AFRICA : KENYA : PAULINE CONTINENTAL MEETING

CISA REPORT:
Sr Bruscato
NAIROBI, May 31, 2012 (CISA) -Members of the Daughters of Saint Paul religious congregation held a 10-day Africa’s continental meeting (May 20-30) in Nairobi and under the theme: Pauline and Economy.
A statement, issued at the end of the meeting said the purpose of the meeting was to trace out together a new journey of evangelization which should respond to the needs of Africa following the priorities set out by the Synod for Africa.
“The sisters sought new ways to meet the needs of the people of Africa through the Pauline Mission of evangelization through the media of social communication,”
“All this was geared towards drawing a Global Continental Apostolic Project. It is our hope that the project developed will help to serve the people of Africa better through our witness of life and the media,” added the statement.
The Superior General of the Daughters of St Paul, Sr Maria Antonieta Bruscato, said she hoped the work done would “go ahead well and help us to trace out new paths for our mission, sustained by the bold and prophetic faith that makes it possible for us to say with Paul, ‘We believe and therefore we speak’ (cf 2 Cor 4:13), and that reinforces our conviction that it is urgent to offer everyone ‘the charity of the truth’ (Bl Alberione).”
The participants at this meeting reflected intensely on the principles of the charism that underlie the Pauline apostolic commitment.
The General Councillor on Apostolate, Sr Anna Maria Caiazza, underlined the importance of the passion for the apostolate–a dimension of the charism that is innate to the Pauline vocation, “It consists in continually searching for the paths of God and in being attentive to the signs of the times. It requires ‘intellectual curiosity,’ a positive perception of situations and problems, and the capacity to dialogue with society and history, including its more dramatic aspects.”
The General Bursar, Sr Gabriella Santon, underscored the need for a profound and dynamic balance between the apostolate and economy. As she pointed out, “Economy is at the service of the apostolate and the apostolate gives continuity and stability to our economy.”
“To forget this interdependent relationship would be to place our evangelizing activities at risk and compromise the apostolate. In contrast, wise administration can help us not only maintain but also expand and develop our activities,” she said.
The meeting was also addressed by Nakuru diocese Bishop Maurice Makumba and Fr Francesco Pierli, MCCJ.
Bishop Makumba gave a comprehensive historical and cultural background of Africa. He pointed out that the challenge of evangelization today is to help bring about the birth of a culture that is both African and Christian: African, so that the faith will reach the hearts of people; and Christian to discern in its light the true cultural values.
Fr Francesco Pierli presented a response of the Church in Africa from the perspective of Ecclesia in Africa and Africae Munus.
The meeting was attended by 37 Sisters, drawn from various parts of Africa and from Rome.
The Daughters of St Paul carry out a new form of evangelization by living and witnessing to the Faith through communications. The sisters are active in all forms of media, from traditional publications to e-books, from TV to social media, from the internet to mobile apps—working in the areas of writing, publishing, recording and broadcasting, screen-writing, media literacy, religious education, adult faith formation and spiritual development.

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