Honorary Doctorate Degree in Culture and Social Anthropology awarded to Father Claude Boucher, M.Afr

Great Works Attract Great Admiration and Recognition.

By Philip Meraba, M.Afr.

Our Confrere, Fr. Claude Boucher, founder of the popular Kungoni Centre for Culture and Arts under Mua Mission in Malawi, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Culture and Social Anthropology by the Malawi Campus of the United Kingdom based Share-World University in 2014 during a colourful graduation ceremony.

History repeated itself this year when on the 24^th of March 2017, Fr. Claude Boucher, M.Afr, received his 2^nd Honorary Doctorate Degree in the same discipline by the University of Mzuzu at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. The 18^th Congregation (graduation ceremony) of the Mzuzu University that lasted for four hours drew thousands of people from various part of the country. 851 graduated with Diplomas, first Degrees, Masters and P. HD in different fields.

Fr. Claude Boucher was honoured alongside two other hardworking and exemplary Malawians; Mr. Napoleon Dzombe with Doctorate in Entrepreneurship (Honoris Causa) and Mr. Felix Mlusu with Doctorate in Business Leadership (Honoris Causa).

The enriching heroic profile of our confrere about 40 years of intensive research in the Malawian Culture and languages attracted a lot of applause from the crowds and feeling of amazement and curiosity at the same time as the whole hall stood up to catch the glimpse of this unique cultural Priest not confined   in the sacristy. Mrs. Mercy Kaunda Chinula who read out the biography and presented him afterwards to the Vice-Chancellor of the Mzuzu University, Dr. Robert G. Ridley to confer on our confrere the award stressed that Fr. Claude Boucher well deserved the merit because of his love and respect for Malawi, her citizens, culture and languages, combined with the tireless research on blending culture with religion. This was an encouragement and a challenge to the newly graduates not to excel only in academics but to prove efficient in the field, putting into best the knowledge acquired during long years of intellectual formation and contribute their quota for the growth of the Nation. ‘‘Hard work pays, therefore, graduates of today, work hard and the society shall admire, recognize and honour you like Fr. Dr. Claude Boucher’’, said one of the organizers.

The ceremony was climaxed by interviews on different topics patterning to culture with the new Doctor of Culture and Anthropology. Fr. Claude recurred and narrated to his confrere who represented the White Fathers at the function when many years back he was requested by his Superiors to pursue further a Doctorate Degree in Culture and Social Anthropology after obtaining his M.A. and his reply was, he shall do the Doctorate in the field. This is a dream come true, with two Doctorates in the field. Big congrats Dr. Dr. or Dr² Claude!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

SAP Stagiaires Meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, Bethany Retreat Centre, Lilongwe, March 20 to 27, 2017.

By Chandan Nayak and Thierry Uyirwoth.

We all traveled safely to Lilongwe, Malawi, for our Southern Africa Provincial Stagiaires meeting: one came from South Africa, four from Mozambique, six from Malawi and eight from Zambia.

We were warmly welcomed by the Provincial Delegate of Malawi, Fr. Michel Sanou, and our two Stagiaires Coordinators Fr. Simon Kalore from Malawi and Fr. Camille Konkobo from Zambia who at the same time helped us to animate the meeting. Fr. Jean de Dieu Bukuru, Stagiaires Coordinator of Mozambique accompanied attended a few sessions.

It was a joyful encounter between brothers after many years of being away from each other. Our opening recollection helped us to surrender ourselves to God and to experience his presence in our meeting. The facilitator, Sister Teresa Mulenga, drew our attention to meditate on Mark 6, 30-31; “Come to a lonely place”. Indeed, we need time reflect on our lives.

We remained faithful to our tight program throughout the week with daily morning and evening prayers with Eucharistic celebrations. Attentive, thoughtful and open-minded, we listened carefully and honestly shared our experiences. We were reminded to be committed, passionate, dedicated, prayerful and always having hope with an appreciative discernment. We looked at our expectations, we heard the experiences of others and to learn from them.

We are happy with this third phase of formation which is helping us to build a foundation for our missionary life by looking into our different apostolates. We have been privileged to learn new languages and experience international community life.

We also visited two M.Afr communities; Chezi and Kanengo on our way to Salima were we enjoyed a picnic on the shore of the Lake.

The last day of our sharing, the Provincial Delegate came for an official visit. He shared with us his experiences and encouraged us. We appreciated very much his presence. We shared supper together with other confreres from Lilongwe.

Truly, we had a fruitful and effective meeting. We are grateful to God and also to those who made it possible for us to experience such a helpful and enriching moment; the Provincial Council, the Provincial Delegates and the Stagiaires Coordinators. Thanks to all who have contributed to this memorable experience.

Participants: Emile Baguma, Congolese, Kasamba, Zambia, Landry Busagara, Congolese, Chezi, Malawi, Patient Cimanuka, Congolese, Lusaka, Zambia, Jean-Marie Vianney, Congolese, Namushakende, Zambia, Olivier Ngizwenimana, Rwandese, Beira, Mozambique, Dimitri Bobloinde Yampa, Burkinabe, Dombe, Chimoio, Mozambique, Thierry Jawiyambe Uyirwoth, Congolese, St. Lawrence, Lusaka, Zambia, Paul Sanogo, Malian, Kanengo, Lilongwe, Malawi, Pascal Sambi, Burkinable, Henley-kwaMphumuza, South Africa, Lazare Ndagijimana, Rwandese, Zolozolo, Mzuzu, Malawi, Chandan Nayak, Indian, Lusaka, Zambia, Valentin Muzi, Congolese, Mzuzu, Malawi, Jean de Dieu Meda, Burkinabe, Chezi, Malawi, Innocent Matata, Congolese, Lumimba, Zambia, Pascal Mare, Burkinabe, Chimoio, Mozambique, Benoit Kouakou, Ivorian, Sussundenga, Mozambique, Emmanuel Kokpe, Togolese, Kasama, Zambia, Augustin Kambale, Congolese, Kanengo, Lilongwe, Malawi, Innocent Manjune, Congolese, Serenje, Zambia, Fr Simeon Kalore, Ethiopian, Parish Priest of Chezi, Malawi, Fr. Camille Konkobo, Burkinbe, Vocation Director of Zambia.