Newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission May - 2018 Communication Nuntiawww.cmglobal.org Congregatio Missionis @CMissionis CMglobal.org Office A dream called Akamasoa, Page 02 The Province of Colombia PreparesPage 04 Chaplain of the Camp of Burundian Page 05 the visit to Rome of Father Pedro Opeka, CM for the Celebration of its 150th Anniversary Refugees (Rwanda) Paris: “With a missionary heart in Page 08 Third CIF Encounter for the Page 12 Strengthening VMY and Founding Page 13 the heart of the city,” Vincentian Family New Associations around the World General Information Page 15 General Curia A dream called Akamasoa, the visit to Rome of Father Pedro Pablo Opeka, CM ElenaThe visit Grazini, to Rome Press of ServiceFather PedroOffice Pablo Opeka, CM, had a double purpose: to make known the work done in the Mission of Madagascar among the most Amakasoa’s poor people are always present in his- forgotten poor and to collect funds to continue thoughts and in his life, as he conveyed in these that work in Akamasoa. At the press conference held words, “I often get angry at the media, because des in Rome, Father Pedro said, “When people see that pite the fact that many governments could help end poverty, they are kept as spectators, and this makes me angry.” - continuetheir financial giving.” contributions, donated generously, - are being well invested for the good of the poor, they He also recalled what it means for him to be a Vin whocentian never missionary hide the in truth, Madagascar, seek to “livingbe clear in when Aka wemasoa face is, problems. first of all, We action, do not not ignore words. them. Those We of face us, The press conference was attended by, among others, Monaco,the Superior and General,Slovenia, Father who will Tomaž continue Mavrič, supporting CM, and has worked in Madagascar, among the poor of the the Ambassadors to the Holy See from Argentina, earth.them. ThatThe nameis sincerity.” that this For work 40 years, has taken, Father Akama Opeka- new works that, like this one, can be carried out soa, means “good friend” in the local language. That inFather other Opeka’s parts work.of the They world offered for the their benefit backing of the to is the name of this incredible adventure, which he poorest. Those who have been able to share close- - - started 29 years ago, not as a dream, but as a con ly with Father Pedro Opeka discover in him a Vin creteIt all beganreality. in 1989, in the dump of Antananarivo, centian man, who expresses with simplicity, in the the capital of Madagascar. The poor, after having words of Saint Vincent, what the poor mean to him, - they “are my burden and my sorrow.” been expelled from cities and fields, saw this gar 2 Nuntia General Curia debris in order to seek their livelihood. The children bage dump as their last refuge. They dug among the - tionslept spread. covered This in flies.image, There, of men, young women, and oldand died,chil- drenwithout living anyone in inhuman bothering conditions, to bury them. broke Prostitu Father fromOpeka’s local heart. religious Thus, communities, he began searching Father Pedro for a waywas ableto help to developthe poor. his Thanks idea of to ​​how some to aid, help first people received help dump. Whoever was willing to work there could producethemselves. bricks, There slabs, was and a gravel,granite which, quarry when near sold, the - Fatherwould havePedro, been the sufficient inhabitants only of to the buy garbage rice and dump nou united,rish the began family. to In sell this and, way, with under their the work, guidance a bit of hope came into view. Fr. Pedro Opeka, CM This magnificent work speaks for itself: living in the villages of Akamasoa. Each of these Pope Francis 25,000 people benefited from the social project and - re,towns and hascrafts. schools, a dispensary, and workplaces Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM for adults: quarries, masonry, carpentry, agricultu itsIn 2014,presence Akamasoa and action was inrecognized the island’s by thegeneral State so as- ciala public functioning. interest Atproject, the base confirming of Father the Pedro’s need sofor- 30,000 poor come to Akamasoa each year seeking specific help: food, medicine, and clothing. him/herself. thanks to the schools built. cial project is the idea of helping the person to help 13,000 children benefit from a scholastic education, what it meant for him to meet with Pope Francis. Recently, Father Pedro recounted the experience of 3,000 houses have been built. The meeting, together with Father Tomaž Mavrič,- CM, took place on 28 May at the Vatican. “It was a meeting with a very serene man, in which one fee “that,ls the aspeace the Bishopshe lives ofand, Madagascar above all, had very invited close himand tofriendly.” visit the “I wonderful suggested island, to him,” then said I too Father invited Opeka, him - to Akamasoa. There he would discover the joyful andwelcome live a of new thousands life, to which, of children Pope Francisand young showed, peo ple who today have been able to overcome poverty with a gesture, his assent, availability, and joy.” Nuntia 3 Province of Colombia The Province of Colombia Prepares for the Celebration of its 150th Anniversary This year the Province of Colombia begins its preparation for the 150thanniversary of the arrival of the first Lazarist missionaries. Each year the members of the province will deepen their understanding of their Vincentian spirituality, allowing themselves to be enlightened and animated by the three verbs that Pope Francis used during his encounter with the members of the Vincentian Family at the time of the Vincentian Symposium (October 2017: Rome). Those three verbs were: to adore, to welcome and to go. Fr. Carlos Albeiro Velásquez Bravo, CM Seminarist Andrés Felipe Rojas SaavedraExplanation of the Logo: The map of Colombia outlined with a green ribbon The waves of the flags form the image of wings, wings indicates the missionary movement of the sons of St. hisof the mission Holy wouldSpirit whohave anointedbeen fruitless. Jesus of Nazareth to constantVincent throughoutfrom the time this of theirvast arrivalnational until territory the present and evangelize the poor (cf. Luke 4:16-20), without which even beyond its borders … a movement that has been day. The geographical extremes of Colombia (Gugjira and tothe go Amazonas, to the ends Nariño of the and earth, Arauca) to theand peripheriesthe flags form of The profound gaze of Vincent de Paul expresses the a cross and affirm the missionary command of Christ thosedepth pioneers,perception Gustavo of his piercingFoing, CM eyes and and Agusto the eyes Rieux, of Christ. CM.each member of the Province … a reality that began with the world and there proclaim the good news of Jesus Three elements give the logo an integral unity: water The waves with the colors of the French flag (on the left (the waves of the sea), land (the outline of the map) and side of the logo) and the Colombian flag (on the right side air (the breath of the Spirit and missionary vitality). arriveof the atlogo) the portexpress of Buenaventura. the missionary Therefore, zeal that the led French those colorsindividuals are planted to travel in Colombiaacross the and ocean the andColombian ultimately, colors to The logo itself invites us TO ADORE (to cultivate the interior life), TO WELCOME (to give oneself to others) and TO GO (to move out beyond oneself). are projected outward toward other lands. 4 Nuntia Region of Rwanda and Burundi Official Prayer for the 150th Anniversary Lord God almighty, you sent forth your Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit to proclaim Good News to the poor. You also gifted Vincent de Paul with the charism of service on behalf of the world’s most abandoned and forgotten men and women. We give you thanks for the presence of the Vincentian missionaries during these past 150 years. We give you thanks for their commitment of service on behalf of the poor and in service of the formation of good priests. We pray today that you give us the grace to be faithful to the legacy that you have entrusted to us. Help us to inculturate and to incarnate the charism of Vincent de Paul in today’s world. Help us to do this with a charity that is inventive, with hearts that are simple, humble and gentle, and with zeal that is on fire and that impels us to go forth to satisfy the material and the spiritual needs of those who are suffering. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. Chaplain of the Camp of Burundian Refugees at Mahama in Rwanda (Africa) Fr. Henri Matsinga, CM, Capellán Rwanda-Burundi Region, Province of Colombia. I was born on 5 March 1983 in the Democratic Re- At the Symposium of the Vincentian Family, which- took place from 13-15 October 2017 in Rome, the campSuperior of MahamaGeneral, inTomaž Rwanda. Mavrič, Following asked upme on to that in experiencepublic of Congo took (RDC).place inI wasBurundi, ordained where a CatholicI spent form him of my mission in the Burundian refugee priest on 15 January 2017. My first missionary- ted the call to serve refugees of the Mahama camp. request, I would like to write to you, Father Tomaž, Thisabout camp six months. is located Beginning in the easternin April part2017, of I accepRwan- these few lines about my mission. da, near the border with Tanzania in the diocese First, I will introduce myself before presenting my- take care of the most vulnerable people.