Rome, June 20, 2003

Feast of  Our Lady, the Consolata

Very dear confreres,

The canonical visitation to your Region coincided with two important liturgical seasons.  The visitation began during Lent when readings from the prophets urge Christians to renew their dedication to God, their prayer life and their practice of penance and social justice and came to a close in Eastertide.  A season in which we are immersed in the mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord and called to share personally and actively in that mystery.  Easter gives meaning to our commitment and our apostolate.  The readings at Mass invite Christians to open themselves up to the revitalizing action of the Spirit;  through these readings we hear once again the courageous proclamation of those first witnesses of the Good News. 

We joined with you in the celebration of these saving events in your  faith communities.  We will never forget the Via Crucis on Good Friday  at Faraja House in Mgongo as it was acted out so forcefully by street children who had themselves experienced a via crucis.  Nor will we easily forget the overwhelming joy of the Easter Vigil at the Consolata Sanctuary of Iringa and Nyabula where you let us share in your pastoral ministry by inviting us to baptize dozens of catechumens who had been so carefully prepared by the catechists.

We set out to visit your communities in the company of Father Giuseppe Inverardi, the Regional Superior.  Our purpose was to gain an overall view of what has been accomplished in the last six years.  Throughout the visitation we were overwhelmed with a biblical sense of gratitude.  Our primary reason for being grateful was the work God has done through us in the missions.  By being grateful we open ourselves to conversion and we begin to realize our own limitations. 

We shared your joys and problems as well as the sufferings of those people you have been called to console.  The experience of our own weakness and poverty makes us appreciate the  experience of the Apostle Peter.  We find it difficult to abandon our own world of certainty and security, we are reluctant to change, we  fear the new situations God has in store for us.  The Easter liturgy presents Peter full of new strength – it is different from previous representations of the Apostle where he is arrogant and full of himself.  One example of this new Peter is the scene in the Acts where Peter encounters a cripple as he goes up to the temple to pray.  The cripple reaches out his hand and asks for alms.  Peter is a poor man; he has nothing but the Spirit of Jesus.  His response is one of the most beautiful affirmations a preacher of the Gospel could make:  “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you:  in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3,6).

The Easter spirituality that accompanied us throughout the visitation urges us not to be afraid, not to lose courage, but to try ever greater things – “because holy is his name!”  We must teach those we evangelize how to walk on their own legs in the dignity of a new creation in Christ.  This is the greatest challenge we will encounter in our apostolate.

 

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN TANZANIA

No mission exists in a vacuum but in a very real and defined historical context.  It is important to provide an overview of  current conditions in Tanzania which affect the mission before talking about the canonical visitation or offering any  suggestions.

Politics

The enormous tribal rivalry to be found in other African states does not exist here – this may be due to the use of a single language:  Swahili.  In spite of violence during the elections in 2000 – the government was accused of electoral fraud, the situation is on the whole peaceful.  Although  a multi-party system was introduced in 1995, the same party has been in power since independence.  A genuine and substantial opposition does not really exist in the country and this has deleterious effects on the state of the nation – there is political stagnation.  Genuine political maturity capable of offering an alternative to the current leadership is not to be found in Tanzania.

Religious freedom is a reality.  On the economic front state enterprises are being sold – largely to foreign multinational companies – and this creates the risk of widespread unemployment. 

Society

Generally people in Tanzania  exhibit an attitude of  mutual esteem and tolerance.  There is still great respect for missionaries.  Tanzanian citizens live together in a spirit of religious tolerance even though they practice different religions and are not immune to waves of fundamentalism.  This is especially true in the coastal areas which are predominantly Muslim.  Poverty is widespread throughout the country.  Thirty-six percent of the population falls below the poverty line and lacks basic necessities.  Even though some 70% of the work force is involved in agriculture and fishing these occupations provide little more than the bare minimum needed for survival.  People employed in the public or private sector are very badly paid.  They cannot save for the future and are concerned simply with day-to-day survival. One of the greatest threats to the life of the nation and the future of its citizens is the widespread corruption.  It infects personal, collective and political affairs on all levels, and makes money the most important consideration in any transaction.  Unfortunately this corruption is not absent from our faith communities and undermines the most noble of human and Christian values.

Education

The state of education in Tanzania reached its high point at the end of the 1970’s - 96% of its children were attending school.  Since the 1980’s there has been a progressive decline in the number of children in school – at present only 75% of school-age children are attending the seven-year primary school.  Some 6% of those attending school leave early and more than 80% of the students do not pass their final exams.  Only 5% go to secondary school – this is one of the lowest figures in the world. 

The failings of Tanzania’s educational system are apparent.  They are to some extent due to the low morale of  poorly paid teachers.

Health

Dispensaries are the most common form of health service in Tanzania.  Frequently real doctors are not available – there is approximately one doctor for every 25,000 inhabitants in Tanzania.  Regional hospitals ought to play an important role in the national health network but in fact for any treatment out of the ordinary one must go to Dar-es-Salaam and this involves an expensive  journey many cannot afford.

There is an endemic shortage of qualified personnel, clinics and medical supplies.  The medical assistance available does not meet the needs of the population.  Medicine is not always available – especially in government hospitals.  People are forced to turn to private pharmacies where prices are higher;  often they are referred to these pharmacies by personnel in the government facilities.  Not only are medicines in short supply, they are frequently of poor quality.  In 2001 the Ministry of Health surveyed hospitals and discovered that 30% of the medication on hand had passed its use-by date.

Malaria remains the principal cause of death in Tanzania but AIDS is becoming a  serious and widespread threat.  Some 1,300,000 people are HIV-positive.  33% of pregnant women are infected and each year 70,000 infected babies are born.  The country is witnessing a tremendous loss of young people and an alarming rise in the number of orphans.

The Church

The Church in Tanzania consists mainly of parishes with good physical plants and strong support from small base communities.  The catechumenate experience is impressive and lasts two or three years.  For the most part those who are involved in this activity are the sons and daughters of people who are already Christians.  There are few adult conversions.

Liturgical celebrations occupy a major place in this Church.  Very often, though, they do not reflect a deep faith rooted in life and committed to missionary proclamation.  The Church of Tanzania depends on foreign assistance – not so much for clergy but for financial support. 

Each year during Lent the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference publishes a letter.  There was some ferment during the recent elections – the Bishops called on Christians to take a responsible and active part in the elections.  Other brief publications have come out of the Pastoral, Liturgical and Justice and Peace commissions.  Beyond this, one has the impression that there are not many meaningful publications emanating from the Tanzanian Church.  Prudence or the peculiar situation of the country may be the reasons for this reticence.  The majority of the publications mentioned above do not reach the grass roots – often they don’t even reach the priests.

One crucial area of pastoral activity is youth work.  The Tanzanian Church is made up of young people who are gradually losing there sense of belonging culturally to their own ethnic group.  The popular media have an enormous effect on them, they are confused and are losing sight of authentic human and cultural values.  The Church faces a challenge:  it must approach youth, act as a bridge between the old and the new, and help to form genuine disciples of the Lord and leaders for the future. 

A very significant area in theology is that of inculturation.  Apart from grandiose declarations and statements little is being done to put this into practice.  Missionaries must help the Church achieve this goal;  they must be willing to provide whatever service is necessary to guarantee the continuity of this process.

One final consideration regarding catechists: even though everyone considers them the primary and most important resources of a parish there is a reluctance to initiate genuine lay ministries.

In the midst of all these national and ecclesial concerns fraught with possibilities and challenges, what exactly are you doing to consolidate and improve the good you have already accomplished?

Rather than offering you a list of activities we would prefer to present an overall view of what both you and your Regional Government have set as goals.  We are basing this overview on your reports and our conversations together.  We will describe what sort of Region you are at present  and you can become in the future as you work to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and build the Kingdom of God in Tanzania. 

WITNESS TO HOLINESS THROUGH COMMUNION IN THE REGION

The best gift you can offer your people and the Church, is the witness of a consecrated life lived with faith, love and holiness.  The most effective contribution you can make to building the Kingdom of God is radical dedication to a ministry that conforms to the signs of the times.  Your longing for holiness must never grow faint, your efforts to follow the evangelical counsels must never leave you, the words of the Psalmist, “O God my soul thirsts for you,” must be the refrain of your spiritual journey. 

Local communities

There are twenty-one communities in your Region.  Thirteen of these communities consist of at least three missionaries and eight have only two.  Outwardly at least they appear serene and apart from certain difficulties they share a common purpose.  Most of your communities meet twice a day for prayer;  frequently they are joined by members of the local Christian communities.  Only a few of the communities meet but once a day to pray.  Almost all the members of the circumscription attend the Regional meetings and permanent formation events organized by the Regional Government.  A high percentage of our members attend the annual retreats in two sessions and two languages.

There are however some problems and shortcomings that diminish your  effectiveness as witnesses of the Gospel.  The visitors are in full agreement  with the evaluation of the Regional Government:  “We must admit that we are far from that spiritual intensity enjoined by Allamano and encouraged by the General Chapters and so many other Institute documents.  We are more active than contemplative.  By contemplation we mean appropriate time dedicated to prayer, personal or community reflection, meaningful community meetings, reading, study and relaxation.  With regard to devotional practices – attendance at daily meditation is visibly declining and the monthly retreat has all but disappeared.  Recitation of the rosary is more common.  It is not our values that should be questioned but rather our inability and reluctance  to take stock.”

To revitalize personal and community spiritual life we invite everyone to formulate a community plan of life at the beginning of  the year.  Some of our missionaries find this practice – working on the plan – somewhat difficult.  But use of this  aid to our life and work is becoming ever more common in the Institute; you must work together on a plan lest you deprive the community of this simple but valuable tool for discernment.  Another practice we recommend is meeting at least once every two months for a more prolonged study of your community life and apostolate.  For those private devotions recommended by the  Constitutions, we urge you to set aside time for them.  Above all we encourage you to love and help one another, respect and accept each other’s positive qualities and put up with those traits that annoy you. 

Only a community permeated by love and mutual understanding,  marked by mutual forgiveness and sustained by personal and common prayer can be an  authentic and effective example to its members and to those outside who observe, judge and follow us – to the extent that we are credible.

Members of the Community

Through discussion and observation we have concluded that many of  the missionaries of this Region are on the path to holiness.  Their lives give witness to their love of Jesus.  They accept his will and dedicate themselves completely to the welfare of others.  The attitude of certain missionaries who accept and seek out sacrifice for the good of their ministry is admirable.  Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to these individuals and we would encourage them to continue their selfless path to holiness and self-sacrifice. 

Other missionaries have too readily accepted compromise – either in their personal pursuit of holiness or in the performance of their work.  They seem more interested in an untroubled life than anything else;  they are almost entirely self-absorbed.  Their example becomes weak, meaningless and without effect.  To these confreres we would extend a fraternal invitation:  think back on the most enthusiastic times of your vocation, of the intimacy you enjoyed with the Lord, of the enthusiasm that marked the best years of your lives,  of the generosity with which you spent your life energy on behalf of the missions.  Think back on those days and return to them!  The path to holiness involves no breaks; enthusiasm is not the exclusive property of young people and dedication is not tempered by physical decline.  Avoid mediocrity, compromise and stagnation.  Don’t let yourselves be trapped in pettiness.  Respond to Jesus’ invitation – arise and walk.  Return to the path of holiness and generosity.

If anyone of you fears that psychological wounds, character defects or tendencies incompatible with your vocation should prove an obstacle for others – let him seek help from the Region or the Institute to solve these problems.  With the grace of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the help of professionals everyone can find redemption and renewal of life.  He needs only overcome the temptation to become the passive victim of misfortune.

There are still Brothers in your Regional community.  Be grateful for their presence.  In the words of the Regional Report, “They perform a precious task. In recent years we have witnessed enormous building projects – religious (churches, chapels), secular (schools, clinics, etc).  Their presence and cooperation is both needed and appreciated.”  We earnestly desire the Regional Mission-Vocation Promotion Office to place greater emphasis on this vocation;  we hope that the number of Brothers will increase for the good of the missions.

There are many young missionaries in your Region.  The future of the Institute and its missions in Tanzania will depend to a large extent on them.  The Regional Government realizes it is responsible for helping these confreres fit into the apostolate and gradually assume greater responsibilities.  We were happy to discover that periodic get-togethers are organized for these young people and that these meetings involve spirituality, formation and recreation.  We congratulate the Regional Government for this activity and encourage them to continue it.  We were proud to note how our young confreres, especially the Africans, managed our projects so very well.  This is a sure sign of maturity;  your appreciation and respect for their work help these young confreres to grow more confident.  We urge these young men to live the mission with faith, enthusiasm and generosity;  we would urge those who are more experienced to support, guide and respect these young missionaries.

Government, offices and Regional commissions

We note that the majority of missionaries respect and accept the leadership of the Regional Superior.  He is totally devoted to each and everyone of you without distinction.  He is assisted by a Regional Council that meets for two days every other month.  The members of the council are free to discuss problems and situations regarding individuals and communities;  they usually make decisions by consensus.  The Council’s impact on the life and work of the Region is well received and helps to expedite the vast amount of work being done.  The visitors realize it is impossible to have a full-time vice-superior but would recommend the appointment of a capable personal secretary for the Superior.  A secretary could handle much of the burden of paper-work, archival and secretarial tasks, etc.  This would allow the superior more time for reflection, planning and guiding activities in the Region.  He could extend the time he spent with local communities and possibly find time for the relaxation his health requires. 

There are two Regional Offices in the Region:  the Mission-Vocation Promotion Office and the Administration Office.  There are also commissions for Justice and Peace, Evangelization and Permanent Formation.  Only the Mission-Vocation Promotion and Administration offices have full-time directors.  The visitors were able to acquaint themselves with everything the directors of these offices and commissions are doing to achieve their goals and advance their projects.  We are sincerely grateful to these individuals for their valuable work.   But for the good of the mission we believe it necessary to establish a proper Regional Secretariat for the Missions.  It should have a full-time director who could devote more time to revitalizing the programs already underway.  He could improve their effectiveness and make them more goal-oriented.  We are closing two parishes and are sending several missionaries to the Region – this should permit the establishment of a Mission Secretariat in the near future.

At present there are no conflicts, divisions or tensions inside the Regional Community.   The visitors believe this is the appropriate time to make a courageous common effort to improve the quality of your religious life and the impact of your pastoral activity.

Community possessions

The Office of Administration merits special mention.  Together with local administrations it watches over the proper use of those gifts the Institute and our benefactors have sent for proclaiming the Gospel and caring for the needy.  Through appropriate projects, missionaries must help Christians and parish groups to become self-supporting and less dependent on help from outside.  From our discussions and our study of the books we concluded that  the financial affairs of the Region are conducted carefully and in accordance with Institute  norms.  The efforts to improve local administration and provide a complete overview of the Region’s finances are worthy of praise.  If these efforts are to succeed everyone must cooperate.  There must be an accurate record of expenses, accounts must be presented punctually, budgets and balance sheets for projects must be carefully prepared and all the members of the community must become involved.  Our Constitutions tell us that love of poverty will lead us to share our possessions, our work and our projects, faithful to the ideal of “having all in common” (Cf. Const. 45).  We urge all of you to give witness to your vow of poverty especially by being close to the people – this should be our hallmark as Consolata Missionaries.  We cannot risk alienating people because of the way we manage our possessions or the fact that our life-style is hardly austere.  We would ask the Administration and Regional councils to pay more attention to  granting permission to buy vehicles or to spend large amounts on their maintenance.  We would urge our confreres to avoid having personal cars, and to use the cars available only for pastoral purposes – not for useless trips or personal travel.  Trips of this sort might indicate a desire to escape from our normal life.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AND BUILDING THE CHURCH IN THE REGION

The encyclicals Evangelii Nuntiandi and Redemptoris Missio along with the Acts of the Tenth General Chapter have explained this aspect of Gospel proclamation at length.  These documents have provided us with an outline for some thoughts we would like to share with you.

Parish Apostolate

Through the sixteen parishes entrusted to your care and the Regional Office of Evangelization your Region is completely committed to proclaiming the Gospel.  Your proclamation of the Gospel takes place in those very situations mentioned in Redemptoris Missio:  among the numerous non-Christians in your parishes, among catechumens and Christians who may have abandoned the Church and Christian life.  But it is to the growth and maturation of the Christian communities that almost all your efforts are directed. 

Your evangelization is all-embracing.  It involves initial evangelization for the non-baptized, catechism for parish groups,  promoting human welfare and sensitizing everyone to the demands of justice and peace.  The methodology you employ is similar in all the parishes and depends on the precious collaboration of catechists.  You meet with these catechists every month for training and planning projects.  You can count on the assistance of the Baraza la Walei (lay commission) for planning.  This is a demonstration of leadership on the parish level; it provides valuable help in finances and in planning future projects.  The commission helps you reach the various male, female and youth groups working in different areas.  It establishes contact with the base communities that represent a preferential choice of the Tanzanian Church and are present in all our parishes.  Your evangelization has been notably successful.  There are numerous Catholics in your parishes scattered in many villages;  they take an active part in church life.  There are hundreds of baptisms annually in your parishes – although few of these neophytes are adults.  You are engaged in a variety of welfare activities on the local level.  The visitors thank God and each of you working to build the Church in Tanzania for the abundant, visible results your proclamation of the Gospel has produced. 

Pastoral Renewal

In the light of this development you have helped us to see and understand, and looking to the future we believe it important to increase lay participation in your apostolate.  Lay people must feel they are genuine agents of the apostolate and not mere assistants.  Continue to suggest the institution of lay ministries to the hierarchy.  With respect for the decisions of the bishops determine which lay ministries you can establish in your parishes.  Through their prayer, work for the poor and insights on justice and peace base communities constitute living cells within the parish.  Work to establish and develop new movements such as young Christian workers, marriage encounter, charismatic renewal …,  will help you more adequately meet the needs of your people. 

In line with Ecclesia in Africa (Cf. 46 and 47) we would like to ask certain questions.  Do you think the time has come to work more closely with those individuals who feel a need for a more intimate relation with God by offering retreats in the parishes?  It is certainly true that Tanzanians love celebrations – singing, dancing, the joy of being in God’s house.  But do these outward manifestations correspond to inward faith or are they simply explosions of exuberance without a solid foundation?  Parish choirs play a large part in these celebrations - do they really contribute to the celebration or do they turn the congregation into mute spectators and make the liturgy something remote?  Could you take advantage of your parishioners’ talents to stage dramatic representations of Gospel stories?  This could advance your evangelization and involve your parishioners more intimately in the work of the parish.  We believe your parishes could become active centers of social life to the extent that you  promote cultural and recreational activities that bring people together. 

We must mention what is happening with initial evangelization in your missions.  All the pre-visitation reports say that there are non-baptized people in each of your missions.  Only one report mentions projects aimed at making non-Christians disciples of Jesus.  We do not just suggest, we urge you to entrust this specific ministry to one of the missionaries in each of your communities.  Working with everyone else involved in the apostolate his task will be to get initial evangelization off the ground.

In the light of these considerations we believe you ought to open a mission-vocation promotion center in the Region rather than a new parish.  If , however, you prefer to open a parish, link this parish with a center for promotion – something that will give witness to our charism, and present a new image for our work in Tanzania.  Mission-vocation promotion and pastoral  work that serve as mutual inspiration to each other.

Concern for the missions characterizes our pastoral work

As missionaries we are obliged to foster mission-vocation promotion in our parishes.  If your evangelization lacks this dimension it is no different from that of the secular clergy or religious of other institutes.  It seems incomprehensible that in spite of having so many parishes and a school at Mafinga we attract so few vocations to the missionary life!   It’s true that vocations are declining in Tanzania and poor scholastic achievement precludes many young people from entering seminaries but the small number of young people in formation is still perplexing.

PROPHETIC DENUNCIATION, CONSCIENCE FORMING, AND PROVIDING CONSOLATION IN THE REGION

Prophetic denunciation dates back to the ministry of Jesus himself.  Since 1972 the Church Synod on Justice and the Synod for Africa have both recognized and affirmed its place as a constituent component of authentic and total evangelization.  Our last General Chapter named service of justice and peace as one of the five specific elements of our missio ad gentes.

Difficulties along the way

Members of your Region’s ad hoc committee have taken part in all the continental meetings on justice and peace organized by the General Secretariat of the Missions.  They have worked with other groups to educate and sensitize our missionaries in a variety of ways:  distributing the Manual on Justice and Peace;  organizing annual seminars for pastoral ministers (including lay people) on AIDS, workers’ rights, etc … Unfortunately the Regional Government could not find a full-time director for this committee nor was it able to include this service in the tasks of a Regional Mission Secretariat.  The committee director’s report says: “Without a more concentrated effort there is not much we can achieve in this area.”  Whatever we have accomplished in the area of justice and peace has been done in close collaboration with the Consolata Missionary Sisters. 

Along with these internal difficulties there are external problems mentioned in the Government’s pre-visitation report:  “Tanzania does not yet experience outrage at the injustices it witnesses.  There is a widespread sense of resignation, consequently there is no great reaction.  One hears constantly talk of peace, unity, tranquility.  The Church’s hierarchy is reluctant to confront the government.  It prefers to engage in dialogue but whether such dialogue will ever take place or what sort of results it might produce is uncertain.”  In an effort to revive its justice and peace committee the  Conference of Religious organized a meeting for representatives of the various religious congregations.  Few people attended the meeting and there was no follow-up.  And still injustice, exploitation, corruption, mistreatment of women and abandoned children, etc., all these problems continue and demand attention if they are to be remedied with dispatch and dignity. 

In spite of these and other difficulties we urge you to include a commitment to justice and peace in your  evangelization.  Without this kind of commitment your efforts to proclaim the Kingdom of God are incomplete.  They do not reflect the prophetic vocation of the Church and of religious life.

Prophetic denunciation through human promotion

A commitment to human development and those institutions which promote it are an essential part of the charism of our Institute and our concern for human rights.  Preaching the Gospel and promoting human development are in our blood.  Everywhere we work projects specifically designed to improve the environment and living conditions of our people spring up.  Your Region is involved in projects of this nature.  Some of these projects are an authentic reproach to the evils and injustices brought about by the increasing marginalization of the weak in modern society.  There are two projects in particular that are especially representative:  the hospital and adjacent laboratory/school in Ikonda and the center for rehabilitating street orphans (Faraja House).

In spite of the distance and expense involved,  the hospital project is an expression of your concern for those abandoned by the national health network.  Care of those suffering from AIDS is especially emblematic – these are the patients most in need of care and comfort.  If the Ikonda Hospital could specialize in preventive care what enormous benefits it would bring to all the people of the Region!  Faraja House is the concrete expression of another preferential option:  taking responsibility for society’s most vulnerable members – children without families who have been abandoned by society.  This center is going through a difficult transition at present;  it needs the help and support of everyone.

It was the will of the Region that these two institutions be established and it is up to the Regional Government to see that they are managed well.  To guarantee continuity and the necessary financial support, those in charge of these projects must follow Regional directives.  On its side the Region should be closely involved in the work of these institutions.  It should keep itself informed of what is being done;  it should study and approve local planning and review results but at the same time give those in charge the necessary freedom to do what their experience and dedication indicate.  We recommend a serious and detailed study of these two institutions (Ikonda Hospital and adjacent laboratory school, Faraja House) for the next  Regional Conference.  For the time being decisions should be confined to partial solutions or improvements that cannot be postponed.

Human development and the infrastructure

There are many other human and religious development projects in the Region.  The parish infrastructure is especially impressive:  large and beautiful churches;  fully fitted parish halls and other accommodations for the formation of the people of God,  appropriate and welcoming residences for the missionaries, etc.  There are carpentry workshops, sewing schools, mills, shoe repair schools, small and large scale farming, clinics, nursery schools … All of these works are unfortunately languishing because they are not yet self-supporting.  Moreover lack of students is curtailing their educational impact.  In a country where youthful unemployment is so high these projects could provide a useful service:  they could train young people for a more productive future as they did in the past.

We heard many, often conflicting, opinions on these projects.  Some missionaries believe too little is done for human development;  others complain that they do not have the resources for building available to richer missions;  and still others are worried about the future of these various projects once they are handed over to people who may not have the financial resources to keep them up and running.  Some believe that the time for building all these ancillary services has passed;  we ought now invest all our energies and resources in the formation of people.

Development and formation

Church and Institute documents can help us respond to the questions listed above.  Redemptoris Missio reminds us that the Church has always sought the progress of people, especially through missionary development work;  it has always focused on transforming consciences through the light of the Gospel;  “offering people an opportunity not to ‘have more’ but to ‘be more’" (Cf. 58).

The Acts of our Tenth General Chapter tell us that “the modern expression of consolation is the promotion of peace, justice and solidarity” (p. 58). Allamano himself wanted his missionaries to work for the dignity and happiness of people – “first make men and then Christians”.  This work pleases the one who finds consolation in the good we do for others (Our Lady, the Consolata).

In the face of so many pressing needs we may be tempted to plunge into sea of projects of our own devising – projects that reek of paternalism and do-goodism.  To reduce the temptation to individualism the Institute requires confreres in every circumscription to pool their resources in a common fund that  can be both more effective and more controlled.  Development projects must satisfy the requirements of genuine development; they must be explicitly approved by the Regional Superior and undertaken with the consent of the local ordinary.  The missionary may promote development but it is the local people who make it work.  They must be educated appropriately and led to individual maturity.

Educating individuals is the principal goal of every effective development project.  Individuals should discover and appreciate their potential and recognize their rights and responsibilities in the Church and in society at large.  Obviously this service must be free of any pressure, any personal, cultural or religious influence that depends on financial resources, experience or prestige.  Blessed Paolo Manna wrote: “Where the missions are strong, the Church is weak.”  Our Founder warned us, “Humility is so absolutely necessary that not only can we do no good without it, we actually do evil” (Pietre Vive, p. 28).

Now that your parishes have the necessary buildings it is time to invest in formation!

CELEBRATING THE MISSIO AD GENTES IN THE REGION

Redemptoris Missio clearly and emphatically affirms that although all baptized people are missionaries, and the Church itself is missionary, there is still need for Institutes “which undertake the duty of evangelization, which is the responsibility of the whole Church, as their special task” (65).   “These institutes… remain ‘absolutely necessary,’ not only for missionary activity ad gentes, in keeping with their tradition, but also for stirring up missionary fervor both in the churches of traditionally Christian countries and in the younger churches” (66).

Every charism in the Church reflects some fundamental aspect of Christian life.  Wherever we are and whatever we do, our charism keeps alight the torch of the Church’s universal mission.  What was said about Blessed Paolo Manna must be true for each of us:  “He remained always and only a missionary.”

Passing on the spirit of the mission

Everyone in Tanzania must fully assume this shared identity.  Those working in a parish must become missionary pastors.  Those involved in teaching or formation must become missionary educators.  Those working in a hospital, on a farm, in an office, on a magazine must  become constant reminders of the missions.  It is up to your Region to make young Christian communities mission-minded.  You can do this by sending personnel, praying, making sacrifices and  offering financial assistance to missionaries in the field.  We hope that  mission-vocation promotion will help your Christian communities make financial donations from their poverty and provide religious and lay personnel from their abundance.

Tools for promoting the missions and attracting supporters

This is why the Region’s Mission-Vocation Promotion (MVP) Office with a full-time director is important.  He must motivate you to foster a missionary spirit in your people.  A wide variety of tasks falls on his shoulders:  handling paperwork; keeping in touch with prospective vocations and their families; preparing MVP projects; preparing for ordinations and religious professions.  Without your active cooperation he cannot accomplish nor can we expect very much.

Another resource for mission/vocation promotion is the periodical: Enendeni.  It began publication at the beginning of this year and could be an ideal means for establishing and maintaining contact with the young people of this country.  You must work to make it better known.  Buy subscriptions for young people considering a vocation;  give it as a gift to those who do  volunteer work in the parishes and other institutions in your care.  This periodical can reach people neither you nor the director ever meet;  it can have a positive and hopeful effect.  Young people in Tanzania have little reading material – the periodical should prove excellent material – especially for school boarders.  So many young people have discovered their missionary vocation in periodicals such as this!

The seminaries of Mafinga and Morogoro are the two centers of your vocation formation work.  The visitors were both joyful and grateful to see that leadership has passed into the hands of our African confreres – this is a genuine sign of maturity.  These seminaries are of vital importance as a source of vocations, a place where vocations can be nurtured.  They deserve the support of the whole Region.  Accept responsibility for our students; welcome them into your parishes;  help them through their difficulties and send reports to the formation team after they have spent their vacations with you. 

The joy of Nunc Dimittis

A Region that celebrates the universality of the Church’s mission must be able to recite Nunc Dimittis with joy.  The work of missionary institutes to establish the Church in Tanzania will one day reach completion.  It can be painful to recognize that the time for departure – Nunc Dimittis – has arrived, but it can be a liberating experience as well.  The Nunc Dimittis is not a dirge, it is a hymn announcing new life – the life aged Simeon saw in the new-born Messiah.

We will recite our Nunc Dimittis with the Consolata Sisters who share our mission.  In speaking about our collaboration with the sisters the Regional report says:  “Our work together has its small problems – different styles and sometimes difficult relations – but on the whole it is fraternal and constructive.”   Is there a will to work together and help each other?  This would please us;  we must seek ever more productive ways to collaborate, to review our mutual relations and to reach a deeper understanding of the charism and mission we share. 

We will recite our Nunc Dimittis with the Consolata lay people who work in Faraja House, with those friends who so lovingly assist us,  and with those professionals and employees who work for us even for brief periods of time.

The Magnificat of the future

We will recite the Nunc Dimittis with everyone but it will only mark the occasion that we proclaim together the Magnificat of the future.  This was the goal and purpose of our stay with you;  this is what we were saying so clearly and with so much conviction during the final assembly of the canonical visitation.

The fundamental and vital discernment of our missionary family’s future in Tanzania is your responsibility.  The future should not take you by surprise, it should be prepared and planned.  Your work with the local Church should reflect our charism and be on the cutting edge of Tanzanian society.  How do you want to be seen and appreciated in Tanzania when you will be fewer in number, when most of the parishes will be in the hands of diocesan priests, when others will take over the work of development and pastoral care?

One possibility for maintaining a presence would be to keep one or two pastoral commitments along with a Mission-Vocation Promotion office in those dioceses in which you are presently engaged.  But there are other possibilities:  involvement in ministry formation, development work among outcast groups in special need of justice and consolation.  The results of your discernment will be a  monument to our 100-year presence in this beloved nation in 2019.

 

Conclusion

We began this letter by saying that biblical sentiments of thanks to God were with us at all times during this visitation – thanks for God’s work in you and in the mission.

Through Him “in whose compassionate heart the mission was born” (XCG 55), we must extend our thanks to each of you that the Lord has associated in his saving work in Tanzania: to those missionaries who out of love have spent their lives for the Kingdom and now rest in Tanzanian soil;  to those elderly and infirm confreres,  who refuse to surrender and who continue to believe in the missions – the flower of Blessed Allamano’s charismatic dynamism;  to those younger missionaries who take courage from the devotion of their predecessors, who have become their disciples and the continuation of that life and message;  to the Consolata Missionary Sisters and lay people who work at your side with the same fervor and the same goal – to bring consolation to all;  to the Regional Superior and his council who in a spirit of fraternity and cooperation helped us constantly during our visitation.

May Our Lady, the Consolata, and Blessed Allamano continue to be your examples and inspiration.

Father Antonio Bellagamba, IMC

(Vice-Superior General)

Father Norberto Ribeiro Louro, IMC

(Continental Councilor)