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From Xaverian Mission NewsletterAug. 1, 2010
In 1960, 17 sub-Saharan African nations gained independence from European
colonial powers. On this 50th anniversary of independence, celebrated this year,
the Xaverian Missionaries continue to work in two of these countries: the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
We Xaverian Missionaries arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in
1958 and we directed our attention to form well prepared Christians. We
multiplied the number of mission stations, built schools, prepared leaders, and
provided for the birth of numerous Christian communities. Our first African
martyrs, Fr. Didone, Fr. Carrara, and Br. Faccin, were killed during the civil
conflict in 1964.
The Catholic Church is a major institution in the DRC. Fifty-five percent of
DRC’s 60 million people are Catholic, making it the largest Catholic population
in Africa. In the absence of functioning government structures, the Catholic
Church, along with other churches, have for decades provided most of the basic
services such as health care and education for the
Congolese people.
Despite the official end of a war in 2002, violence and suffering continue to
plague the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This conflict
has caused over 5 million deaths since 1998, making it what observers have
called “the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II.”
In 2009 the violence caused hundreds of thousands of deaths (mainly from
malnutrition and disease as the health care system had long collapsed and
displaced people had little or no access to doctors or medicine). Another
400,000 people were driven from their homes, raising the total number of
displaced to 2 million. The incidence of systematic and brutal rape of thousands
of women and girls in 2009 by armed groups is reportedly the worst in the world
today.
Helping to end the conflict in the DRC is an important priority for the US
Catholic Bishops. The Bishops urge the U.S. government to work with the DRC
government to increase its services to the people and to help harness the DRC’s
natural resources for the common good. The U.S. should work with the
international community and the forces in Eastern Congo to promote a just and
sustainable peace.
Cameroon
Following the massive expulsion of our missionaries from Burundi in the 1970’s,
new Xaverians missions were opened in Cameroon, as well as other countries in
Africa. In Cameroon, about 30 Xaverians work for the formation of the laity and
catechists, for the establishment of basic Christian communities, and for the
training of our theology students.
In the 120 year history of the Catholic Church in Cameroon, spreading the gospel
has contributed significantly to improving the health situation of Cameroonians.
With about 234 health centers and 16 hospitals across the national territory,
the contributions of the Church to the health of Cameroonians have been
enormous. In the domain of education, the Catholic Church has more than 364,000
students enrolled in its academic institutions nationwide, besides the Catholic
University of Central Africa with campuses in Nkolbisson and Ekounou in Yaounde.
Fifty years after independence more Cameroonians are poorer today than they were
before independence. Poverty remains the greatest problem a majority of
Cameroonians are grappling with daily. Though President Biya painted a generally
positive picture of what has been achieved in Cameroon in his address to the
nation on Monday, May 17, he admitted, however reservedly, that poverty remains
the greatest headache a majority of Cameroonians is suffering from. He wondered
what political freedom represents, if Cameroonians cannot eat to their fill.
This means that the Cameroonian people have to experience an integral
development from the social, political and economic point of view in the light
of the Gospel. Pope Paul VI once said that development is a new name for peace!
The Church is called to become more and more a “home and school of communion in
its rich cultural and religious makeup” says Pope Benedict in his address to the
Bishops of Cameroon. He goes on: “From this perspective the work done together
in a spirit of charity, in your Episcopal Conference composed of French-speaking
and English-speaking Bishops, is already in itself an eloquent sign of that
unity which you experience, and serves to carry forward the evangelization of
your people, marked by ethnic differences”.
The Xaverian Missionaries continue assist the Bishops in this great agenda.
