From different continents, we see evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit, preparing new ways for the evangelisation of the world of the future. During his journey to Poponguine (Senegal) on February 21, 1992, Pope John Paul said to all the Bishops of Africa:

"The African Church's obligation to be missionary to itself and to evangelise the continent entails cooperation among the particular Churches in the context of each African country, among the various nations of the continent and also of other continents. In this way Africa will be fully integrated into missionary activity".

Implanted through missionary activity, the local Churches are reaching maturity. They are themselves becoming missionary in their own countries and beyond. They are taking an ever greater part in the universal mission. In each of them, the development of the religious charism, both apostolic and contemplative, is vital for the whole Church.

Spiritan foundations

Our own new foundations are part of this story of growth and maturity in the local Churches. They contribute to the development of the religious and missionary dimension, both locally and in the universal Church. They are a gift both from the Churches to the Congregation and from the Congregation to the Churches: this mutual enrichment is the source of a new movement of evangelisation in every continent. As the General Council put it in 1981:

"In sending his missionaries to preach in Africa, Libermann's intention was that they should train African priests and religious as soon as possible, and he would certainly be pleased to see not only the strength of the African diocesan clergy today, but also the increasing number of Africans joining the ranks of his own Congregation"

Thanks to the arrival of African and Latin-American confrères, the Congregation is becoming even more international. Gradually, the western face is being transformed into an inter-continental face. Its decentralisation has been encouraged by the arrival of missionary vocations from the young Churches and by new urgent situations in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

New spiritan circumscriptions in the local Church

Fr. Libermann asked us to establish Christian communities that would achieve autonomy as soon as possible. The spiritan tradition has respected this choice, building up the local community as a priority and avoiding any weakening of its resources for the advantage of the Congregation.

 

Up until the time of Vatican II, a few Africans joined the Congregation, becoming members of the already existing Provinces. The first was Fr. Jean Ba Lacombe, born in Bathurst (Banjul) in The Gambia on October 28, 1829. After secondary studies at Saint Louis in Senegal, he entered the Seminary of the Holy Spirit in Paris in October, 1848. His Superior was Fr. Libermann. He was ordained priest at Gorée on November 5, 1852 by Mgr. Kobès and took his vows in the Congregation in December, 1857. Fr. Lacombe worked as a missionary in Senegambia until his death in 1900.

After Vatican II, the time seemed right to begin new spiritan circumscriptions. The Province of Trinidad was set up in 1968, This was followed by a flood of new foundations and provinces as more and more people from the southern hemisphere asked to join the spiritan family: Brazil, East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda), Nigeria, Angola, Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo), Porto Rico, West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and the Makurdi and Kwara Benue districts of Nigeria), Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion), Southern Africa, and Zaire. Vocations are also coming from Mexico, Haiti, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.

The voice of confrères from new circumscriptions

With the arrival of confrères from so many new countries, the Congregation took on a different look. This new extension accompanied a new decentralisation. Missionary thinking and strategy tended to be worked out more at the local level, making for easier adaptation to different missionary needs.

In November 1996, the Brottier Centre of Mission Research, founded by our confrères in Nigeria, hosted a continental congress on the topic: "Africa: Towards Priorities of Mission" . The congress opened to the background of the tragic events in Rwanda, as reflected in the inaugural speech of the coordinator, Fr. Eugene Uzukwu:

"Even as the Congress opens, massacres have exploded. The Rwandan tragedy is the African tragedy writ large...We are all aware of those who benefit from the suppression of minority rights or the subjugation of the majority to the interests of the minority as in Nigeria, Burundi/Rwanda, Liberia, and Sierra Leone...What should we do as missionaries to face this issue of the squandering of human life in the continent?"

The Congress pointed to three priorities which highlight the Church's mission:

"1. That we implement the Church's prophetic mission by

- genuine representation of Africa in places where political and economic decisions are made and implemented and by playing a role of advocacy in identifying injustices and pressing for their redress,

- being the arbiters and promoters of justice and fundamental human values, and being formed into a prophetic community which overcomes violence by incarnating the ethic of non-violence learned from Christ,

- being seen as "prophetic strangers" who work to promote human dignity in opposition to a dominant culture of injustice.

2. That we become agents of reconciliation,

 

- identifying those in need of it, promoting it in a fundamental and continuous way,

- so that the sacrament of reconciliation be developed as a process of healing of memories with a strong social dimension.

3. That we design ways to nurture the self-confidence of people, particularly at the grassroots level so that we will define ourselves, instead of yielding to definitions by others, and become subjects and agents of our own political and economic liberation.

In the way of divine Providence

The Spiritans of the southern hemisphere are also "the advocates, the supporters and the defenders of the weak and the little ones against all who oppress them". With them and thanks to them, we continue to give our missionary help to the local Churches, and answer new appeals. Three new groups of Spiritans have been set up: one for Mozambique in 1996, and two others for the Philippines and Taiwan in 1997. In taking on these new commitments in Asia and Africa, we are trying to share in Fr. Libermann's unshakable trust in divine Providence:

" So far, we have kept closely to the way of divine Providence; this alone has guided us. I have never been able to fulfil a plan that was born of my own dreams; but I have always been successful, as if by magic, when I allowed myself to be led by Providence, surrounded by crosses and sufferings".

Talking to the confrères

It is a tradition for the Superior General to send a letter to all the confrères each Christmas. With a few extracts from these letters, we look forward to the coming of the new millennium and the three hundredth anniversary of our foundation.

The strength of our weakness

"Our action is, above all, a witness. Over and above any immediate tangible effects or outcome, our commitment is a sign that shouts and strikes home, triggering transformation from the inside out. Those things that Spiritans from the North and South are doing to renew the face of the earth, with the help of many other people of good will, can look very flimsy. But it is the tip of the iceberg of a great hidden quest for justice and peace, for brotherhood, working everywhere in the hearts of men and women. The present situation of our Congregation and the Church in the contemporary world can unleash the force of the Gospel, "for it is when I am weak that I am truly strong.

We are present in areas of great violence, troubles and suffering: Angola, Zaire, South Africa, Algeria, Haiti, Croatia, Sierra Leone, Congo...Our confrères have decided to stay put, despite the risks".

Christmas 1993

Listening to the most abandoned: refugees and migrants.

"Today there are millions of refugees, displaced persons, immigrants living in precarious conditions. For us Spiritans, these people who lack both means and security, must be our brothers and sisters in Christ. Over and above material aid, for which professional bodies are needed, they need a pastoral presence to help them recover their confidence.

Some confrères are already involved in this work...Refugees can teach us how to live faith in insecurity, courage in suffering - the generosity of the widow who gives all that she possesses. We are evangelised ourselves as we share our faith. Our first concern is not to seek the good of our Congregation, but to help people find the fullness of life in justice and peace".

Christmas 1994

No mission without solidarity

"Quite a number of young Spiritans say that they joined our family because they saw or heard that we were on the side of the poor. Perhaps the most characteristic aspect of mission as we live it today is the movement towards those who are far off, who belong to another culture, another Church, another religion, and, strongest of all, towards the poor and marginalised.

In this we are reflecting the movement of God himself who takes up the cause of the widow and the orphan...When we visit a remote village, when we organise help for refugees or search, in prayer, for some words of comfort for the afflicted, it is the same spirit that inspires us and echoes in us the song of the angels at Bethlehem...Our aim is not to seduce people, not to sort out all their problems or bring them the truth on a plate. We go to them with empty hands.

We lean on each other in our great common undertaking. Everybody plays their part. Our older confrères pray for us, like Moses on the mountain while the battle was going on in the plain, and those who look after them are helping them to keep their arms raised...Solidarity amongst ourselves comes from the same spirit that has taken us towards the poor...Our financial solidarity calls for gospel attitudes. We trust in the generosity that the Gospel brings in its wake"

Christmas 1995

Hope amidst poverty

The best tools for mission are our hearts filled with the blessings of the Lord and our empty hands. We remember what Fr. Libermann wrote in August 1843, just as the first group of missionaries of the Holy Heart of Mary were preparing to leave for Africa:

" We are a poor bunch of man, called together by our Master who is our only hope. If we had powerful means to hand, we would accomplish very little of value. But now that we have nothing and desire nothing, we can plan ambitious projects, because our confidence is not based on ourselves but on He who is all powerful. So do not worry your heads about your weakness and poverty..."

In his last words, Libermann exhorted us to practise charity at all times. Its source and destination are both in God, but its fruits are for all men and women. The new era of mission that opened with Vatican II seeks to build up a "civilisation of love", based on the universal values of peace, solidarity, justice, and freedom, which find their fulfilment in Jesus. We are, and we will continue to be, part of this mission in the future.