SVD
Generalate

The Zone’s enormous diversity and logistic complexity required an organized, two-phased Visitation program to cover a total of twelve PRMs spread over 17 countries of the continent. Accomplishing such a tedious task involved meticulous planning, lengthy preparation, hectic itinerary and network of logistics. The four-month GV was far more than a routine inspection. It offered an occasion for the Visitators to meet personally with confreres, collaborators and lay partners. Besides manifesting the Society’s interests and concern for every confrere, the Visitators used this vital opportunity for animation, gathering information about life and activity of our confreres and real picture of the conditions and needs of various areas (c.626), and gain insight into the Society’s mission work in the Zone.

The Visitators were touched by the warm welcome, hospitable environment, cordial sharing, commitment to the common mission, and the visible testimonies of the vibrant SVD missionary interventions in the Zone. For the Visitators, it was an enriching experience of listening and learning, dialoging and discerning, admiring and acknowledging, and celebrating and sharing as they interacted with confreres, communities, and collaborators in the Zone, engaged in the mandate of the Missio Dei.

At the backdrop of the GV, celebrations of the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of the Society were organized commendably at various places of the PRMs of the Zone to express our indebtedness to God and our collaborators in mission for the innumerous blessings we received, and to tell our stories of who we are and what we are about. Learning lessons from our eventful history, the PRMs used this opportunity to review their commitments and goals.

The Visitators were pleased to note the deep commitment and tangible joy with which our confreres dedicate themselves to the service of the people of God. This infectious enthusiasm, coupled with a faithful adherence to the SVD charism, was a source of great encouragement. Furthermore, a significant finding throughout the Zone was the profound appreciation from the local communities for the presence and contributions of the SVD missionaries.

Of the tangible and heartwarming features of the life and mission in the Zone, its vibrant faith communities, vital ministries, witnessing intercultural communities, robust formation program, efforts to expand the Society’s pastoral missionary presence, growing groups of lay associates, increasing appreciation for the confreres ’contributions to the local churches, mounting requests from the prelates for the SVD presence in their dioceses, etc. are prominent.

On the other hand, there are also serious challenges and areas of concern such as, intercultural competence of our confreres, shortage of qualified formators, inadequate accompaniment of the formandi, failure of the projects of financial self-reliance, deficient mission animation, absence of specific strategies to promote Characteristic Dimensions, resistance to Zonal Structural modifications, increasing exit of overseas missionaries, religious pluralism and extremism, political instability, etc. that impact our life and mission in the Zone.

Although these concerns were raised in the GVs of the past, they are yet to receive the adequate attention they deserve. It requires prophetic boldness, strength of will, concerted efforts, creative and committed leadership and responsible membership to usher in the desired progress and transformation. The above-mentioned issues need our urgent and undivided attention.

Distinctive attention was paid to the initial and ongoing formation in the Zone, examining the efficacy of formation houses critical for grooming missionaries for the global mission. It is a blessing that the Zone hosts several significant Common Formation Centers at different levels. Our formators and collaborators in this crucial ministry deserve our appreciation and support. However, taking into account the scarcity of formators, we may need to enhance and equip the existing formative communities with sufficient and qualified formators rather than increasing the number of formation houses. The Formation Board of the Zone may be given greater autonomy in identifying and assigning quality formators to these common houses of formation.

A specific focus was placed on intercultural life, evaluating how communities manage the intercultural nature that defines the Society. Our intercultural communities are a gift and a task. They need to be fostered conscientiously, for our intercultural witness is our mission ad intra and ad extra. It is a matter of serious concern that our intercultural communities are endangered by the increasing ethnocentric tendencies. It is a blot on the fabric of our Society, which needs honest attention. Besides enhancing the intercultural competence of our confreres, the PRM leadership needs to act promptly to curb such unhealthy tendencies.

We have been planning for the financial self-reliance of the Zone’s PRMs, insisting on creating and sustaining separate structures of fund-raising for the needs of the PRMs and for the worldwide mission, promoting projects of profitable utilization of properties for generating local income etc. A very few PRMs have made some progress, and other potential ones have not made any headway in this regard, even after repeated reminders and encouragements.

The social fabric and political discourse across the African continent are profoundly shaped by its vibrant religious pluralism, which is dominated by rapidly expanding Christianity and Islam. Although mutual peaceful coexistence remains the norm in the majority of communities, religions are prone to ignite conflicts, extremism and acute political instability. The deeply intertwined nature of faith and politics means that religious institutions play an integral and indispensable role in navigating the moral, social, and ethical challenges central to Africa’s future stability and governance.

Our commitment to holistic human development was obvious in the diverse forms of our social services and specialized apostolates. Moving beyond traditional parish ministry, our missionaries have entered into the education sector, strategically managing numerous schools. This engagement is crucial for cultivating local and global leadership, and impacting social transformation.

We assume a critical role in addressing profound public challenges, actively confronting health care ministries and providing direct humanitarian aid to the refugees, elderly, and the most vulnerable strata of society. Our integrated approach should ensure that the Gospel message takes root not only spiritually but also socially, allowing the Incarnate Word to become tangible. As faithful, creative and compassionate disciples, addressing these challenges strategically will allow us to have a more profound and long-term impact in the communities of the African continent.

Fr. Superior General Anselmo Ribeiro, SVD
and the Leadership Team