UBUNTU and fraternal dialogue
Today (28 December), feast of the Holy Innocents, the meeting of the Councils of Africa with the General Council continues. It has been a day for studying some of the most relevant aspects that should accentuate the prophetic profile of Marist life in Africa.
We began the morning by echoing what had resonated in our minds and hearts during the night from our work and exchanges yesterday.
Once again, it emphasized the importance of focusing our life and mission on Christ and his Gospel, lived in the style of Mary.
Seizing on this point, Br Emili’s presentation stressed the irreplaceable role the commitment to develop a spiritual life and an experience of prayer capable of sustaining and giving vitality to to our life must play.
Along with this challenge, the Superior General developed the consequences of living evangelization as a key of reconciliation within the African societies.
Inspired by the proposal of the XXI General Chapter inviting us to generate a dialogue characterized by “fraternity”, a decalogue of points was presented to be taken into account in constructing a true “fraternal dialogue” within our provinces and also in the Councils themselves, convinced that what we do or neglect to do affects the whole system, from the most immediate levels to the universal scale.
The African concept of “ubuntu” helped us acquire this awareness of the transcendence at every level of what we are capable of living and incarnating.
Bishop Desmond Tutu explains, “One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu, the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation.
It speaks about interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity.
We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”
The day offered times for personal reflection and discussion at individual Council level. It concluded with a joint visit to MIC, the Marist International Centre where 102 young Brothers of Africa and Madagascar are being formed.
Nairobi, 28/12/2011.
Read about the first day
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