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Witnesses to
Hope
Jesuit
Alumni/ae for Better Africa.
About 175 delegates
representing 35 countries converged in the beautiful lake city of Bujumbura, the
capital of the Republic of Burundi in the continent of Africa, to participate in
the Fifth World Congress of Jesuit Alumni/ae held from July 22 to 27 focusing on
Africa with the theme, ‘Witnesses to Hope. Jesuit Aumuni/ae for Better Africa:
What have we done? What are we doing? What must we do?’ Bujumbura known as the
land of a thousand and one hills and of the Sacred Drum is a neighbour of
Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo spewing heat of only 25
deg Celcius in the prime summer. We looked for warm water to have a bath in the
morning. Bujumbura blessed with a pleasant and temperate climate during the
conference days provided the much needed ambience to actively participate in the
proceedings of the congress. A big lake called lake Tanganyika which is 675 km
long, 30 km broad and 1.5 km deep and fed by several rivers adds to the natural
beauty of the land. Fr. Dhanapal, Fr.Augusine and I never let slip away from us
the opportunities to have a swim in it. We grabbed everyone of it. And we said,
“No, it is ocean and not a lake”. Its waves are as big as sea waves.
Africa is characterized by
political turbulence, acute hunger and the AIDS pandemic and Burundi is not
spared of such malaise. At this juncture it is worth mentioning that Africa does
not figure in the list of WHO listed countries infected by swine flu. Although
most of the delegates had arrived at the venue with highly fossilized and
deep-rooted perceptions, mostly negative, of Africa, yet at the end of the
Congress we, the delegates, saw a dramatic change in our perceptions and views
we had entertained of the people of Africa. That they have a rich cultural
heritage, that they are very warm and affectionate and that they are very
dynamic and hardworking are but a few new perceptions that we gained of the
people.
Fr. Dhanapal, S.J.,
affectionately called by everyone as Fr. Dhana, Rector of Jesuit School in
Chikuni Mission in Zambia affirms that a Zambian student of Science or
Humanities would be a formidable challenge to his or her counterpart in India.
Indeed, I would like to agree with Dhanapal in several respects. Their
Liturgical celebrations are participatory and highly congregational. I was
thrilled by the way they sang songs during a couple of Eucharistic Celebrations.
I do not think I would ever in my life witness a cultural programme richer in
both quality and content than the one I witnessed there. During a
three-and-a-half-hour cultural programme performed by a group of 50 students
which were marked with variety depicting diversity of their rich cultures, one
that filled every eye with tears was a one-hour long ballet or a musical play
bringing out very effectively their century-long struggle for liberation from
the clutches of colonial rule that has successfully established divide-and-rule
mentality pitting one group against the other, though both of same ethnic
identity, oppressive political system, illiteracy, malnutrition, hunger, chronic
illness etc.
Much overwhelmed by the
cultural programmes, I enquired the organizer about the time spent in the
preparation. Pat came the reply, ‘only six months’. I said a big ‘wow...’.
African students are hardworking and committed to the cause. Most of the present
generations grew up in a situation of constant political conflict triggering
large scale violence which resulted in the killing of 5 million people.
Therefore, trauma is writ largely in many faces; they need to be de-traumatized.
I feel that in this painful socio-political and economic scenario, the choice of
Burundi as host country itself is a big step in the efforts of Jesuit Alumni/ae
to garner their support to Africa.
The Congress opened with a
grand, solemn inaugural Mass on 23rd July 2009 and a series of good
presentations focusing on the strengths and concerns of Afirca followed
thereafter. The highlights of the presentations are as follows:
1. Potentials outweigh problems
in Africa.
2. The Jesuit General
Congregation 34 meeting in 1994 made a clear commitment to making Africa a
“priority” (GC 34, 17 & 61). Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.,
re-enforced this commitment by listing Africa as one of the five areas of
apostolic preference for Jesuits. And in the General Congregation 35, meeting in
early 2008, stated very clearly the meaning of this priority:
“Aware of the cultural, social, and economic differences in Africa and
Madagascar, but also conscious of the great opportunities, challenges and
variety of Jesuit ministries, we acknowledge the Society’s responsibilities to
present a more integral and human vision of this continent. In addition, all
Jesuits are invited to greater solidarity with and effective support of the
Society’s mission of inculturating faith and promoting more justice in this
continent.” (GC 35 #39(i))
3. This GC-affirmed priority
was understood by the Alumni Congress to mean giving first place to (i) clear
understanding of Africa, (ii) committed respect for Africa, and (iii) efficient
response to Africa.
4. Conflict, which have
devastated the African continent since Independence are, according to many
analysts, one of the restrains to its economic take off and its development.
Even today, peace building in Africa is still a major challenge; violent
conflicts are still going on. Fr. Rigobert Minani in his presentation
highlighted that studies suggest that structural causes of conflicts in Africa
can be grouped into three main categories: Bad governance, tension about
resources and ethnic differences and nationalism.
5. Future of the world depends
on the future of Africa. Think about it, pray about it, and say about it.
6. The German Federal President
Hans Kohler stated, “In my view, the humanity of the world can be measured
against the fate of Africa.”
7. The World Congress threw a
challenge to the Alumni/ae spread all over the globe to have the wisdom and the
courage to be witnesses to hope and with God’s good help face up to that
challenge.
Father Superior General Adolfo
Nicolas gave clarion call the alumni/ae to be open to rich diversity, to create
atmosphere of diversity at early years of schooling so as to grow in the
attitude of respect, appreciation, patience, tolerance and acceptance. He made a
reference to the call of the Holy Father to go beyond the visible frontiers of
the Church. He added that he dreams of synergy between alumni/ae and Jesuits. He
also invited us to revisit structures in our associations and adapt and modify
them for effective collaboration. He finally insisted up on (i) in-depth
analysis of everything we do, (ii) creativity as the world is changing fast, and
(iii) strong and deep-rooted spirituality. He concluded his address saying that
alumni/ae must be active, collaborative, creative and inclusive.
India recorded the highest
number of delegates to the Congress – 9 Jesuits and 11 alumni/ae - and made a
prompt but significant contribution towards drawing up of action plans by way of
follow-up of the Congress. Mr. Conrad Gonsalves was elected the Treasurer of
WUJA (World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae), Mr. Ronald D’Costa and Mr. Naresh Gupta,
Secretary of JAAI were nominated to the Governing Council of WUJA).
Congratulations to these three prominent alumni.
Given the present
socio-political and economic conditions of the country, I am strongly of the
opinion that the organizers of the Congress did their best and thus we witnessed
a meaningful and successful conduct of the Congress. We congratulate all the
organizers of the Congress.
Fr. Danis Ponniah, S.J.
Coordinator of JAAT
St. Xavier’s College
Palayamkottai – 627002
Email:
frdenissj@hotmail.com
Cell: +91-94441 10528
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