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Ethiopia: IMC annual spiritual exercices |
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Written by Fr. Jean-Marie Bilwala-Kabesa, imc
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 |
 “Today we sense the necessity to go beyond internationality and enculturation, and to face the challenges of interculturality. This requires, first of all, the acknowledgement and acceptance of cultural pluralism, and the constant effort to understand the “other”. In this way, one enters into a dynamic of “receiving” and “giving”, in a reciprocal relationship which enables growth through dialogue, mutual trust and the discovery and recognition of our differences.” (XI GC 56). From 24-29 November 2008, the Ethiopian region IMC members were gathered in Galilee Centre (Jesuits centre) for the annual retreat.
It was facilitated and guided by Rev. Fr. Dietrich Pendawazima. As all of us know, our Founder always asserts “first saints, then missionaries”, which can be also explained that as IMC, we are consecrated ad gentes, ad vitam, ad extra and ad paupers for the mission. Rev. Fr. Pendawazima made us reflected on “Towards Intercultural Communion in Christ”. Even the ACTS of the XI GENERAL CHAPTER, confirming that in order to contribute to the placing Christ at the centre of human life, to dominate our weaknesses (activism, individualism) and to oppose ideologies contrary to the gospel (relativism, consumerism, exploitation of the poor), wishes to live together in intercultural communities the prophecy of a new life, in order to develop fraternity among us and among the peoples. Reverend Fr. Pendawazima, based on the Bible, XI GC, our Founder, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and his own experience of life, helped us to make a wonderful journey to intercultural communion-Holiness. Everybody was satisfied by Fr. Pendawazima sharing. He spiritualized the above-mentioned theme in a way that we couldn’t believe ourselves. Bravo Reverend Fr. Dietrich Pendawazima! I would kindly like to bring to your attention the following assertion. Reverend Fr. Dietrich Pendawazima is a Consolata Missionary from Tanzania. Nowadays, he is the rector of Allamano House in Kenya. May God’ Spirit guide us to implement the message received from the retreat in our daily life as missionaries in Ethiopia. Amen!
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Last Updated ( Monday, 01 December 2008 )
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