NB:5-23052014 - Instituto de los Hermanos Maristas - … · nb:5-23052014 marist brothers of the schools (fms) district of west africa (tchad, cameroon, ghana, cote d’ivoire, liberia

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MARIST BROTHERS OF THE SCHOOLS (FMS) DISTRICT OF WEST AFRICA

(TCHAD, CAMEROON, GHANA, COTE D’IVOIRE, LIBERIA AND EQUATORIAL GUINEA)

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Dear Brothers, Accept greetings from Accra, Ghana. This fifth edition of our News Bulletin comes on the heels of the 57th District Council Meeting held in Accra, Ghana from April 14 – 18, 2014 to complete the information you have received so far and give you more. --------------------------------------------------------- MAY DEVOTION

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the perfect example of obedience. The month of May as you know is dedicated to her. Maintain this pious practice of honouring her among your students and help them to cultivate her virtues.

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CANONICAL VISITATIONS LIBERIA From March 24 – 29, 2014, the District Superior, Brother Francis Lukong was in Liberia to visit the Brothers, students and teachers of Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Catholic School (SSKMCS), Barnesville. He went from class to class greetings the students and encouraging them to take their learning seriously.

Morning Devotion at (SSKMCS), Barnesville

On Friday, March 28, 2014, the teachers of SSKMCS celebrated Teachers‟ Professional Day. Brother Francis Lukong used this occasion to encourage them to be exemplary in their leadership and interactive functions.

Marist District of West Africa District Mariste de l’Afrique de l’Ouest

Distrito Marista de África del Oeste

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Teachers Professional Day Celebration

Brother David Cooney and the students of SSKMCS in the school library GHANA

From Liberia, Brother Francis Lukong continued to Kumasi, Ghana to visit the Brothers of Kwadaso and Boukrom communities from the 1st to the 11th of April 2014. While at Kumasi, he visited Marist Preparatory School, Sabin-Akrofrom and Saint Marcellin Champagnat School, Boukrom going from class to class encouraging the students to be involved in their knowledge acquisition and education by participating fully in the learning process. In the two schools, he invited teachers to work hard at confronting the hidden curriculum.

Brother John Kusi-Mensah and some of his students of Marist Preparatory School, Sabin-Akrofrom, Kumasi

The JHS students of Marist Preparatory School, Sabin-Akrofrom listening to Br Francis

Brother Francis and some of the students of Saint Marcellin Champagnat school, Boukrom

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Brother Francis Lukong, the Marist Youth Group and some of the students of Saint Marcellin Champagnat school, Boukrom At Saint Marcellin Champagnat School, Boukrom, Brother Francis met the Marist Youth Group commended their effort and enthusiasm, and encouraged them to continue being helpful to their students and exemplary in their various teaching functions. ---------------------------------------------------------

OUR GOOD MOTHER SCHOOL MARIST-EDELVIVES, ASHALAJA ACCRA, GHANA

Nursery and Kindergarten Block

Parents living within and beyond Ashalaja heaved a sigh of relief when Our Good Mother School started

functioning in September 2013. Good schools with reassuring environment for meaningful education are not easy to come by nowadays. Enrolment in Our Good Mother has increased rapidly from 58 to 150 pupils within a short period of time. Even though Our Good Mother School started in a modest way with Nursery, KG 1 and 2, and primary 1, her complete picture will be a school complex providing day nursery and primary, and boarding co-educational secondary education from JHS to SHS. Work to provide more classrooms in preparation for next academic year 2014/25015 re-started at Ashalaja on May 1, 2014 as can be seen on the pictures below.

Brothers Paul, Francis, Mathew Mary, Pascal and the Foreman at the work site for inspection

The making of cement blocks in process

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VOCATION WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

On Sunday, the 11th of May 2014, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations was celebrated at Bouaké, Ivory Coast. The celebration started with Holy Mass in the Cathedral at 9.00 am and ended with light refreshment, singing and dancing in the afternoon. Posters containing information about the various religious congregations in the diocese of Bouaké were displayed in front of the cathedral. During the homily, the Vicar General, Rev Father Maurice reminded the Christians to pray for more vocations to the religious life and priesthood because „the harvest is great and the workers are few‟. He equally exhorted the parents to encourage their children to answer God‟s call and become priests and religious as shepherds of Christ‟s flock. Before the final blessing Brother Cho Nchang Atzi-Nwi was invited to talk to the congregation about his vocation and what it means for him to be a Marist Brother.

I heard God calling me to become a Marist Brother when I was at Saint Joseph‟s Catholic Comprehensive College (SJCCC), Mbengwi, in Cameroon. Brother Oliver Chukuma of blessed memory from Nigeria impressed me. Apart from teaching us Chemistry and Biology, he taught us how to pray fervently. He was always present with us during prayer, sports and manual work. Many of my secondary school mates still remember him as a good shepherd and man of prayer. I joined the Marist Brothers in September 2006 after completing my secondary education. I have been formed and prepared to be an apostle of the youth. Since the 8th of September 2013, I have been at Centre Scolaire Saint Marcellin Champagnat, Bouaké, Ivory Coast where I live and teach the children to know and love Jesus. Marist Brothers, we are witnesses of the Gospel. Our mission is to make Jesus Christ known and loved by educating young people.

Brother Cho Nchang and some of the pupils of Centre Scolaire Saint Marcellin Champagnat, Bouaké, Ivory Coast

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--------------------------------------------------------- VOCATION RALLY

A vocation rally organized by the Accra Archdiocesan Vocation Director, was held at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Abelemkpe, Accra on Saturday, May 3, 2014 under the theme „Have Courage, I have overcome the world‟ (Jn 16:33). The main aim of this rally was to invite and encourage young people to answer God‟s call and serve Him as religious and priests. The day„s activities included songs of praise and worship, speeches, sketches, and interactions of the young people with the different religious Congregations. Posters were displayed and leaflets containing more information about the different religious Congregations were equally distributed to the young people. The day ended with Holy Mass at 3.00 pm.

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SED PROJECTS IN IVORY COAST

The delegation from Spain

The Spanish TV Camera man at work From the 25th of January to the 8th of February, 2014, a delegation from Spain made up of three Marist Brothers from SED and four Spanish National Television journalists visited the Marist Brothers and their works in Ivory Coast. Their mission, according to Br Javier was to inspect and evaluate all the SED-sponsored projects at Sakassou, Bouaké and Korhogo, and to collect audio and video information for the weekly Spanish National Television program “Pueblo de Dios” (People of God). Before travelling back to Spain on the 8th of February, 2014, they visited the piece of land in Bouaké earmarked for a Marist secondary school.

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MARIST PRESENCE IN CAMEROON (1965 - 2015)

Some Cameroonian Brothers at SACC, Bafut

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Brother Francis Lukong has written to the Brothers to inform them that the Brothers in Cameroon will celebrate their Golden Jubilee on Saturday, October 17, 2015. He explains that the Marist Brothers came to Cameroon from Great Britain and Canada in 1965 and took over the running Sacred Heart College, Mankon in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, and that of Collège Stoll d‟Akono in the Archdiocese of Yaoundé. Thanks to their great dedication, hard work and sacrifice, these schools have engraved their names in the annals of education in Cameroon. It will be fifty years in 2015 since the seed of the Marist way of life was sown in Cameroon. We are thankful to God for its slow and steady growth. Of the thirty-three Cameroonian Brothers, sixteen study or serve at MIC, Nairobi, Lebanon, Rome, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. The rest live and work in the Diocese of Kumbo and the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon. The launching of activities to mark the Golden Jubilee Year will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2014 with Holy Mass at 9.00 a.m. in Saint Joseph‟s Cathedral Big Mankon, Bamenda, and the Peak Celebration on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Saint Albert‟s Comprehensive College, Bafut beginning with Holy Mass at 9.00 a.m. On behalf of the Cameroonian Brothers, Brother Francis Lukong invites all the Brothers, particularly the Cameroonian Brothers, and those who have lived and worked in Cameroon, to be part of this great event and give it the significance it deserves.The celebration of the fifty years of Marist Presence in Cameroon,

according to him is an occasion for the Brothers to re-dedicate themselves and resolve to take a leap forward in promoting the Marist Vocation and Mission, and go in haste with Mary to a new land. On this note, he wishes all the Cameroonian Brothers a meaningful and happy celebration of the fifty years of Marist foundation in Cameroon. ---------------------------------------------------------

MARIST SCHOOLS IN AFRICA: LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

Members of the Commission charged with Marist School Leadership Programme in Africa

The members of the Preparatory Commission charged with developing a Leadership Programme for Marist Schools in Africa had their fourth meeting in Nairobi, Kenya from the 6th to the 8th of March, 2014. They have been at work for the past one year. This programme envisages:

building a 'culture of hope' among young people to prepare them for authentic and competent leadership in Africa,

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bringing together all the Marist schools in Africa for the purpose of cooperation,

providing a comprehensive and systematic approach to the formation of lay people who collaborate in Marist mission in Africa,

ensuring sustainability of Marist schools in Africa, and

opportunity to build a new vision of the Marist charism for Africa.

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CONFERENCE OF SUPERIORS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT (CSAC)

As usual, the Provincials and District Superior of the administrative units of Africa were at the Marist International Centre (MIC), Nairobi from the 9th to the 18th of February, 2014 for their annual meeting and canonical visitation of the young Brothers. During their meeting with MIC community, Br. Joachim Ezetulugo; the out-going President of the Conference of Superiors of the African Continent (CSAC) introduced the in-coming President, Br. Francis Lukong

and the new Secretary, Br. Spiridion Ndanga. While addressing the MIC Community, Br. Joachim underscored personal and mutual responsibility, and encouraged the Brothers in formation to strike a balance in both their academic and prayer life. Similarly, Br. Valentin, the provincial of PACE, after referring to MIC as the hope of Marist life in Africa, gave a power point presentation of the General Conference held in L‟hermitage, France in September 2013. Finally, Br. Francis Lukong the new President of the CSAC thanked the formation team for their tireless efforts and encouraged the Brothers in formation to be the primary agents of their own formation. ---------------------------------------------------------

NEW MODELS OF ANIMATION, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT PROJECT

The Regional Meeting of the New Models of Animation, Governance and Management Project for the African region will take place at Roussel House, Karen in Nairobi, Kenya

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from July 23 - 26, 2014. The aim of this meeting is to

help the Institute find the best means to respond to the needs and calls of Marist life and mission today,

ensure the participation of the key leaders from the AU in the project,

reflect on the urgent issues regarding the entire Institute which have an impact on the principles and models of animation, governance and management at the various levels of the institute, and

discuss and elaborate proposals and recommendations for the future.

The participants of this important meeting are the Provincials and District Superiors and their respective Councilors. -------------------------------------------------------

TRAINING COURSE FOR SECRETARIES AND ARCHIVISTS General House from March 3 to 12, 2014

From the 3rd to the 12th of March 2014, Brother Pascal Birkem (District Secretary) joined other participants from the rest of the

Marist world in the General House to take part in a training course for English-speaking secretaries and archivists. The objective of this course was to introduce the use of KOSMOS and ARCHIVUM programs. The ARCHIVUM software, according to Roberto Porta Roigé, enables the classification and description of several collections of archive documents, either in digital or physical format. It also manages the documents‟ life cycle, and is therefore designed to introduce a document in the system from the moment it is generated until it is destroyed or permanently preserved. Finally, it includes a powerful query tool providing fast and easy access to documents. ARCHIVUM is aimed at allowing the Institute to manage its documents appropriately, facilitating cooperation and networking between the Marist Provinces, optimizing time and resources, and ensuring both the accessibility of documents and the preservation of the Marist Institute‟s documentary heritage. Similarly, the KOSMOS database software developed by Brother Marcelo C. F. De Brito (Province of Cruz del Sur), is a database software used by the Institute. It consists of three main information blocks: Administrative Units, houses (communities and works), and the people (brothers and laity) who make Marist life possible in every corner of the world. It enables the data management required both by the General Administration and the Secretariat of each Province and District. It is also intended to offer statistics and information which can be

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useful when creating possible future scenarios, and also a retrospective look at the Institute through time. It is a centralized system with decentralized management, where each Administrative Unit permanently updates its data. The basic approach is that whoever performs an action registers the corresponding data. On the other hand, it is an open system allowing the Administrative Units to safely integrate their data in local and personalized settings, maintaining a single database that provides information to different systems at the same time. In this sense, KOSMOS-fms is starting to be perceived as part of a large integrated system for the Institute. All the respective presenters of the KOSMOS and ARCHIVUM programs Brother Marcelo De Brito, and Brothers Josep Maria Soteras (General Council), Monserrat Sánchez and Roberto Porta Roigé (Province of the Hermitage) believe strongly that both programs will safeguard our Marist heritage from the time of Champagnat to our days. One of their goals is to help recover, maintain and remember the origins of the Institute and its life throughout the past 200 years as well as promote our identity and a distinctive way of being Marists today. -------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH SUDAN

The Republic of South Sudan became an independent state on the 9th of July 2011, following a referendum. Since

then, the country has experienced internal conflict. Thousands of people have been killed since fighting started in December 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar. More than one million people have taken refuge in neighbouring countries.

During their annual meeting, the CSAC received the following appeal letter from the Catholic Bishops of South Sudan. URGENT APPEAL FROM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SOUTH SUDAN FOR PASTORAL AGENTS “During the night, Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words: „come

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over to Macedonia and help us‟.” (Acts 16, 9) Greetings of peace to you; we, the Bishops of South Sudan, gathered in conference in Juba are moved to write to you about the urgent needs in the Dioceses of South Sudan. We are saddened by the violent conflict that erupted in Juba, the capital of our young country of South Sudan, on 15th December, 2013. The violence spread rapidly through some parts of South Sudan, setting back the course of development in this young nation. During this emergency meeting of our Catholic Bishops, we looked firstly at the root causes of the conflict and why it has spread so rapidly to some regions of our country. The most affected areas are in the Diocese of Malakai which covers three States: Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity States. The pastoral resources of the church in this diocese are sparse: much of the Diocese of Malakai is not evangelized. Just as Saint Paul had a vision of the Macedonian people imploring him to come and help them, so we are moved to seek the services of more priests, sisters and brothers to carry out evangelization and peace building. We are appealing to you, the various leaders of religious congregations and institutes, to consider seriously coming to our dioceses, particularly the diocese of

Malakai, to help us build Christian communities. No doubt the conditions will be challenging and difficult in the rural areas, but we need zealous missionaries who can undertake primary evangelization. The increased presence of the Church among the pastoralist communities would help provide development and stability. We pray for a positive response to our Appeal. Direct contact with the Ordinaries of our Dioceses can be arranged, or further information can be obtained, by contacting Father Charles Abbud, Secretary of the South Sudan Bishops‟ Secretariat ([email protected]). If your own congregation in unable to assist directly, we ask that you forward this appeal to any other congregation who may be able to assist us. Yours sincerely in Christ

Brother Christian Mbam in South Sudan

mailto:[email protected]

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DEATHs BONIFACE NYEMA DALIEH, BISHOP EMIRITUS OF THE DIOCESE OF CAPE PALMAS, LIBERIA, CALLED HOME

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia, the Diocese of Cape Palmas and the Catholic Church in Liberia feel sorry to convey this message of the home-going of Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas the Reverend Boniface Nyema Dalieh. This sad event occurred at about 8.00 pm on Friday, April 25, 2014, at the Engelwood Hospital in the state of New Jersey in the USA. The late Bishop Dalieh was born on December 9, 1933 in Maryland County, Liberia. He did his seminary formation at SS Peter and Paul Seminary in Ibadan, Nigeria for seven years and ordained a priest on July

11, 1965 in Liberia. He was consecrated Bishop on March 17, 1974. In 1986, he invited the Marist Brothers to his Diocese to run Saint Francis Catholic Elementary and High Schools in Pleebo, Maryland County. He faithfully served the people of his Diocese until his retirement on October 15th October, 2008. On March 24, 2014, Bishop Dalieh went to Tenafly, New Jersey, USA for medical treatment. He underwent surgery in Englewood Hospital on Good Friday, but sadly he was never to regain his health. He died peacefully on the Friday of Easter Week and went home to the Lord he served so well.

KONE FAKO ABDOUL KADAER

Kone Fako Abdoul Kader is an ex-student of College Champagnat, Korhogo, Cote d‟Ivoire died on the 25th of April 2014 after

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a long time of battling with cardiac problem. NB: Soro Allassane Tamigué, a fourth year student of Collège Champagnat, Korhogo, Côte d‟Ivoire drowned in a swimming pool at Korhogo on the 17th of May, 2014. Mr. Jules, the Head teacher has just sent us this sad news. KONE MASSATTA

Koné Massatta; a pupil of Centre Scolaire Saint Marcellin Champagnat, Bouaké, Ivory Coast), died on the 13th of May 2014. She was a sickle cell patient.

NDEH DIVINE

Ndeh Divine; an ex-student (4th batch) of Saint Joseph‟s Catholic Comprehensive College (SJCCC), Mbengwi) died on the 9th of May 2014 at Limbe, Cameroon. He drowned in the sea at Limbe while on a one week evangelization course/seminar with the Celestial Chorus Choir of which he was a member.

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As you make plans for your holidays, remember that there will be two annual retreats; one in Ivory Coast from 3rd – 9th August, 2014 for the Brothers of Ghana, Côte d‟Ivoire and Liberia and another in Cameroon from 10th – 17th August, 2014 for those of Cameroon and Chad. We wish you a restful and fruitful summer holidays.

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BIRTHDAYS: MAY, 2014 2nd Stephen Kpunsa 4th Sylvain Yao, former District Superior 22nd Aureliano García, worked in Ghana 27th Berinyuy Hans Burinyuy 28th Theddy Gilles de Souza JUNE, 2014 1st Benito Arbués, Former Sup. General

1st Elvis Tardzenyuy Tomla 5th Chima Onwumjuru, Former Novice 7th Washington Tekay 7th John Nyuydine 8th Julian Harrisonfrom UK, worked in

Cameroon. 9th Tameh Conrad 24th Jean Baptiste Tamessuien 29th Ngardum Nandoumangar Succès 30th Carlos Mario McEwenfrom Colombia,

worked in Monrovia JULY, 2014 2nd Peter Awoh Acho 12th Blaise Begurem 13th Eric Kramo 19th Francis Verye 22nd Christian Mbam 23rd José María Romero, worked in Côte

d‟Ivoire 25th Joseph de Meyer, worked in our District 26th Joachim Doua 27th Kone Bruno AUGUST, 2014 9th Tiburtius Kewaiy 14th Wureh Nimene Jenneka 16th Mark Anokwuru, Novice Master

16th Nyanti Harry 28th Augustine Naatey 29th Brother Oliver Tata SEPTEMBER, 2014 5th Br Paul Kuasi Adu Latiff 6th Tameh Conrad 10th Cho Nchang Atzi-Nwi 17th Linus Ngam 18th Stanislaus Nsotaka 18th Germain Bery Beda 21st Isaac Kouame Amponsa 27th Vincent de Paul Kouassi 27th Martin J. Sarobe

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IMPORTANT EVENTS Novitiate: Visitation (DS): June 8-15, 2014 First Professions: Saturday, June 14, 2014

District Council Meeting Venue: Nairobi, July 19 – 22, 2014

New Models of Animation, Governance and Management Project Venue: Nairobi, July 23 – 26, 2014

Annual Retreat: Ivory Coast, August 3 – 9, 2014 Cameroon, August 10 –17, 2014

Visit of the General Councillors; Ernesto and Ramalho Chad, September 7-13, 2014 Cameroon, December 9-19, 2014

Launching of the Jubilee Year celebration Cameroon, October 18, 2014

Documents

NB:5-23052014 - Instituto de los Hermanos Maristas - … · nb:5-23052014 marist brothers of the schools (fms) district of west africa (tchad, cameroon, ghana, cote d’ivoire, liberia