ICOF Program – Joy-Filled Gospel Service

Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation Program

Founding Congregations: · Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) · Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) · Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) · Society of African Missions (SMA)

GENERAL INFORMATION (see attached brochure) + Founding Congregation

​For Catholic priests and religious in Africa. Two months of professionally facilitated sharing of experience, skills and practical knowledge, leading to enrichment of the participants’ professional, human, pastoral, spiritual and academic lives.

Place: Marian University College (MARUCO), Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Dates: June 1^st – July 31^st, 2016

COURSE CONTENTS: The program covers the four areas of formation: personal renewal (human), spiritual deepening, pastoral empowering, and academic update.

The program will cover the following: · Bearing joyful witness to the gospel through my particular vocation · Challenges of faith in contemporary Africa · Dangers of various addictions · Emotional intelligence and resilience · Ethical issues in ministry (boundary issues, financial administration) · Evangelii Gaudium: the Joy of the Gospel · Exploring different ways of meditating · Gender issues · Graceful Transitions in Life · Interreligious dialogue · Introduction to pastoral counseling skills · ‘Laudato si’ · Justice, peace and Christian responsibility towards the Integrity of creation · Appreciative Discernment · Leadership and Management · Ministering in a globalised world · Retreat (8 days) on the Joy of the Gospel · Scripture and mission · Signature Strengths for mission · Trauma awareness, bereavement, stress management & inner child work.

Vision: Integrated priests and religious in Africa giving joyful gospel witness in their personal, spiritual and pastoral lives.

Mission: To provide Catholic priests and religious in Africa with opportunity, space and time for personal renewal with a view of better service of the Gospel in the concrete reality of Africa today.

Objectives: 1. Provide skills and opportunity for addressing personal challenges. 2. Provide space and time for reflecting on and integrating their lived experiences. 3. Training in pastoral skills. 4. Academic updating on Scripture, current trends in mission in the context of Africa and on the latest magisterial documents.  

Methodology: The methodology includes input sessions, one-on-one accompaniment and working with growth groups. There will be multicultural community living and team working.

Fees and scholarships: The full cost of the program is 2136 US Dollars. Candidates who will qualify for scholarships will pay only 900 US Dollars. This covers: Full board, tuition, accompaniment fees, library and Wi-Fi for internet connection.

Qualifications for applicants: · Being Catholic priest or religious · Being approximately 10 · 20 years in ministry · Those in transition from one ministry to another will find it beneficial · Being recommended by one’s superior / bishop · Having a reasonable mastery of English · Willing to be open to share oneself with others for mutual enrichment and growth. 

Application deadline: April 30, 2016

CONTACTING US: Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation (ICOF) Program, C/o Marian University College, P.O. Box 47 Bagamoyo, Tanzania. – Tel.  Tanzania: +255 787 795 033 / 766 075 219 – Kenya: +254 727 729 146 / 731 673 305 – Uganda: +256 752 508 284 /+256 786 842 292 – Email: icofprogram@gmail.com. Founding Congregation1                Blog:  http://icofprogram.blogspot.com

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Workshop for Consecrated People in Solwezi Diocese, Zambia

The Catholic Diocese of Solwezi invited the Zambian National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Year of Consecrated Life to animate a day recollection and a workshop of two days. Father Serge St-Arneault, member of the NJC, and Sister Nsofwa Chanda accepted the invitation. Situated in the North-West part of Zambia, Solwezi is at 10 hours drive from Lusaka. Neglected over the years, the Government has signed recently a contract to rebuild the road between Chingola and Solwezi.

The workshop gathered about 60 priests and religious, women and men, who took time to read and comprehend the apostolic letter of Pope Francis dedicated to all Consecrated people. The article entitle “Consecrated Life in Africa: Chances and Challenges” written by the Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa, Father Richard Kuuia Baawobr, was also presented to the participants who got an opportunity to familiarise with the concept of unification as a way to bring together African and Gospel values whereby unity of Christian identity and African identity are manifested by the internal value of love made evident externally in acts of sharing.

As priests and religious, our joy is expressed in authentic fraternal communities of self-giving where service brings lifelong personal fulfilment.  

Many thanks to Bishop Charles Kasonde who heartened this initiative.

On his last day, Father Serge took advantage of being in Solwezi to give an interview on Radio Kabangabanga (meaning the star) opened on June 28, 2014 belonging to Solwezi Diocese.

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Session for Secretaries and Archivists in Rome – March 16-20, 2015

1. Pello Sala 2. Jozef Vleugels 3. John Aserbire 4. Michel Groiselle 5. François Richard 6. Pascal Durand 7. Bill Moroney 8. Aloïs Schmid 9. Luc De L’Arbre 10. Gerry Murphy 11. Juan José Osés 12. Marc Beaudry 13. Romaric Bationo 14. Richard Kinlen 15. André Schaminée 16. Damien Watine 17. Serge St-Arneault 18. Bernard Lefebvre 19. Jean-Marie Amalebondra 20. Alain Fontaine 21. Jacques Poirier.

The session animated by André Schaminée, Pello Sala and François Richard took place in the renovated section of the Generalate while some repairs are still going on in other places such as the rooms above the dining room.

A total of 21 participants came from various parts of the world to learn the so called ‘Rudi’ software program which contain the overall database system of the Society; names of confreres, their appointments and other useful data. This will hopefully enable the Secretaries to share data while centralising them in the Office of the Secretariat in Rome.

The second topic on the agenda, meaning the archives, was presented by François Richard. The participants were given the chance to visit the documentations including old pictures and the first manuscripts signed by the Cardinal Lavigerie who is buried in the crypt under the main chapel.

A Gule Wamkulu sculpture from Kungoni Centre of Culture and Art, Mua, Malawi is in full view in the archives rooms making sure that everything is well kept!

Many thanks for this first ever session which as long overdue. Everyone was pleased to learn something new and to enjoy good food.

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