African Leaders and Formators’ Meet in Boko, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on January 21-29, 2024
A conference for the commissaries, delegates, and leaders of missions in the African geographical area was held at St. Teresa of Avila Spiritual Center in Boko, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The conference, from January 21-29, 2024, was themed This Way is Holy and Good: Walk in It (Carmelite Rule, 20): Confronting Carmel’s Challenges in Africa.
The conference center is a ministry of the Carmelite Missionaries Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus. Every foundation in Africa had representation present except one for unforeseen circumstances. In a follow-up survey, the participants expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality shown to them by the Carmelite sisters and the men of the Tanzanian foundation.
The conference exposed a number of challenges for Carmel on the African continent. Some of these are outside of the control of the Order: the socio-political and economic situations as well as a number of active conflicts that have continued for a number of years. Other difficult situations can and should be addressed by the Order: the formation programs, approaches to ministry, dependence on founding provinces (there are no provinces in Africa, only foundations dependent on provinces located in Europe or the Americas), and issues of financial management, accountability, transparency, and self-reliance. Difficult situations also persist because of a lack of communication, relationships with local churches, and differences in cultural traditions and customs in a number of critical areas.
A series of speakers provided the group with input in the hope that the leaders and formators would get to know each other personally; that participants would have the opportunity to discuss their experiences and challenges openly; that leaders and formators would themselves grow in Carmelite identity in order to more effectively witness to their communities; that strengthened by the awareness of expectations, the participants would raise the standards of integrity and apply principles of good governance in their own reality.
Key presenters were Mother Lilian Kapongo, CMSSTCJ, Fr James Kulwa Shimbala, SMA, Fr Jean-Marie Dundji, O. Carm, Fr Jerome Paluku, OCD, and Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo, O. Carm., general councilor of the Order for Africa.
Mother Lilian Kapongo presented Becoming Carmel in the Context of Africa – “This Way is Holy and Good: Walk in It” (Rule § 20): Leadership and Formation for Carmelite Religious Identity, stressing the importance of a solid initial and ongoing formation programs that challenges candidates to be motivated to do discernment of their motivations and challenge to continually purify their motivations at every stage of their religious life.
Fr Shimbala spoke on Religious and Priest: Two Vocations, One Person-- Lifegiving Ministry Approaches that Preserve the Two identities in Community, emphasizing that religious identity springs from a personal or intimate encounter with Jesus according to the Order’s charism.
Fr Jean-Marie Dundji, O. Carm, addressed the topic The Process of Formation of the Carmelite According to the Constitutions 2019 and the Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanum 2013, pointing out that the Carmelite charism is still in its fragile stages in Africa and that the quality of people is often qualified by the structures and the quality of persons who run them.
Discalced Fr. Jerome Paluku reflected on Religious Life in Africa: Exploring Pathways to Financial Self-Sustainability, examining strategies for income creation which depend on context, mission of investing organization (i.e., charism), investment opportunities and lifestyle of persons. He proposed five areas of management to help mitigate problems and promote viability.
On Saturday, Conrad Mutizamhepo offered a reflection on The Charism of the Order According to Part One of the Constitutions 2019: Viable Ways of Transmitting the Charism by Leaders and Formators, discussing the origins of the Carmelite charism as transmitted through the history, traditions, spirituality, myths, symbols, and significant Carmelites throughout history.
Two days later, Conrad shared another reflection on Vibrant Participation in the Mission of the Order: The Commissions of the Order and their Role in the Carmelite Entities in Africa. He presented the basic structure of the Order and how the mission of the Order is advanced by the eight commissions of the Order and the four other task forces/secretariats.
The opening Eucharist, held on Sunday, January 21, 2024, was strengthened by the musical and choral accompaniment of the Bikira Maria wa Mlima Karmeli parish choir from Bunju. On Sunday, the conference participants joined the parish for Sunday Eucharist and a celebratory meal afterwards.
The Conference agreed upon a Final Message which calls for collaboration between leaders and formators and at Africa level; investment in Carmelite life at all levels, cultivating financial management skills anchored on transparency and accountability; fostering teamwork and building a common vision; rooting our life in the Rule and Constitutions through interiorization; study and application to life in community; ensuring that the Constitutions are available in French; ensuring an appropriate balance among Carmelites living the religious and priestly vocations; fostering awareness of and presence of members at community activities; and, finally, ensuring that Commissions of the Order are reflected at the grassroots.
The extensive evaluation of the conference was very positive. Members were also given the opportunity to make recommendations for future conferences.
