New Horizons: authentic and prophetic leadership for a new Africa
From 22 to 25 May 2013, at the Subiaco Centre, in Nairobi, Kenya, there was held the 2nd meeting of the Working Group of the African Mission Commission to prepare the Formation Programme for Directors of the Marist Schools of Africa. Those taking part in the meeting were Prof. Norton (Southern Africa), and Brothers John Kusi (District of West Africa), Michel Maminiaina Razafimandimby (Madagascar), David Hall (Australia), facilitator, James Jolley (FMSI) and João Carlos do Prado (Secretariat of Mission).
The objective of the meeting was « to raise up school leaders who contribute to the implementation of authentic and prophetic leadership in the new Africa ». It aimed to take up the contemporary challenge of looking for true leaders and tried to respond to two questions : What makes us authentic leaders of the Catholic school ? How can our Marist charism help us achieve this type of leadership ?
Five themes were considered. The first, « Reading the signs of the times », was centred on the social historic context, emphasizing the phenomenon of globalisation and its impacts, consequences and opportunities for today’s children and young people in Africa. The second was « Evangelisers in the world », and dealt with our mission as Marist leaders. The 3rd treated « Solidarity and social justice » as challenges for the Marist leaders and works of Africa, especially in what concerns human rights and the construction of a culture of solidarity. The 4th theme focused on the new epoch of the Marist charism, especially on the subject of the co-responsibility of brothers and laity in the mission : « New era for the Marist charism ». And finally, the 5th was centred on the dimension of leadership in the context of the « Marial face of the Church ».
The programme will be offered to all the directors of the Marist Colleges of Africa and other leaders of Marist works during three regional meetings each lasting 13 days : Region 1, Province of « Southern Africa » ; Region 2, Madagascar and Central East Africa ; Region 3, Nigeria and the District of West Africa. For each meeting, it is planned to invite some schools, other Catholic networks and also a group of students of Secondary Teaching of the Marist Colleges.
The drawing up of the programme will be concluded in September 2013, with a challenge : the quest for financing and the approval of the Conference of Superiors of the African Continent. The provisional calendar for the implementation of the programme envisages the months of August and December 2014 and August 2015.
In our days, the Marist presence and mission on the continent are experiencing a great expansion in 68 of our school establishments, among others, which take in more than 55,040 children and young people and which benefit from the animation and leader-ship of more than 4,800 lay collaborators and 454 Marist Brothers. Marist Africa is organised into 4 Provinces and 1 District, operating in 20 countries. To form Marist leaders, is to glimpse and guarantee an horizon of opportunities and great vitality for the Marist charism. It is also to strengthen the communion between brothers and laity in Marist life and mission.