Towards Becoming a Small, Vital Africa Region

The World Is Flat
by David A. Smith

The last General Chapter coined the expression of being a “Small, Vital Society.” It’s a theme that captures the imagination but begs the question: what is meant by “vital?” Of course, it’s easy to understand becoming “small” – and that will happen of its own accord – so the crucial word is “vital.” What does that mean? How can Maryknoll Africa be vital while also being small?

Some dictionary definitions of the word, “vital,” might throw some useful light on our subject. Vital is defined as:

1. Concerned with or manifesting life,
2. Essential to life,
3. Being a source or support of life,
4. Indispensable for something’s existence or continuance,
5. Full of life and vigor.

Our minds should now be filled with some incredible questions because what the Society is asking us is: “How will the Africa Region manifest life? Be essential to life? Be a source of life? Be indispensable? Be full of life and vigor?” In our reality of becoming smaller we are to be fountains of life. Too often we observe our growing smaller in terms of death – closing down, handing over, saying goodbye, terminating commitments, pulling back, slowing down, letting go, etc. etc. etc. But the Chapter mandate is not about burning bridges and retreating inside the castle walls! It is about going forth and being a source of vitality in the world. How? How can we be reinvigorated and charge onto the field when we are fewer and older in a world that is changing so rapidly?

In his recent best-seller, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Friedman talks about what companies will have to do to survive in the new economic reality of globalization:

“the best companies today … constantly identify and strengthen their niches and outsource the stuff that is not very differentiating…. Every function…is identified whether it is a unique core competency of the company or some vanilla function that anyone else could do – possibly cheaper and better.”

There is a lesson for us in this example. The world has changed drastically since the first Maryknollers stepped foot into Asia or Latin America or Africa. The models of mission that worked then won’t work in this brave, new world in which we find ourselves. If we are to survive – and to thrive – to be life-giving for others and to be full of vigor ourselves, then we must identify that which differentiates us. What do we have to offer to mission, to the local church, to the poor, to the world that no one else does as well?

In being small, we must realize that we can’t do everything. We need to find our niches, the small places in which we can make a difference. We must refocus our efforts on these “core competencies” and be willing to let others take over many of the functions that we might have been doing ourselves in the past. Friedman likes to use the analogy of taking an x-ray of oneself. We need to peer inside and identify the pearls of great price that we have to offer, and then redefine ourselves accordingly. In concentrating our efforts and resources on the ministries that we do better than any one else, we will become vital. We will be sources of life for the poor, life that in our faith we know to be God’s Life flowing through us.

 

Appropriate Structures for a Small, Vital Region
By David A. Smith

During the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many members of the Africa Region during Council visitations, Pastoral Group meetings, Regional Council meetings, and social gatherings. Many of the ideas presented in this article have been gleaned from these discussions. I present them here as kindling for our ongoing discernment…

When simply looking at the numbers of men, the Maryknoll Society’s presence in the mission fields of Africa has always been smaller than that in either Asia or Latin America. Some might bemoan this historical fact, but I would counter that our smallness has been a source of freedom that the other Areas have not enjoyed. Using an analogy from physics: The more mass a body has, the more inertia it has – in other words, the more it resists movement. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Africa has often been on the cutting edge of structure changes in the Maryknoll world. Our "leanness" makes us more flexible and more accepting of transformation.

The past 30 years have seen Maryknoll Africa evolve from one Region to two Regions, then to two Regions with a Unit, and most recently to a quasi-Region composed of semi-autonomous Districts – first with 6 Districts, then 5, and now 3. These structural changes each happened fairly rapidly. The members recognized a need, engaged in a period of inclusive discussion to reach a consensus, and then promptly implemented the new structures.

I now propose that Maryknoll Africa is on the verge of another metamorphosis – one that will transform it into a creature better suited to the new mission reality in which we find ourselves. Structures must always be in the service of the people enabling mission. For a small Maryknoll Africa to be vital, its structures must be appropriately small while also being life-giving to the members and their ministries. From having 52 priests and brothers in Africa in 2001 to an anticipated 32 by the end of 2006, the Region will have become 38% leaner in just 5 years. That’s like a 250 pound man now weighing only 155 pounds. If he’s lying on his death bed, then the weight-loss is simply symptomatic of his impending demise. But if he’s active, exercising, eating right, and engaged with life, then he’ll be feeling great. But he can’t keep wearing the same clothes; they won’t fit any more. We need new clothes. Our current structures served us well when we were larger, but now they’re just too baggy. As our size reduces, it requires a greater percentage of our precious time and energy to maintain a quasi-Region of semi-autonomous Districts. Districts were a useful, transitional structure during these recent years, but we must now start evolving a new structure that will be appropriate for a Maryknoll presence of 15 or 20 guys in the not-so-distant future.

I realize that there are already ideas being tossed about in our homes and at our gatherings, so allow me to throw a few more into the mix. First, I propose that we do away with the current division of Districts. Districts helped to transition two Regions to one, but now we have attained a strong sense of oneness. Districts served to bring together that which was divided. Now we are united in our identity as Maryknollers in Africa. Let our structures reflect a unified Maryknoll Africa. Let the members choose three leaders from any location rather than each District electing a coordinator who represents them on the Regional Council. The Regional Superior would no longer be linked to a particular District. One of the other Council members could be chosen to represent Kenya and to the North, and the other could represent Tanzania and to the South. But all three Council members would be chosen by the entire membership, and every member would be free to relate to any of the Council members. The “representative of the North” or “of the South” would simply be responsible for presenting budget proposals from the men in his area, bringing their views to Council meetings, and other functions at which the members need a voice in the Regional governance. There would be no large group meetings of the members living in the “North” or in the “South.”

Second, the Regional Superior’s position might need to be more full-time for the next few years, devoting his time and energy to the transformation of the Region into a small and vital entity. The Regional Superior will need to be an enabler, an encourager, an activator, an enlivener, an animator. During the metamorphosis, he will have the key role of instilling a new sense of life and purpose among the Members. He will continue to be the Region’s main representative to the Society and the Local Church. He will be focused on the welfare of the members, on encouraging others to join the Region, and on the creative use of our Regional properties. At the same time, the Regional will cultivate an egalitarian model of leadership in which there is continuous collaboration with the other Council members. The Council members would always consult one another when decisions or actions are needed – this is easy to do in the age of email and cell phones – and for the most part this is already happening. Members could relate to any member of the Council, knowing that the one will communicate any issue with his two counterparts.

Third, functions that are currently District-based will either be handled during the annual Assembly or by the local pastoral groups. Budget discussions could be done in small groups at Assembly each year – groups that are not necessarily based on geography. For example, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for all the guys involved in AIDS projects to review and advise one another? And similarly for those in education ministries? In pastoral work?

Where two or more Maryknollers live in proximity, their “pastoral group” will continue to be a valued source of support and community. Social gatherings, communal liturgies, and PTR meetings will be encouraged. Watching out for one another’s health and well-being will continue to be a shared responsibility. Visits and regular communication with those members, who do not live in proximity to other Maryknollers, serve to build the bonds that help sustain us in mission. These contacts will be the responsibility of all members, not just the Council. The leaders will see to it that every member is visited by at least two other members each year.

Being small and vital will be the essence of mission in the years ahead. We must act now to begin the process of transforming our structures, making them appropriate for our reality, and thereby ensuring the continued richness and vitality of Maryknoll’s presence in Africa.

 

Small is Way Too Big
By Don Larmore

Small is way too big
way too much
way out of proportion

Vital is too decisive
too dynamic
too dimensional beyond zero
to hold the whole Spirit
for space open to infinity.

Is living off of numbers way too much
way too secure
way too definite for faith
to walk on water or windmill it
to heal the broken hearted
to peace a fractured world
to make new out of nothing?

Have many members, candidates, affiliates
Have grain bins producing 6.5284% returns
Have donors and benefactors and wills and estates
But don’t count (on) them.

Zero is where the magnificat joy
the ecstatic bliss of love
the fun of foolishness begins.

Where less is more
more is less
weakness is strength
strength is weakness,

Welcome to the wild kindom of
Maryknoll.

 

Small and Vital
By John Mullen

Oh yes, our numbers are going down fast. No doubt about it — our numbers are becoming smaller. So what’s our answer, what do we do? Shut down some houses?

We have been and will continue to be as vital as we can in our respective ministries. One seminarian has chosen Mwanza and I believe he will have a good pastoral experience and OTP there. I just don’t agree with closing the Nairobi House at this point in time. Land and property will not lose any value if we wait five or ten years. And if we did sell it now would the Region benefit? I understand the money goes back to New York which has a big payroll and lots of programs to run in the States. I worry about the sick and poor to whom I minister. I propose we talk about a trust fund to keep projects benefiting the sick poor in place (with proper monitoring) when we must leave to do Society service or change our ministries. We can talk about this in the Assembly.

There has been a lot of hope placed in short term ministry by visitors coming from the U.S. and other places. I do my best to accommodate them, and invariably they are duly impressed with Maryknoll’s work. There may even be a few vocations from all the visits. If we want them to keep coming it might be nice to have a place in Nairobi to offer them “Maryknoll Hospitality.” Don’t sell the Nairobi House just yet.

 

Need For Missioners in Africa Remains a Great Challenge
By Mike Snyder

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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Seeing Maryknollers from the Inside
by Richard Quinn

The Bible says that charity begins at home. Selling the Ukweli Video Ministry to fellow missioners wasn’t easy in the beginning. The second encounter of video recording in Tanzania almost turned disastrous. Everybody was uptight with the Ujamaa philosophy. Enemies were seen everywhere, coming from the sky, in the trees and most of all anyone with a camera called video. I was falsely accused of video recording the military barracks at Makoko. I was hauled before a local court in Bariadi and drilled for three hours. The Army and traffic police quizzed me many times. My van and equipment was impounded in Arusha for 48 hours before we got clearance. Some Maryknollers thought I was on one grand safari of a lifetime. Oh God, it was fun and I am still doing it. Crazy, maybe? Sane, maybe? Prophetic, maybe? You judge.

Ukweli Video Productions have produced 262 video documentaries, docudramas, video biographies, musicals, etc. Thirty-six of these video productions are promotional video biographies on the work and lives of Maryknollers in their respective ministries. It all started in 1989 when I approached Joe Corso on capturing his work on Marriage Encounter. He was excited and elated that his good work was appreciated. I laid out a plan of action with key interviews, marriage encounter seminars, and visitation of some homes. Trying to pin Joe down for more questions, suggestions, and previewing wasn’t easy. I met Joe on Manyani Road while he was jogging. I played my cards right. He came for the interview and cried. He was deeply touched. After finishing this first Maryknoll video biography, I told him that I had a trip to Zimbabwe for a seminar and would be back in one week. Then we would have an in-house launching. He agreed.

On my arrival back at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi I met Maryknoll Sister Perla who asked me if I had heard the sad news about Joe’s death. I almost went limp, but was happy that he had already seen our Marriage Encounter in Kenya video production.

The scariest moment was when Art Wille was climbing up a rickety old ladder to view the peak of a new outstation church in Komuge, Tanzania. He was shaking and the kinyeji ("homemade") ladder was bending. I prayed, "Lord, don’t let him fall. Ukweli would be finished."   Another great moment was when Bill Fryda gave me more than an hour for a sterling interview. He was great and articulate as most Maryknollers are on camera.

It has been a privilege and a treat doing the stories of our Maryknoll Family. I have gotten to know Maryknollers in a unique way. Most have willingly given me three full days of their precious time to accurately capture their lives and ministries. They have told me the stories of their families, friends, successes, failures, and the happiest and saddest moments of their long missionary careers. Speaking to the camera was almost like a true confession of their missionary journey in faith.

Occasionally I hear some criticism of the work of others and I know in my heart that they don’t have the true story. I have been there, shared some of their deepest thoughts, seen their work first hand and heard the reaction of their coworkers. I can’t find words enough to describe the intimacy of these wonderful stories of faith. They came from the heart and a deep faith and love of Christ. Up until today we have recorded 24 Maryknoll priests, (two twice) four Brothers, two associate priests and four Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Our last Maryknoll video on Chris Bodewes in Kibera, Nairobi was finished in October, 2005. Early in 2006 we will make a video on Lance Nadeau at Kenyatta University. These videos, now also available as DVDs, have been recorded for posterity and are found at Ukweli Video Productions Centre in Nairobi and in the library at Maryknoll, New York.

Long live Maryknoll!

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Celebrating with the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa

Maryknollers joined with the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa in celebrating their Golden Jubilee (1955-2005) in Musoma, Tanzania on 29 July, 2005. This was an historic occasion to remember Msgr. Gerard Grondin, M.M, the founder of the congregation, Sister Mary Bowes, M.M., the first Mother General and others. Sister Lucy Magumba, IHSA has written a 66-page booklet in Swahili called Jubilei ya Miaka 50 ya Shirika la Masista wa Moyo Safi wa Maria Afrika (IHSA) 1955 – 2005 (Peramiho: Peramiho Printing Press, 2005).

Over these 50 years Maryknoll has helped in the formation and education of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in many ways. As one example: On 12 September, 2005 Sister Benedicta Wasonga , IHSA wrote to Tom Tiscornia, the Regional Superior of the Africa Region of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in thanks for her scholarship to study in the USA. She finished her undergraduate program in August, 2005 and now is taking graduate studies in Buffalo, New York.

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Julius Nyerere Declared a Servant of God

Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922-1999), the first President of Tanzania, has been declared a Servant of God (Mtumishi wa Mungu) as the first step in the process (cause) of canonization. The official inauguration of the process will take place during a eucharistic liturgy to be celebrated by Cardinal Polycarp Pengo in Butiama Parish, Musoma, Tanzania on 21 January, 2006. This is the anniversary of the wedding of Julius and Maria Nyerere. The process is under the direction of Bishop Justin Samba, the Bishop of Musoma Diocese (Nyerere's home diocese). Father Wojciech Koscielniak is the Postulator and Ed Hayes is the Vice-Postulator of the cause of canonization. Father John Civille of Cincinnati Archdiocese, Ohio, who has written a book on Nyerere, and Father Laurenti Magesa are the two theological censors involved in the process. Art Wille continues to be very involved and his written personal recollections of Julius Nyerere have been very valuable.

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MEMORABLE QUOTATIONS OF JULIUS NYERERE

“In Africa we have many problems but we remain cheerful.”

“I'm willing to serve you.”

“We would like to light a candle and put it on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro which would shine beyond our borders, giving hope where there is despair, love where there is hate, and dignity where before there was only humiliation.”

“We must run while they walk.”

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Maryknoll Involvement in Small Christian Communities

Three new books highlight Maryknoll involvement in Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Eastern Africa. Maryknoll lay missioner Christine Bodewes has written Parish Transformation in Urban Slums: Voices of Kibera, Kenya (Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2005) about the SCCs (jumuiyas) in Christ the King Catholic Church in the Kibera slums in Nairobi. A summary of this book is found in a chapter in The Pastoral Circle Revisited: A Critical Quest for Truth and Transformation edited by Frans Wijsen, Peter Henriot, and Rodrigo Mejia (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2005). Small Christian Communities Today: Capturing the New Moment edited by Joseph Healey and Jeanne Hinton (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2005) looks at what is happening now across six continents to give pastors and lay leaders of every denomination encouragement through useable SCC examples, stories, and case studies. Seven chapters treat the experiences of SCCs in Africa.

Historically Maryknoll has always been in the forefront of the SCC Ministry in East Africa. Maryknollers can be justifiably proud that although 1973 and 1976 are considered the official starting points for SCCs in the AMECEA countries, the very beginning of SCCs can be traced back to Nyarombo Parish in Musoma Diocese, Tanzania in 1966 with Marie France Perrin-Jassy's research on the social structures and community values of the Luo Ethnic Group. See Marie France Perrin-Jassy, Forming Christian Communities (Kampala: Gaba Pastoral Paper No. 12, 1970) and Basic Community in the African Churches (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1973). It was former Maryknoller Dan Zwack who presented the paper on "Rural Parishes" at the special national "Seminar Study Year" (SSY) in Tanzania in 1969. He worked closely with former Maryknoller Jerry Pavis in Nyarombo Parish. They and another former Maryknoller Frank Murray were the first to articulate the concept and praxis of SCCs that were first called "local Church communities" and were seen as a priority in both rural and later urban parishes. See the issues of Service Magazine in 1968-1973. Over the past 30 years Maryknollers have been deeply involved in promoting SCCs in our parishes and apostolic groups, in writing articles and case studies and in the videos of Ukweli Video (included in the "Annotated Bibliography" of Small Christian Communities Today).

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NOTE: Starting in 2006 there will be two issues a year: June and December.