Fr. General just completed his canonical visit of West Africa where our brothers are present in Togo and Burkina-Faso. From May 18 to May 30, 2012, almost two weeks, he was able to meet and talk to all the brothers in order to encourage them and accompany them in their religious and apostolic common life. What were the highlights of this visit?

Vocation Ministry is holding its own; the proof is in the pudding

By way of reminder, the Assumptionists returned to West Africa in September, 2006 (having once been in Ivory Coast). Their growth has been due to the generosity of religious from both of the Congos, from France, Madagascar, Burkina-Faso, and Romania. From the very beginning, these missionaries (from six different nationalities) have made vocation ministry a top priority. In six years we can see the fruits of their labor: 6 temporarily professed, 4 novices, 8 postulants, more than 10 candidates.

It is significant to note that during this visit Fr. General blessed the new novitiate house, St. Augustine’s Novitiate. Isn’t that a clear sign that the Assumptionists want to set roots in West Africa and work for the coming of the Kingdom of God in this part of the dark continent?

Missionaries with their hands in many pots!

But these missionaries haven’t been involved solely in vocation and formation ministry. In six years they have been able to discern several areas of apostolic work where they might want to invest their energies in the future for the hastening of the Kingdom of God in West Africa: parish ministry, youth ministry, inter-religious dialogue, and the media.

In Sokode (Togo), the Assumptionists run a parish, Our Lady of the Assumption, in the Komah neighborhood. During his visit Fr. General had an opportunity to preside at the Eucharist there and meet with the parish council. He was happy to see that our brothers and their lay collaborators have been able to build a family church where each one is considered to be a living stone. Our spirituality is greatly appreciated and lay-people find in it nourishment for their life of faith. The emphasis we place, for example, on the doctrinal aspect of the faith is quite striking. So it is that parishioners appreciate the fact that we take so seriously youth ministry and adult formation with courses such as Bible study. In the city center the Assumptionists are in charge of a center called St. Augustine Cultural Center which is intended to be a place where young people can meet and talk, where ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue can take place. In only four years the Center’s reputation has extended beyond the borders of Togo thanks to the international trips that have been organized and  allowed young people from various countries and religions to meet and talk about a number of topics for almost a week… Finally, the bishop has entrusted the supervision of the local radio station to the Assumptionists.

The Assumptionists have only been in Burkina-Faso since last September (2011). The first mission of the community is the training of our young brothers, who study philosophy at Institut Lavigerie run by the White Fathers, or the Missionaries of Africa (the Plenary General Council made a decision to encourage other young religious to join them there in the near future. But it’s not just studies that keep our brothers busy. Even though their ultimate apostolic engagement has yet to be determined, they are quite involved in the local church: Fr. Paulin was elected the chair of the Conference of Religious of Ouagadougou. Fr. Jean-Paul writes and publishes articles on Church doctrine in a local newspaper. Fr. Nicolas is thoroughly involved in catechetical work. Each of the student brothers is also involved in one way or another in the local church. During their vacation time, some of them may be able to work at Bayard Press, which already has a branch there.

Challenges are not lacking.

As can be seen, the Assumptionists have become a reality in West Africa. However much we have been able to settle in and grow, there still remain challenges. Without much delay, we must begin to think about forming formators for each of the stages. We must soon train men, that is to say, religious, for all these missions. We have to foresee infrastructure needs as well. In Sokode (Togo), a church needs to be built. More space is needed at the St. Augustine Cultural Center which has already outgrown its current facilities. In Burkina-Faso, the community rents a house which, in a year, will be inadequate for its needs. Therefore, it is necessary to find a piece of land and to begin to build a house of philosophy that would be international in nature.

The list of challenges is long and could cause fear. But together, just as in a family, with each one carrying his own stone to the building and with the help of God’s grace, the Assumptionists will find the way to meet these challenges and answer the call of the Holy Spirit in this corner of the world we call West Africa.

Emmanuel Kihugho, A.A.