Missionary Camp 2008

Each year the Missionaries of Africa in Burkina Faso organise a camp for young people who aspire to join them in their vocation. This year the camp was held, as usual, at the centre for missionary formation, “Maison Lavigerie” in Ouagadougou. Unusually, it was held later than normal, from the 18^th to the 26^th August, because the college had first to welcome a group of Ghanaian aspirants who came to improve their French during the month of July.

Thirty two boys and young men participated in the camp, hailing from Togo (1) from the Ivory Coast (5) and from different regions of Burkina Faso. Five missionary confreres formed a team to direct the camp and to give the inputs each day.

Each year the camp has a different theme, the choice of which is influenced by current events or by themes currently touching the life of the Church. This year the theme was chosen according to the approaching Synod of Bishops on the African Church, the theme of which will be: “The Church in Africa in service of reconciliation, justice and peace”. This is a subject dear to the hearts of most Missionaries of Africa, indeed of most Christians concerned about Africa. Anyone with any familiarity with Africa will certainly be aware of the problems in this continent concerning the lack of justice and peace and the enormous need for reconciliation among many of its people.

The Missionaries of Africa consider it one of their priorities to work for peace, which can only come about when people feel that they are being dealt with justly. It is surely only in as far as the people feel that they live in peace, or at least can live in the hope of a just peace, that they will seek reconciliation with those they consider their enemy. Jesus is the source of all peace and it is in Him and with Him that we can best work for justice and reconciliation.

The camp, then, sought to familiarise these budding missionaries with the theme of “The Mission” according to the working paper or “Lineamenta”, taking a good look at the social and geo-political situations of Africa today, then looking at what in-sights the Gospels can give us about the solutions to these problems, proceeding to an examination of what the Church can do to help build the Kingdom of God in this troubled continent.

As often in these camps, the intellectual and spiritual inputs were appreciated by the participants. However, they were probably more marked by the new friendships they made during the camp and the experience of living in community with other young people who are also inspired by Jesus and who feel the call to give themselves to his mission in Africa.

Those who have been in touch with me since the camp, tell me that they were surprised to find that people from other ethnic groups and even nationalities were so easy to get on with. The Burkinabè were impressed that the Ivorians were so much like them and nothing like the fearful images they had of them. The Ivorians were also happy to find that they got on so well with the Togolese and the Burkinabè.

For most of the participants, this was the first time that they had mingled so closely, and for 7 days, with people from outside of their own language group and culture. It was a pleasant and reassuring experience for them: yet another positive aspect of the international, inter-cultural community life on which we Missionaries of Africa insist. It is our way of breaking down the boundaries and the prejudices that divide us and building communities of mutual respect and trust.

Once again the aspirants and their educators are grateful to the community of the Maison Lavigerie for their welcome and for their cooperation in this experience of the missionary camp. Let’s hope that it will be an experience that will enable the participants to discern their place in the Church and take a positive and active part in the building of the Kingdom in Africa.

Terry Madden