Need For Missioners in Africa Remains a Great Challenge
 

I was enticed by the title of the Regional Council reflective document, “Towards Becoming a Small, Vital Africa Region,” to sit and prepare some thoughts.  While I appreciated the document, it seems to highlight the “becoming small” part of the Africa Region and does not set forth any proposals that would address being “vital.” They must always go hand-in-hand in order to best focus the planning process.

How fortunate it is that the Region has received an OTP candidate at this time. I believe there are some Society members too who would like to return to the Region in the near future.  Also I know that there are people who wish to join the Region as volunteers. Closer collaboration with the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners is called for as we look to the future.

Nairobi, with special emphasis upon the poor in the slums, remains a vital and important missionary ministry. Perhaps a more creative use of the main house can be determined, short of simply selling it by 2008. Some ideas I offer would be to use the house as a center for short term volunteers entering and exiting East Africa. The house could also provide lodging for university groups on exposure, study or service trips. Such a building may be also used by MIASMU in attracting more participants from the U.S. and Europe. These projects seem to be included in the spirit of the Strategic Planning document.

While I understand that fewer Society members visit the House in Dar, maintaining a presence in Dar (such as a smaller house that includes a “services” office) is important to continue to provide hospitality and orientation. I look once again at the possibility of welcoming short term volunteers and group service trips.  I do not feel that the Region should reduce itself to a totally self-service structure. I think the Region would suffer in the end and lose the “vital” portion of the goals envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The need for missioners in Africa remains a great challenge, and in my opinion, exceeds the needs of Maryknoll in any other place in the world. Maryknoll in the States needs to hear this, get behind it, and promote mission in Africa. Maryknoll in Africa must become pro-active in its approach to the States.  If so, perhaps the prospects for the Region's future could change. I for one hope so!

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