions as we move tion. So the centrality of Jesus from one COMLA to another. It is no Christ in his paschal mystery becomes longer a novelty. the origin of missionary commitment, the joyous announcement of a new "The Hour" Another theme that is life. very often reflected upon is the biblical "hour". Also for Jesus Christ "the hour had come." Pius XI1 already spoke in these terms. It is important that this chronological LATIN MIEBICA'S UMTRIBWON "hour" intertwined with the 500th an- TO MISSION niversary celebrations, may also be an hour of grace and salvation. A clear indication comes from a speech by John Paul I1 on the occa- "Frontiers" The theme of the sion of World Mission Sunday, 1982. "frontiers" also deserves attention. There are no totally rich Churches The term was used at Puebla. Even and totally poor Churches; each more, we remember the words of God to Church is rich and poor at the same Abraham, "Come out of your own land." time. Each one has something to give and the mandate of Jesus, "Go into and something that it needs to the whole world." The term used at receive from others. Therefore each Puebla has inspired movements of Church has gifts to share with its young people called "sin fronteras". sister Churches. Several magazines published by the Comboni Missionaries in Latin America The second part of the famous carry this title: three at least in No. 368 of Puebla read: "On the other Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. hand, our Churches can offer some- To go beyond one's frontiers has be- thing original and important: Their come a form of spirituality. In fact understanding of salvation and it is not simply a matter of packing liberation; the richness of their and going somewhere, but of going popular religiosity; the experience beyond racial, religious, and cul- of the basic Christian communities; tural barriers. the revival of its ministries; its hope and joy in the faith. We have Communion and Sharing The two already done missionary work. May it words that are basic to the documents deepen and be extended ever more." of Puebla. "communion and sharing" These are some of the values typical bear reflection. Many theologians see of the Latin American Church. Strange in them a missionary meaning, and use that in this context another value is them as synonyms of mission to indi- not mentioned, one of the greatest cate "communion and sharing" of the assets of our faith - devotion to the gift of the faith that we have Blessed Mother. Though not mentioned received. in this number it is very much present in other parts of the docu- A Paschal Event Mission is a ment. In Latin America there are at paschal event, an ecclesial event, least 2,000 names of cities, villages born out of the paschal mystery, or places that refer to a mystery, fruit of the power of the Spirit on litany or title of the Blessed Virgin the day of the resurrection. By Mary. virtue of the resurrection, human beings are able to see others as Naturally, these values are not brothers and sisters. Out of the confined to Latin Americans, by birth or passport! The important point is mission has a unifying dynamism that these values must be accepted within the Church. Inasmuch as we personally. live our mission with a sense of emergency or urgency it is easier to solve internal tensions and divi- Option for the Poor sions. We see it in our own homes. If a home is burning, no one is too con- The missionary dimension of the cerned about saving a flower, or preferential option for the poor is closing a door, but we try to save well known in Latin America. The mis- what is essential. Mission then be- sion department of CELAM has sug- comes the platform where we all can gested they must be applied, not only meet, even though we may have dif- to those who are materially poor, but ferent ideas, and make different beyond that. There are peoples who choices. This is important also in are doubly poor. They may be the present context with regard to materially poor not unlike much of the theology of liberation. Latin America, but even more so be- cause they do not have the gift of faith. Starting from this option for the poor it is logically possible to reach a greater commitment to the PROBLm AREAS sharing of faith with others who are poorer because they do not have this There is need of a deeper gift. reflection in Latin America. Theological reflection is still not sufficiently deep and could also be North-South-North better coordinated.

Traditional evangelization, There is need for a clearer un- carried out by the North to the South derstanding of the connection between has been characterized by examples of mission ad intra and mission ad ex- generous and exemplary lives, but tra, - not separated but moving along also by a certain sense of supe- together as complementary parts of riority, certainly in the financial the same mission. It is not right to sphere, but also culturally. This has say that we will first take care of brought about a certain complex of local situations, then we will think inferiority in the South. Mis- of the rest of the world. sionaries who share the ecclesial choices of Latin America, may help to The quality of the missionaries bring about a new style of mission, must be emphasized. The mission ad no longer from North to South, but gentes demands a serious preparation from South to South, and perhaps even for a long-lasting comnitment. It has from South to North, with the con- never been easy to be a missionary. sequences that this change may bring about. There is also a need for greater commitment on the part of the Material help will be clearly diocesan clergy. Missionaries are distinguished from the number of still for the most part religious. baptisms! Latin American mis- Out of the 2.000, only very few are sionaries, not bringing money as diocesan priests, and they come Europeans do, may be able to preach a mostly from just two dioceses. There gospel more authentically free in the is a need also for greater participa- measure that they will have made tion on the part of the hierarchy. their own the values of the Latin American Church. There is a need to move from words to deeds; in Latin America, and In times of tension and division not only there, it is always easy to write beautiful documents without request has gone out to the major ex- reaching concrete results. An Asian ponents of the theology of libera- bishop at the 1974 Synod in Rome tion, asking them to integrate the reminded the participants how impor- concept of mission ad gentes into the tant it was that all the fervor that concept of "giving out of our own comes through the many mission con- poverty ." gresses may not stop at the level of a missionary romanticism, the con- sequences of which have affected us Conclusion all for better or for worse in the 19th century and at the beginning of The mission ad gentes is a fruit the 20th. Missionary romanticism runs of faith. I remember the words of the risk of creating a crusading Cardinal Martini when he came to Lima spirit. We must let motivation take last February to preach retreats. I the place of emotions, always aware told him of COMU 4: "Your COMLA is that the gospel and faith are gifts an act of couragel" he said. It is an that we must offer to others humbly, act of courage that becomes a new respectfully, on our knees. richness. The courage to leave. El valor de salir, - in Spanish does not Concerning the relation between mean only the courage to leave, but universal mission and integral also the richness that underlines the liberation, there is a feeling that, leaving. This is how the Latin in some circles close to the practi- American Church should live this mo- cal experiences of the theology of ment of grace, this kairos, this sal- liberation, global mission is looked vific "hour", with its inner upon as an escape from local needs - vitality, this awakening of the Latin which are mostly in the social order. American Church matching the hour of This is why, from various corners a its opening to the world. THE MISSIONARY DILEMMA A GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE

Alfons Merten, SW

I want to be a missionary, not solid structures and administrative a church administrator! But after 30 control. These are the strength as years as a missionary in Ghana I am well as the weakness of the church. still trying to find out how to be Since the church considers itself to one. A missionary is caught in a be the custodian of revealed truth dilemma: he is a lonely wanderer be- it feels bound to formulate this tween two worlds; leaving his own truth in the European tradition of behind, he tries to enter into a new doctrinal teaching and moral ap- and unknown one. In doing so, he plication. This applies likewise to suffers many disappointments and its liturgy and ministry. It is ac- disillusionments, much frustration. tually the gospel in its European frequent failure, and at times real attire which is offered as the in- agony. To present Jesus and his dispensable means of salvation to teaching - the gospel as the pearl humankind. In the same vein, the of great value it claims to be - to magisterium, the government, the people who have found different sets judiciary are the realm of the of values in the course of their clergy which is set apart and kept history, amounts to a personal mis- aloof from the laity. This begins sionary adventure whose outcome can- with their training in the seminary. not be predicted. Is this struggle Matters that concern the established of today's missionary recognized, European church are considered as acknowledged and taken seriously by ordained by God. A long tradition church leaders and fellow has convinced church leaders that Christians? God identifies himself with them and their actions. A grave error.

The European-ness of The Church in Our European-ness impedes an Africa easy approach to the African mind and heart. A liturgy which in many The church has its roots in cases is celebrated but rarely, and Europe. Just as Islam is determined hardly ever really understood, a by Arabic tradition, history, lan- catechesis, a church language, forms guage and mentality, so is the of ministry and rules of discipline Christian church by its European which are rather foreign and, to a origin. Add to this the colonial considerable degree, unrelated to trauma, the slave trade, today's the real life experience of our plight of the Third World, and it people, fail to offer that feeling should be evident that the European- of interior enrichment and that ness of the church is the greatest sense of fulfillment which their own single obstacle to the evangelisa- traditional social and religious tion of Africa. convictions and practices have given them over centuries, and continue to The European church, like give them today. As a consequence, European society, needs and loves the church worker, whether African clearly defined principles and or European, is caught in the truths, codified laws and rules, dilemma of how to reconcile two differing views of world and life. Challenge of the Independent The weight of this burden makes some Churches suffer so much frustration that they are in danger of becoming disaf- The African Independent fected, demoralized and in the end Churches (A.I.C.) undoubtedly repre- split personalities. sent the strongest reaction, in- spired by the Bible, to the unsatis- fying performance of the European What is 'Unchangeable'? established churches. Being more concerned about persons than struc- To my mind there is no doubt tures, they both sense and answer that, if we continue to celebrate successfully to a spiritual void in the eucharist and the sacraments, people. They are flexible and open present Christian doctrine,and ad- to change. The independent church here to European norms of ministry leaders try to offer their and discipline the way we are doing countrymen what the established now, we will become, and will go churches so often fail to give them down in the history of Africa, as - the joyful experience of together- the grave-diggers of the church. ness and of being uplifted. They do Painful as it is, we are forced to not erect barriers between leaders recognize and to admit that the very and laity, men and women. They factors which made for the unshak- handle their own finances. And be- able strength of the church in the cause they answer the psychological past must be seen today as the main and spiritual expectations and needs obstacles to its growth. In trying of their followers, their church at- to meet and face this challenge we tendance is often overwhelming. have been quite flexible in external and non-essential matters but far How are we going to face the less open to change in what we con- challenge of the independent sider to be untouchable and un- churches? As the saying goes, "If changeable principles. The question you can't beat them, join them"! We we have to ask ourselves here is had better adopt some of their forms whether what we think unchangeable of worship. As an expatriate I can- is truly so in God's view. Are we not really prescribe the way or set not rather dictating to God what he the pace, but our Ghanaian pastors must accept as unchangeable? should. It was exhilarating to see our own church members, both adult If we continue to be as rigid, and children, join in the singing, as unimaginative, as inflexible as handclapping and dancing of an apos- we are now, the church will become tolic congregation as we witnessed less and less attractive and appeal- recently here at Donkorkrom at the ing to the unbiased people of Christian Home Week service. The Africa. While we go on insisting on people know their songs and they complex administrative structures love them; they feel at home with and increasing numbers of experts in them. At Donkorkrom there are 17 mushrooming departments, we have churches, the greater number long ago been overtaken by the inde- "apostolic". In December 1987 six pendent churches which claim, and I neatly dressed SDA preachers ap- believe rightly so, to offer more peared in town, went from house to personal and continuous pastoral house to invite people to their care than the established churches. crusade, set up a big tent with a In search of these values, even mem- generator and loudspeakers, preached bers of our own church turn to the and sang and attracted people for independent churches in the sure three weeks. On the last Saturday hope of finding there what they are they transported 60 new members to missing with us. the lake and baptized them. Everybody was given a Bible. leavers? That our organisations. Presently they are building a like "CYO" or "Christian Mothers", chapel. No wonder that our choir are kept alive with difficulty? That master complained recently that more our chapels are often so neglected and more people were attracted by and dirty? And that there is such a the SDA singing and if we did not lack of Christian witness in public improve our own performance we would life? Far from being the conscience lose many. of the nation Christians tend to blend with the social and political currents of the day. Christianity Meeting the living Christ proves to be a convenience, not a conviction. Thus we find ourselves However, I am not just appeal- in a country which is demoralized, ing here for the infusion of some pitifully devoid of fearless Chris- external forms of worship into our tian spokesmen who give guidance and church's bloodstream. The problem we encouragement to their countrymen. are facing today has far deeper Merely to blame the politicians for dimensions. Our talk about "gospel" all failures is seriously inadequate and "Christian message" is often and does not absolve us from our lacking in depth; it is too superfi- share of guilt and responsibility. cial, too cheap, and therefore not satisfying, not convincing, not in- To remedy this situation, we spiring. We have been lecturing our must find an approach to the cult members rather more on the doctrinal mystery of the church which is at- and moral aspects of the sacraments, tractive, enriching and convincing. emphasizing the conditions for their The celebration of our Christian validity and worthy reception, but sacraments must become for our failing far too often to lead them people, a more rewarding experience into the central mystery of than the celebration of their cus- sacramental belief and life. Are we tomary rites at their shrines and in successful in presenting the sacra- the home. Let us be clear about ments as holy actions in which we this: the requirements which con- meet the living Christ and enter stitute a sacrament are found at into union with him? Do we lead our these customary rites - communion people to the experience of joy and with the godhead present. We shall a new sense of fulfillment and fail in our apostolate if we do not freedom? succeed in leading our Christians to the personally and truly valued ex- There is an inflation of words perience of the saving Christ like "joy". "peace", "spirit", but present in the liturgical action of do they convey a truly Christian the church. We must endeavour to meaning and reflect a real ex- give the sacraments the central perience, or do they rather satisfy place they have held in the church emotional desires? I am afraid that since its beginning and challenge where we had too much doctrinal ter- all other churches in this regard. A minology before we have too much un- type of ecumenism which tempts us to realistic psychology now. Whatever give second place to the celebration we do must be related to the real of the central mysteries of our and often dirty world in which we church must be critically analyzed live and work. Comon-sense-people and challenged. This can never do have a good feeling for whether harm if it is done in service to the something is true or not to the real gospel. I believe that such a chal- life situation. If it is not they lenge will help our members to wake reject it. Is not this the reason up and to ask themselves why they for the deplorable fact that school are Christians and how they can leavers are often also church maintain their Christianity. God in History many problems, but also its vast potential. Are they ready to try and solve the former by tapping the Here, of course, arise ques- latter? tions which lie underneath the sur- face, questions which today's church authorities may refuse to consider "The Grave-diggers of the Church?" but which must nevertheless be asked because the time is ripe. As St. Here I repeat my earlier Paul puts it, the kairos is present. statement: If we continue to Even if sympathetic reactions are celebrate the eucharist and the less likely to be expected today or sacraments, to present Christian in the near future, just to open up teaching, to adhere to European the public debate on these pressing norms of ministry and discipline the problems may quite soon prove to be way we are doing now, we will be- a step in the right direction. God come, and go down in the history of reveals his salvific plan for all Africa as the grave-diggers of the humankind in the course of evolving church. In an effort to prevent this history. Unfortunately, all too of- from happening, we could ask some ten our church has failed to see God questions: at work in history, in evolving so- cial questions, in "the (a) How long are we going to insist proletariat", in press freedom, in that seminary trained clergymen the rise of dictators, etc. etc. All alone can be pastors? African tradi- too often, when the train of history tion as well as former church prac- had almost passed, did the church tices offer alternatives. Our system just manage to jump on the last step rather excludes the African elders of the last carriage in order not to and wise men from helping to build be left out altogether. For this Christian communities. There is reason, a good number of sincere simply no place for example in our people of this modern age are rather church for a fetish priest who be- less convinced of the church's sin- comes a sincere Christian, to use cerity when it makes pronouncements his talents in the service of the on peace and social justice. In our gospel. Likewise our attempts at modern society the church often getting the laity involved appear to finds itself in a position of weak- be awkward and artificial. When ness in political and social issues praying for vocations, we tend to and this determines its way of dictate to God what type of voca- speaking. Not so long ago, when it tions he ought to provide, whereas exercised power and influence, there God himself no longer seems to agree were quite different modes of speech with our view and is already moving and reactions. What Jesus said of in a different direction. Who the leaders of the synagogue he prevents the church from growing? could quite often have said of the leaders of his church: "You can pre- (b) How long are we going to insist dict the weather by looking at the that European psychological sky but you cannot interpret the preferences and social structures signs concerning these times!" must form the foundation or our wor- ship and teaching, of our under- No manlwoman is an island. No standing of marriage and of our religion or church either. The whole administration? world and all humankind are today one single island. Missionaries have (c) How long are we going to insist left the European church island and that the diocesan clergy be bound by find themselves in the young and the law of celibacy? Again African challenging African world with its tradition and former church practices know an alternative. Do (d) How long are we going to behave our church leaders know the opinion as if Christian values are the only of their clergy? Would it be good to true and real values in religious conduct secret opinion polls? Maybe beliefs and practices? Mere rhetoric such an action, very common today. is not enough here. If the tradi- will put new life into our old sys- tional religions of Africa have sur- tem by spurring public debate and vived and flourished for centuries, awakening a deeper interest in the it is due to their inherent values future course of the church. Or are which were sought and appreciated by we too, concerning this and similar the people. Gospel faith must be "dangerous and delicate" problems. built on the values of traditional committed to a "culture of silence". faith. This is not a contradiction; an abuse of silence, as happens also it is a real and realistic approach in the political field?l to the missionary task. INTERNATIONAL ST- FRANCIS PRIZE FOR THE ENVIROJ.W-%ENT: CANTICLE OF ALL CREATURES

OUR ClJlWON ENVlRONMWT IN TEE SPIRIT OF ASSISI

ASSISI October 19, 1990

The understanding of the en- discussed. It is correctly maintained vironment on the part of increasing that the attainment of these goals segments of the world's population is demands sacrifice not only by com- the result of the efforts of munities, but also by individuals. educators, scientists, international Indeed, every proposed solution, even organizations and associations for that of sustainable development, the protection of nature, and of the presupposes that lifestyles must be mass media. changed and a new outlook must be developed toward everything that sur- Environmental problems impose rounds us - toward renewable and non- themselves today with ever-growing renewable resources, toward their urgency on every individual's con- use, and toward pollution itself. science, on the consciences of those responsible for business enterprizes, A major investment has to be on states and governments, and on in- made to combat environmental il- ternational organizations. The under- literacy in order to obtain the standing of these problems can no necessary knowledge and understanding longer be local but must become to achieve conservation of natural global, a necessary perspective if resources. New technologies are the quality of life of human popula- needed which, for example, improve tions is to be assured in the fcture. soil and water management, allow abundant agricultural production and thus, guarantee nutrition security. Coordinated Global Coumitment Personal and Conmmity Formation To protect the environment, a coordinated, global commitment is In a world in which unchecked required which must be wisely managed consumerism of an active minority and fully implemented, - a commitment contrasts with the profound misery of that will take into account the great large populations, it is necessary differences which exist in the world, that everyday - lifestyles be re- not least of which is the unequal examined. This is why a new kind of distribution of the world's personal and community formation is resources. Consequently, environmen- needed that will favour solidarity tal policies must be harmonized with with today's generation and with social development and with a more those which are to follow. We should equitable economic model. not conceal from ourselves the fact that this will demand a new way of Today, not only financially ex- thinking, as well as a revolution in traordinary projects dealing with en- present economic and industrial vironmental protection but also structures, all of which will require physical instruments to bring about great personal commitment on the part the prevention of pollution are being of everyone. The environmental problem is so The building of an adequate base complex and its various components of scientific and technical manpower are so intricately intertwined that throughout the world is a necessary its successful solution requires the condition for human progress, but common, coordinated effort of very few scientists and engineers everyone. This is a difficult, but reside in developing countries. Con- not impossible task, if an awareness sequently, training and proper sup- of humankind's responsibility for its port for the appropriate institution future is awakened. Such an awareness must be provided everywhere, so that can be assured, above all, through national responses may be properly education and the diffusion of the informed, and all may participate environmental objectives to be fully in the construction of a world reached. In this area, the mass media characterized b Y ecological has an important role to fulfill. It stability, peace, and justice. needs to adopt a code of conduct so that its message is targeted towards promoting a model of sustainable Plight of the Poorer Populations development. Rigid economic laws, climatic It is therefore indispensable conditions, shortsighted management. that everyone, through correct and provisional and reckless solutions of serious information offered without old problems, and large-scale migra- catastrophic scenarios, but just and tions of peoples have created clear in its presentation, become deteriorating conditions for the en- aware of the role that he or she can vironment, and thus for the poorer exercise in assuring the kind of populations in many parts of our development that respects, according Planet. The attention of married to Saint Francis' "Canticle of All couples is drawn to responsible Creatures", the environment and its procreation which conforms to the components - sun, energy, water. ethical and religious principles of soil, air and living organisms. Even their particular culture. today, because of its universal and eternal values, the Saint's message In the search for solutions to can be accepted by all men and women. environmental problems, characterized by many variable and poorly known factors, scientific research and Human. Scientific and Technological technology are of utmost importance. Eesources It should also be pointed' out that both can lead to economic benefits To ensure progress worldwide it which, in turn, can bring about a is indispensable to be able to have more adequate management of natural recourse to human, scientific and resources. technological resources. Today's world has been changed profoundly by By various means, many countries the achievements of science, realized are reclaiming their local environ- through the use of the most varied ments from the considerable damage technologies so far invented. Al- caused by imprudent industrialization though this has often led to disor- and poor agroforestry practices. On dered development which has not al- the other hand, it is difficult to ways been positive for humankind, it improve the situation in some tropi- made notable progress possible. Im- cal regions where it is not easy to prudent and unwise management. provide sufficient food resources. however, has caused a senseless Here multidisciplinary research is plundering of resources, often with essential. Biotechnologies, for ex- increasing harm to the poorer and ample, could allow for abundant har- destitute populations of the globe. vests especially with plants which are less susceptible to atmospheric a global problem which must be faced conditions and more resistant to by concrete initiatives at the global harmful pests and diseases and level. In the Spirit of St. Francis through the improvement of animal who loved the plants and animals that husbandry. enrich our lives we should become more vividly aware of this irrevers- ible loss which is taking place in Examples of Effective Projects our day - a loss without precedent. It is in effect a denial of our moral Effective projects are already responsibility for it places a grow- being implemented through legislation ing limit to our ability to assure a and other norms at national and in- safe future for humankind. It is ternational levels. Examples are therefore necessary to persevere in UNESCO's World Heritage Convention clear and effective action, supported and Man and the Biosphere Programme; by the conscious consent of all men UNEP (United Nations Environment and women for the preservation of the Programme) and the Scientific Com- environment. mittee of the Environment (SCOPE) of the International Council of Scien- Finally, we must admit to our- tific Unions (ICSU). They have in- selves that none of the proposed itiated local actions which even- scientific, technical or economic tually will have positive global ef- solutions can be initiated and bought fects. Inasmuch as ecosystems are in- to effective realization unless terdependent, these types of programs humankind, in the spirit of the must be developed everywhere to be brotherhood and sisterhood ex- effective. emplified by Saint Francis, commits itself to simplicity, decisiveness, solidarity and moral action. To com- Call to Action mit oneself in this manner is to work for peace and justice. John Paul I1 The disappearance of different referred to this spirit of Francis species today is a problem which when he called for peace with God the should be accepted unhesitatingly as Creator and peace with all creation.

TBE .JURY FOR THE INTKRNATIONAL SmFRANCIS PRIZE FOR THE IQlVlRONUWJ! AWARDED PRIZES AS FOLL(Ws:

Section I: Education and Com- Senator Amintore Fanfani. As munication Minister of Labour he established reforestation camps; as Minister of The National Geographic Society Agriculture succeeded in having the Italian government pass the "Mountain Section 11: Scientific Research Law"; encouraged the United Nations to organise the great 1972 Stockholm Maurice Aubert, Professor of International Conference on the Marine Biology and Director of Re- Environment; as President of the search at the Centre dlEtude et de Senate promoted the special senate Recherche de Biologie e t Commission for Ecology; as Prime Min- dtOcBanographie MBdicale (CERBOM) at ister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the University of Nice. consistently promoted environmental initiatives in international Councils Section 111: Realized and Effec- and Organisations and through the tive Action Ministry of the Environment in Italy. tlgEIBERS OF THE JURY

President Peter Raven Director Missouri Botanical Garden Giovanni Battista hrini-Bettdlo (USA) Marconi President of Pontifical Academy of Gian Tommaso Scarascia Uugnozea Sciences President National Academy of Sciences "XL" (Italy) Members Alfonso Alessandrini Monkumbo Swaminathan Director General of Forestry President IUCN - World Conservation Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Union (Switzerland) (Italy) Olof G. Tandberg Philippe Bourdeau Foreign Secretary of The Royal Director General Science, Research Swedish Academy of Sciences. and Development Joint Research Centre E.E. C. (Brussels) The Prize is promoted by the Franciscan Center of Environmental Ian Burton Studies and the General Custody of Director IFIAS - International the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis Federation of Institutes of Advanced in Assisi and realized with the Studies (Canada) cooperation of ENEL, the National Electricity Corporation of Italy un- Bernd von Droste der the Patronage of the President of Director Division of Ecological Italy and under the sponsorship of: Sciences UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scien- the Prime Minister tific and Cultural Organization (Paris) the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Hauro Laeng Vice President CEDE - European Center - the Minister of the Environment for Education (Italy) the Minister of Culture and En- Moise Uensah vironment Head of the Project Management Department IFAD - the Minister of Public Instruction International Fund for Agricultural Development (Rome) the Italian Commission of the European Communities Mario Pavan Director of the Institute of Entomol- the National Italian Commission ogy University of Pavia (Italy) for UNESCO ~ -- ---

"Canticle of all Creatures" -

ost high, all-powerful, all good. Lord! ailAll praise is yours, all glory, all honor And all blessing.

To you, alone. Most High, do they belong No mortal lips are worthy To pronounce your name.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, And first my lord Brother Sun, Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars: In the heavens you have made them, bright And precious and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, By which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, So useful, lowly, precious and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Through whom you brighten up the night. How beautiful is he, how gay! Full of power and strength

Alla praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother. Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon For love of you; through those who endure Sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace. By you. Most High, they will be crowned

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those She finds doing your will! The second death can do no harm to them

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks. And serve him with great humility. SEASONS OF MOTHERHOOD

June Johnston

(Seasons of Motherhood is a contextual theological reflection by June Johnston, mother of five children. We offer it as an Advent and Christmas reflection. It comes courtesy of Michel de Verteuil, CSSp, who published this in his Caribbean Bulletin).

Longing, expectancy, waiting. Season of joy, magic, wonder at Sure, yet uncertain. Promise, preg- life. nancy, patience. The tiny perfection of the new-born Stages of growth - seenlunseen; babe. unfeltlpainfully felt. Celebration time. Passivity, peace ... What will be Celebration of first time events ...... will be? smiles, coos, first steps, first Activity, anxiety, intervention, words, first days at school, first preparation. prizes won, first rides on trikes and bikes. The seed of hope, of promise to be nurtured, protected, reverenced. Celebration time. Birthdays, holidays - rolling Patient waiting for the child to be together on bed and on sand, born, cooking pancakes and cookies in a patient waiting for the potential of crazy kitchen - flour, pots, pans, each child to blossom into fruition, measuring spoons everywhere. into what helshe was meant to be. Clean up time WILL come. Waiting, dreaming, longing, hoping. For the moment joy.

Prayer Prayer

God our Father, our Mother, our God our Father, our Mother, our Creator, you who knew us before we Redeemer, you sent your Son Jesus were even conceived, teach us to into the world as the son of a wait for and with our children as simple woman and her carpenter hus- you wait for us. band. Teach us your patience. The birth of your son was heralded Help us to reverence the promise with the joyful singing of angels, that each child is. In our moments teach us to celebrate with joy the of anxiety and impatience both with everyday moments of our lives. our children and ourselves, still Help us to find Christmas magic and our fears and replace them with vi- joy in the simple things of life as sions, dreams and joyful hope. we mother our children. Give us a capacity to distil your joyful presence in the actions and achievements of our children. Desert time - long periods of New life ... Infant emerging from hesitation, uncertainty, wilderness. the darkness of the womb streaked In which direction does the oasis with the signs of pangs and pain of lie? its birth. How long before thirsts will be yet declaring in its first cry "I am quenched and hunger satisfied? here, I am alive". Which questions to voice? What answers to proffer? A new day davning, a new promise.

Endurance, perseverance, sacrifice. Emerging individuals coming out of Night-time feeds, sick fevered moan- their shells, contributing their ings, petulant cries. uniqueness to the pattern of life. Watching the hours go by and listen- Fresh new ideas, enthusiasms, ing for the sound of the key in the energy, spirits set free. lock. Wondering anxiously about ap- The stone of doubt, anxiety, disap- propriate friends, dates, exams, pointment, despair rolled away. drugs . . . Darkness giving way to light ... A quarrel patched up, toys neatly In search of the yellow poui stand- packed away after the bedlam of ing tall against the cloudless sky. play, once dirty dishes gleaming on emerging from the sun-baked arid the draining board, once dirty faces savannah. sparkling clean, hair neatly brushed, once dirty washing, clean, Trusting and perceiving (almost folded ready to be put away. imperceptibly) the signs of hope. Peace!

Prayer Prayer

God our Father, our Mother, our God our Father, our Mother, our Protector, you led your Son Jesus Saviour, you sent your Son Jesus to into the desert where he stayed for die on a cross and to be buried in a forty days and forty nights. tomb, so that the power of life over Sometimes our role as mothers seems death, of good over evil might be to lead us into the wilderness. proclaimed. We feel lost and alone, unsure of Help us as mothers to have a vision where to turn, what decisions to beyond what we see and experience in make. the present moment. We sometimes experience a desolation Help us to look beyond the disorder, that only a mother can know. tumult, heartaches and disappoint- In these desert moments help us to ments that our children often bring, endure and to trust, to resist the to see the promise of a new dawn, a temptation to find the easiest way new order, a new beginning. out, but rather to persevere in com- plete submission to your will. Prayer

The ordinary routine of life, long God our Father, our Mother, our ever passages of the same scenery day in present Friend, day out . . . we often search for you in high Temper tantrums of a two year old, places. the claimed boredom of a seven year As mothers we often complain that we old, the crazy ideas, antics, argu- have no time to spend with you, no ments, squabbles of two pre-teens. time to retreat and pray and we of- ten long for a special time and The Bread of Life, interlaced oc- place, forgeting that you are always casionally with sips of wine. there. anointed with the oil of salvation. Help us to be comfortable with our Family - Communion of Saints and everyday lives, to live each moment sinners. fully, ever thankful that we are Mother reconciling. where you call us to be. NEWS

SEWS HEU IimBlm delivered at the SEDOS Silver Jubilee celebration in December 1989. "If one SEDOS Executive Committee at its can read the signs of the times and November meeting approved the ap- discern priorities. I wonder whether plication for membership of the MIS- the privileged place and the most SIONARY SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART challenging for mission today is not OF JESUS, (MSC). The Superior General the First World". is Sr. Klara Sietmann. Address: via Martini di via Fani. 22.. 01015 Sutri A feature of this excellent (VT); Tel. 0761-608300. We welcome meeting was the panel of three the sisters to membership of SEDOS - speakers, an African-American, (Sr. or rather to their return as they Jamie T. Phelps, 0.P) a Mexican- were one of the first Womens' Con- American, (Fr. Virgilio Elizondo) and gregations to join SEDOS in its early a Vietnamese (Monsignor Dominic M. days. Luong) who spoke of the cultural gifts of U.S. minorities to the U.S. Church and their influence on evan- mss1ONABY OUrmACE OF TEE gelization. LATIN AlIEBICAN CEURCE

Dom Ivo Lorscheiier opened his TEE HAITI WORKING GROW conference at this well-attended seminar with a surprising and lengthy The Haiti Working Group met on affirmation of the religious charism October 31 at the SVD Generalate. The of missionary institutes and con- group discussed the reply received to gregations. The religious charism is their letter sent in January 1989 to to be an agent of renewal and of the Conference of Haitian Religious. creativity and because of this it The situation in Haiti is still ex- will often be uncomfortable. This is tremely tense. The Group shared in- exactly what the Vatican document formation on the upcoming elections dealing with the relations between and will remain in contact with the religious and bishops Mutuae Haitian Conference. They will meet Relationes, foresaw. Please, be again in January 1991. faithful to it, the Bishop said. Religious must be the pioneers in discovering the pastoral and mission- FRANCISCAN mss1ONARZBS OF MRY ary needs of the Church. Congratulations to Sr. Maura The full text of the Bishop's O'Connor, FMM on her re-election as Conference is in this Bulletin Superior General at the recent General Chapter held at Grottaferatta

"HISSION U.S.A." LIBgRU WORKING GROUP This was the theme of the Annual Conference of the United States There are now some 1.4 million Catholic Mission Association (USCMA) displaced Liberians following the 10 held at Chicago in October. Michael month civil strife. Quite a few Amaladoss, SJ., Ms. Edwina Gateley religious Congregations have been and Vincent Donovan, CSSp.. the three serving in Liberia and near-by main speakers dealt with different countries and are exploring ways to aspects of this mission. The chal- be of service in this time of crisis lenge in its more global context is and how to prepare for a role in in Michael Amaladoss' keynote address reconstruction of the country. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has in- AGENCIAS PARA LA ASISTENCIA DE itiated a form for exchange of in- PROYECTOS (Pierre Aubin, MSG and formation on this situation and for George Cotter. HM. 1989. 340 pp). coordinating links to Caritas Inter- nationalis, UNHCR and other agencies. This Spanish version of AGENCIES They met three times already and ex- FOR PROJECT ASSISTANCE, 3rd ed., pect to continue meeting monthly profiles 284 international agencies while the fighting goes on. Informa- which supvort projects in developing tion will also be mailed to those nations and is now available. It of- concerned. Participation welcomed. fers a detailed "how-to" for project Meetings take place at Borgo S. application and proposal-writing. 340 Spirito 3a. pp. Prepayment required. Send $60.00 (sixty. US$) per copy (postage air- Contact: JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE mail abroad incl.) to: MISSION Tel: (06) 686 9841; Fax: 39 6 687 PROJECT SERVICE, One Haven Plaza 9283 Y25A. New York, NY 10009 212-533- 6286.

COMING EVENTS

- - - -

SEIXl.5 ANNUAL ASSI44N.Y AND SHUUR:

KLSSIOIURY otrmlwm OF m APaTCAN csnlxCBgS

Speaker: LEONARD KASANDA, CICM

December 12, 1990: 9.30 - 18.00 hrs.

at

Brothers of the Christian Schools, via Aurelia, 476

The Speaker will address many aspects of the theme:

What mission for missionaries from Africa Today?

Who sends them? Who invites them? And Why?

Their identity? - seeing they do not bring financial help or gifts?

Do they inculturate in Belguim. Germany or wherever? Fill gaps? 1ntegr1te? Join the consumerist society7

Their formation and preparation? At present it resembles that of tradi- tional missionaries going from a Christian to a non-Christian society.

What means "The Local Church is missionary" if less than 10X of the population is Christian? These and many other questions. CHRISTIAN - MUSLIM DIALOGUE GROUP

Next Meeting: November 16, 1990 at 16.30

at

SEDOS Secretariat

Contact: Bernard Maes. CICM.. (6543240) or SEDOS Secretariat (5741350)

ST. PgTga'S APOSTLESHIP IN TBE JlmQtWT OF ST. PAUL TBE APOSTLE TO TBE GENTILBS

Speaker: Professor Dr. Eduard Lohse

November, 20 at.18.00 hrs.

The Gregorian University, Aula delle Tesi (ATRIO. C012)

Dr. Lohse is Bishop of the Evangelical Church in Hanover. He is the elected President of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches - the highest repre- sentative of these Churches in Germany. He is an internationally known exegete and will be lecturing in The Gregorian University during this semester.

SKDOS CHRISMAS PARTY

December 14, 1990; 18.00 - 21.00 hrs NOTE: This year we will hold it in the SM College Hall

by courtesy of the Society of the Divine World

BhITI GROUP

Next Meeting: January 14, 1991 at 15.30

at

SEDOS Secretariat