num. 524 - July-August 2012

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AFRICA-MADAGASCAR

The greater Bochabela community recently paid tribute to Father Leo D’AES (82), missionary priest at the St. Rose Catholic Church in Boshabela, Bloemfontein, for his lifetime support of the parish schools and the community at large. Louwna Erasmus of “Get It community magazines” visited this Father of the Community to find out why community leaders call him the unsung hero of Bloemfontein.

Father Leo D’Aes, came to Bloemfontein over 40 years ago (in 1971) to see to the spiritual needs of the community in Botchabela Township, but also the material needs of a very poor community. “I thought the church looked pretty dull,” says D’Aes. “So I got on my knees and after cleaning the floor, I filled it up with wood filler, then we sanded and varnished it. The benches were a single seat and kneeler, so I joined the two as a new seat and added a steel frame with a back rest.”

As parish priest he was also appointed manager of the two schools attached to the parish, St. Mary’s and St. Bernard’s, which were later united. “I love schools,” says D’Aes. “My father died when I was five months old (chest trouble because of the gas used in World War I) so my mother was left with four kids and a big bookshop.” She sent them all off to boarding schools. “I got my love for teaching from the Jesuit teachers at boarding school.”

During the struggle against apartheid, he made sure that his schools were functional and that matrics could write their year-end exams despite many threats he received. “When Cosas shouted ‘Liberation first’, I said no, education first!” One year the matrics (students in final year of high school) wrote their final exam secretly at CBC. “I told my students that one day, when Mandela would take over, he would need educated leaders,” says D’Aes.

Over the years, Father D’Aes earned the nickname Pheello which means Perseverance. He has had great success in finding funding for the two parish schools from many Oblate donours in Germany, Belgium (his home country) and Ireland. Besides many extra classrooms that were built on at St. Bernard’s and St. Mary’s, he also succeeded in founding a bursary scheme for tertiary students.

“We are greatly indebted to this man,” says Father Raphael MOTHE, also a priest and former school boy at St Bernard’s. “Many poor students from the township have benefitted from quality education at the schools. These schools are a great legacy and treasure for our children and future generations.”

“After 40 years, I am very happy to see that both schools and parish work together to uplift the nation and to inspire it with the Spirit of the Kingdom,” says Father D’Aes.

Bro. Rex HARRISON says about Father D’Aes: “Father D’Aes is an incredibly dynamic man with a prophetic biblical message and a sense of justice that has seen him and his community through the 40 years at St. Rose. He is in league with other great community fathers like Ntate Molemela and Father Frans CLAERHOUT, who also brought meaningful change in their times. Even these heroes have had to overcome the violence in the community they serve. Fr D’Aes, was hijacked on the eve of a special celebration to pay tribute to his 40 years’ service. But he has a persevering hope in a gradual dawning of the Kingdom of God.” (http://bloem.getitonline.co.za)

Zambia’s Oblate formation community moved to its new location in Makeni only in October last year. After seeing the poultry and the big field of vegetables in the back yard garden, the impression a first time visitor would have of the place is that the occupants may had been settled there for a longer period. The community in Makeni grows vegetables, not only for consumption but also for sale to the people around the community and to the city at large. Produce from the garden is sold at wholesale price in one of the city’s biggest market called Soweto, and in two other densely populated areas namely, Chawama and Kabwata. Efforts are also being made to sell the vegetables in one of the leading chain supermarkets.

The garden and poultry are under the care of Oblate Brother George MANDONA who is assisted by four employees.

Currently, the garden has cabbages, onions, Chinese cabbage and tomatoes on a large scale. Potatoes, green pepper and eggplants are solely for the community. Other crops grown are indigenous bondwe and impwa.

About 21,500 tomato plants have been planted. Upon maturity, Bro. George hopes to collect 120 boxes of tomatoes per week which will enable the community to raise an estimated 10 million Kwacha (US$ 2,000) from the sales. His estimates are based on the calculations he made from the experimental plants which were planted earlier this year. Ten thousand heads of cabbages were planted. Like tomatoes they also proved to be profitable and thrived in the soil.

Simple chicken composite manure is added to the soil for the plants to grow healthy; fertilizer is also applied. Water supply is in abundance and the flow is continuous. In watering the crops, drip irrigation is used; the system was set up by Bro. George and the four helpers. So far the system seems to be working well though Bro. George thinks a 20,000 liter reserve tank would be ideal as opposed to the 1,000 liter tank they are currently using.

Another farm feature in Makeni is the poultry house. The community has been keeping chickens since November last year. The poultry has 350 layers from which 9-10 trays of eggs are collected every day. Broiler chickens are also reared. Plans to build a bigger poultry house for the broilers are underway as they have proved to be appreciated by the surrounding community. This is because of the healthy feed they are given.

Bro. George also hopes to plant an orchard, where he can plant fruits such as bananas, mangoes and citrus fruits.

For Bro. George, this is just the beginning of becoming self-sustainable. His dream is to enable the community to support itself using the funds raised from both the poultry and the garden. (By Musonda Chipili in OMI Zambia, March-April 2012)

Immediately following the final vows of Brothers Dionisius ANANUA and Stephen MURUNGI, the Missionary Oblates of Kenya Mission met as a community to discern our future. It was an opportune time since our scholastics were back home and so able to attend, We also invited Cosmas Kubai our novice candidate to attend; David MACPHEE who is on regency with us was likewise present. It was important that these people be present because they are the future and they certainly should have a voice in the matter. Their input was invaluable. Unfortunately our novice was not able to attend nor could Fidele MUNKIELE who is studying in Canada.

Under the capable facilitation of Fr. Gil MASON, the OMI Lacombe Vicar Provincial, we undertook a process to decide what the next best steps are for the Mission.

This session was in effect a continuation of the Vancouver Convocation. It was an opportune time to prepare a Vision/futuring statement for the mission. What comes next? While on the Canadian scene, diminishment colours the conversation, here it is growth. The Mission is growing. Two Kenya Oblates have completed their first formation and have returned to the Mission. Two others have just made their final vows and will be returning in 2013. There is the likelihood of other Oblates joining us from other provinces. It is a happy moment when we need to expand ministry of the Mission.

At the moment we have but one parish and two formation houses. What is next? Our conversations began about who are we, what each of us brings into the Mission. What are our aspirations, our hopes our dreams? Given the freedom to dream, there were many suggestions proposed.

At the end of the week, we arrived at what can be described as our Vision Statement. The first priority as we see it will be to take responsibility for another parish, preferably in the Nairobi area. We feel that we need this parish in order to have a place for our men in formation to have a place to go for ministry experiences.

Education was a strong theme that emerged and we are encouraged to look at opportunities in the near future. Of course education is a generic theme that could incorporate any number of ministries. For example, with working street children was discussed.

An underlying need that also must be addressed is the self-sufficiency of the Mission. As it stands, we are totally dependent on OMI Lacombe Province and the benevolence of our many benefactors in the Missionary Association. Simply stated, we have no income. It is a priority that we find the ways and means of generate income locally. This is essential if we hope to grow the Mission into being a delegation and a province. We are actively looking at some proposals to move in this direction.

Besides being a wonderful experience of community it was also very effective in that we met our goals. We are full of hope, full of dreams and aware that there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Indeed we are growing. (James FIORI in www.omilacombe.ca)

South African President, Jacob Zuma visited Durban’s Emmanuel Cathedral on 19 April to pay tribute to Archbishop Denis HURLEY’S contribution to South Africa’s liberation struggle by laying a wreath on his tomb. This was part of a national program of visits to various parts of South Africa to mark the centenary of the ANC’s foundation. The brief ceremony at the Cathedral began with Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, OFM, and other religious leaders greeting the President and his party at the entrance to the Cathedral and then escorting them to the Archbishop’s tomb in the Lady Chapel.

Amongst the leaders present were Bishop Rubin Phillip of the Anglican Church, Bishop Michael Vorster of the Methodist Church, Reverend Ian Booth of the United Congregational Church, Rev Thabani Masikane of the Uniting Presbyterian Church, Ms Nomabelu Mvambo- Dandala of the Diakonia Council of Churches and Mr AV Mahomed of the Juma Musjid Mosque. At the tomb, the national anthem was sung and the Cardinal read a message of welcome in which he said: “Denis Hurley, whom you have come to honour today, was a prime example of humble Christian service. He put God, his Church and his Country first. My prayer and wish is that Archbishop Hurley will pray for our leaders of today that they may follow his example of selflessness.

“Mr. President, my prayer for you is that you too will put God, his People and our Country first in all that you do. ... Thank you for coming to Emmanuel Cathedral to honour our late Archbishop. God bless you.” In his response, the President paid tribute to Archbishop Hurley as “one of our heroes, well known not only in South Africa but around the world.” He said the Archbishop was a fine example of someone who had put words “into concrete action”. He said that Archbishop Hurley and many other church leaders should be acknowledged for their important role in the liberation struggle.

Auxiliary Bishop Barry WOOD read the Good Friday prayer for political leaders: “that God may guide their minds and hearts so that all may live in true peace and freedom.” A brief curriculum vitae of the archbishop was then read and wreaths laid on the tomb by the President, Ms Baleka Mbete, National Chair of the ANC, Mr Willies Mchunu KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, and Mikaela York, a niece of Archbishop Hurley. The ceremony concluded with the Cardinal showing President Zuma a model of the Cathedral and the new Denis Hurley Centre, which has been specially prepared for a forthcoming exhibition. As the religious leaders and the President’s party left the Cathedral, Ms Pinkie Mtshali, Music Director, led the singing of “Plea for Africa”. Immediately after the Cathedral ceremony, an ecumenical service honouring Archbishop Hurley was held at St Paul’s Anglican Church next to the central Post Office. This was organised by the Diakonia Council of Churches which was founded by the archbishop in 1976. In addition to thanksgiving prayers for the achievements of the liberation struggle and prayers of concern and commitment about the aspects of liberation still needing attention, slides of Archbishop Hurley were shown, highlighting his multi-faceted work to promote a just South Africa. (Oblate Connections, Anglo-Irish Province, May 2012)