Kafubu (Dem. Rep. Congo). From 10 to 20 September 2018, the meeting of the new animators of the Interprovincial Conference of Africa and Madagascar (CIAM) was held at the Novitiate of the Province of Our Lady of Africa (AFC) in Kafubu. This meeting was organized in line with the six-year program on the theme “Being animators today“.
Every day we reflected on a sub-theme to define the profile of a community animator: lectio divina, leadership according to the Salesian style, sense of authority in the Church and in consecrated life, the service of animation and government of the community in the Salesian spirit, the animator at the school of Mother Morano, Salesian spiritual accompaniment, educational relationship, guidelines for a formation plan.
After the greeting of Sister Marie Dominique Mwema, Provincial of the Central Africa Province (AFC), Fr Lambert Malungu, SDB animated the moment of the lectio divina retracing its phases: lectio – meditation – prayer – contemplation, which was followed sharing in small groups.
Sister Charlotte Bizige presented the theme of leadership: meaning according to different approaches and styles of animation. She then posed a question on which to dialog and discuss in small groups: Like CIAM, taking into account the local context, what kind of leader can we be?
From the various dialog-comparison meetings it emerged that the leader is a woman of faith, of prayer, courageous, who tells the truth, sets a good example, positive, active, balanced, integrates the elements linked to the person, which promotes work and temperance, promotes the family spirit, knows how to listen to the sisters and people, is able to lead people to the Lord, to make proposals involving others, has the courage to be innovative, is capable of doing and letting go, refers to the Constitution, to the right of the Church, accepts living in the current context, is capable of evaluating and arousing a happy religious life, is expert in relationships according to the style of Christ the Good Shepherd.
The profile and role of an FMA leader in the local community and the animation style of the FMA were outlined from the reports and the sharing.
The profile and role of an FMA leader in the local community: a companion along the way, a significant point of reference, a woman rooted in the Lord, servant of the mission of God, collaborator of the Spirit, a person working for God, chosen and sent by Him, woman of hope that welcomes things with faith, urges us to look beyond and to walk, a person who guarantees fidelity to charismatic values, deepens the history and spirituality of the Institute, is formed to discernment in the encounter and daily meditation of the Word, she undertakes accompaniment daily, is informed and informs about the events of the Church.
The animation style of the FMA: a circular style. The animator awakens the potential of the sisters, puts the talents of the sisters in circulation. She encourages co-responsibility, values the contribution of the local council, takes into consideration the sufferings and concerns of the community that emerge in the community meeting.
