SiLeX #7 (Nov. 2015) Pg. 1/7 Xaverian Missionaries Sierra Leone Dear Brothers and friends, so many happenings in Makeni these past few months, so many reasons to be grateful to God! With SiLeX we would like to make you a part, as much as we can, of the life of our Region so that you may also join us in thanking the Lord. We can also share more news in our web page in case you want to access it: this is the address: www.xaveriens.org/sierraleone Continue to support us, especially with your prayer. Thanks and best wishes to all. Carlo Di Sopra E PISCOPAL O RDINATION OF M ONS .N ATALE P AGANELLI S . X . Saturday 31 st October 2015 Fr. Natale Paganelli was ordained bishop by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Miroslaw Adamczyk. All the Bishops of Sierra Leone lay their hands on him: Archbisop Edward Charles of Freetown, Bishop Patrick Koroma of Kenema (president of the Itcabic Bishops' Conference), Bishop Charles Campbell of Bo and Bishop Henry Aruna, Auxiliary Bishop of Kenema, who received a fraternal welcome by the people of God present at the Ordination. Bishop Emeritus George Biguzzi sx arrived from Italy and was sitting besides the Nuncio. All the three Bishops of Liberia were also present. All the Sierra Leone diocesan and religious priests were there, along with the Religious Sisters. From Left: Bishop Emeritus Giorgio Biguzzi sx; Bishop Natale Paganelli sx; Archbishop Edward Charles (Freetown) N. o 7 5 Nov 2015
so many happenings in Makeni these past few months, so many reasons to be grateful to God! With SiLeX we would like to make you a part, as much as we can, of the life of our Region so that you may also join us in thanking the Lord. We can also share more news in our web page in case you want to access it: this is the address: www.xaveriens.org/sierraleone Continue to support us, especially with your prayer. Thanks and best wishes to all. Carlo Di Sopra
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF MONS. NATALE PAGANELLI S.X.
Saturday 31st October 2015 Fr. Natale Paganelli was ordained bishop by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Miroslaw Adamczyk. All the Bishops of Sierra Leone lay their hands on him: Archbisop Edward Charles of Freetown, Bishop Patrick Koroma of Kenema (president of the Itcabic Bishops' Conference), Bishop Charles Campbell of Bo and Bishop Henry Aruna, Auxiliary Bishop of Kenema, who received a fraternal welcome by the people of God present at the Ordination. Bishop Emeritus George Biguzzi sx arrived from Italy and was sitting besides the Nuncio. All the three Bishops of Liberia were also present. All the Sierra Leone diocesan and religious priests were there, along with the Religious Sisters.
From Left: Bishop Emeritus Giorgio Biguzzi sx; Bishop Natale Paganelli sx; Archbishop Edward Charles (Freetown)
His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone, who was not in the Country those days, was represented by the Vice-‐President, who addressed the congregation at the end of the celebration. Among the authorities were the Paramount Chiefs and the Major of Makeni Town, as well as the chairman of Koinadugu District Council, Mr. Sheku Kamara.
Thus ends the succession crisis to Mons. Biguzzi as Bishop of Makeni that lasted for more than three and a half years. Fr. Natale has served the Diocese as Apostolic Administrator for more than three years. This appointment that has been confirmed by the Holy See: It is a position which he will continue to hold but as a bishop. It is a reason for joy for all of us Xaverians since the letter of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Filoni, says: “The Pope looks upon Fr. Paganelli, who is a member of a Missionary Institute that has given all, and will continue to give all, for the cause of evangelization, as the most suitable person to serve your Church in his name”. This is also one more reason to renew our commitment to unconditional loyalty to the first announcement. We count on the support and prayer of all.
The Ordination took place at the Pastoral Centre, Makeni, behind the Cathedral, under the shade of the tropical palm trees. It was attended by a very great crowd. Lunch was offered in the Hall of the compound to a representative group of 10 delegates from each parish of the 4 dioceses, whilst guests, clergy and religious had their meal in the Aula Magna of Unimak, the Catholic University of Makeni. The following day Bishop Natale presided over his first Mass as Bishop in the Cathedral. We thank the Lord for the gift of Episcopacy given to our confrere, who succeeds the previous Xaverian Bishops Azzolini and Biguzzi. We wish Bishop. Natale a blessed and fruitful ministry, in the footsteps of our Saintly Founder Bishop Guido Conforti.
We give thanks to God for giving us in the Diocese of Makeni “a Shepherd after his own heart” (Jer 3:15).
Interpretation of the symbols depicted in the Coat of Arms The BOAT, with unfurled sail, indicates the sending “AD GENTES” (to the Gentiles) of the Bishop, namely, the Mission entrusted to him of carrying THE CROSS, raised on the Sail, and the CHRISTIAN REDEMPTION to the peoples far away. The MONOGRAM OF CHRIST, on the right section of the shield (i.e. on left of onlooker) indicates that all his activity is inspired and guided by the person and the teaching of Christ. The STAR, in the left section, indicates Our Lady (of Fatima and of Guadalupe) invoked as protector of his own mission. "In omnibus Christus" means "Christ in everything and everyone" (Col 3:11).
On 4th June 2015 the First Confrere from Chad has arrived among us and started his Introductory Year in the community of Fadugu. Welcome!
“I was born in Chad in a Christian family. Being born in a Christian family opened for me the way to become a catholic priest. I have four brothers and six sisters. Regarding my Xaverian missionary vocation, I felt it initially when I was in a minor seminary. Then, I expressed this desire to Father Fernando Garcia, a Xaverian missionary. After my baccalaureate, he began to accompany me along the Xaverian life. Meanwhile, I was engaged in a secondary school as a French teacher. I taught this subject for one year.
After this year of teaching with spiritual accompaniment, I was ready to start the first year of formation called (PAF) in Douala (Cameroon). It was, for me, a very good experience. In fact, some people from Douala did not know that there are Christians in Chad, too. For them, Chad is just a Muslim country. My contact with them helped them to learn something new about the Chadian people. They learned from me that Chad is a secular country, where Christians and Muslims live together in peace.
From there I moved to Bafoussam (Cameroon) to study philosophy. There, I spent three years, then I was sent to the year of novitiate in Kinshasa (Congo). At the end of Novitiate, I made my first religious profession; afterwards I was sent to Yaoundé (Cameroon) to study theology. The theology course lasted four years.
At the end of this course, as I was given the choice of a mission, I opted either for Thailand or Indonesia. But the General Direction assigned me to Sierra Leone. I did not argue. In preparation for that, after my ordination in my country on October 19th 2013, I went to the USA to study English. It was a great experience. Indeed, I studied English at Framingham University States. There, I enjoyed diversity because students came from different countries: China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Thailand, to name but a few. Therefore, I found at FSU a kind of fulfilment of our Founder, St Guido M. Conforti’s dream: to “Make of the World one Family.”
Finally, I arrived in Sierra Leone on June 4, 2015. I was warmly welcomed at the airport by Frs. Carlo (the Regional Superior) and Patrick. That gave me a taste of the Xaverian family spirit. I am happy to be in Sierra Leone which is, for me, a beautiful country. My first impression is great. I noticed that Sierra Leonean people are joyful and welcoming, in spite of poverty and difficulties. I am going to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ which is all about love, hope and joy”.
Finally, we have now in our congregation the first Sierra Leonean Xaverian Missionary. Bro. Solomon Kargbo, SX made his Final Profession Saturday, November 7, 2015 in Mexico.
Next year he will be ordained priest in Sierra Leone. “Wi tel Papa God Tenki”. HERE I AM LORD, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL On the 7th of November 2015, in the Parish of Christ the King (Cristo Rey), I made my FINAL PROFESSION in following Christ totally, in taking and announcing his Word, which is a message of salvation to all nations.
On this day, what made me feel at home was the answer of the Mexican people towards my self-‐giving: there were a lot of people, children, youth and old people, that joined us in prayer and thanksgiving, in their traditional dances and cultural way of thanking God for my Final Yes to the Lord and the mission of Christ in the Church and to my Xaverian family. “It is indeed the love of Christ that urges us towards the Mission”.
Another thing worth noting was that on that same day, Sierra Leone was declared Ebola Free.
And when the people became aware of it, they joined all Sierra Leoneans in prayers and thanking God for his merciful deeds and love shown to us all.
Indeed, my final Vows were a mark of peace, joy and happiness for the Church as a whole and for my Xaverian Family in particular. And it was for the love of the Word of God and his message to all mankind.
Finally, with happiness and joy, I thank God, Saint Guido Maria Conforti and la Virgen María de Guadalupe for their blessing and grace in my Religious Vocation. Thanks also to my formators for having impressed deep down in me from the onset of my formation the Xaverian charism and how to live it in my community life, in my studies and in my pastoral activities.
Indeed I thank the Lord for his great love. And I continue to ask all you to pray for me for fidelity to my Yes to the Lord. And pray also that the good Lord may continue to touch the hearts of many young boys so that they may respond: “HERE I AM LORD, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL”.
The Region of Sierra Leone will begin its Chapter the next 30th November. It is a privileged way to re-‐think our presence and work in Sierra Leone and to implement the call of the XVI General Chapter to a new start.
The Chapter will be opened with a retreat directed by the General Councillor Fr. Eugenio Pulcini. All the pre-‐chapter Commissions (Missionary / Vocation Animation and Formation; Missionary and Pastoral work; Temporal Goods) are at work in order to update the Directories of our Region.
The Chapter will draw up the guidelines for the next Regional Plan for Ongoing Formation, to implement the spirit of the recent CoSuMa (Conference of Xaverian Regional Superiors) 2015. During the Chapter we will celebrate together the annual liturgical Solemnity of our Patron, St. Francis Xavier. A Regional Assembly was held in Makeni on 6-‐7 October 2015 to continue the work of the Pre-‐ Chapter Commissions and to reflect together on the documents produced by the CoSuMa.
EBOLA FREE SIERRA LEONE Fr. Carlo Di Sopra
Interviewed by Misna
"For the people of Sierra Leone it is a liberating moment" said to MISNA Fr Carlo Di Sopra, Regional Superior of the Xaverian missionaries, a few hours after the ceremony with which the country was declared ebola free. "A long and painful journey that finally seems to have ended, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), after 14,089 cases of infection and 3,955 certified deaths.
"The peak of the crisis was recorded between the end of 2014 and the beginning of this year, but then more difficult months followed, with the closure of schools, economic paralysis and the obligation for the population to follow rules and behaviours in some ways anti-‐cultural."
The epidemic has put a strain on a country which is one of the poorest in the world, when it was beginning to recover after a devastating civil war (1991-‐2002). "Mining companies have gone and, because of the restrictions on transportation, even petty trade is presently in crisis ". Last July the President Ernest Bai Koroma has announced a development plan to help recover "a journey of growth" within two years. UN funds of more than one billion dollars should finance interventions in health care, in schools and in social protection; at the same time, there is also need to rebuild civil life. The mode of transmission of the virus through contact and bodily fluids have deeply influenced the social habits. Every public meeting, even religious functions, has become a source of alarm and a risk factor.
And fear is destined to remain, despite the importance of tomorrow’s ceremony. "In the city of Makeni experts of Spallanzani hospital in Rome and from the University of Cambridge are investigating together the mutations that the ebola virus may have had; we must not forget that there are many survivors, some of whom are immune carriers of the virus, and so the risk of relapse is not excluded".
ST. CONFORTI PARISH FEAST DAY CELEBRATIONS: A SUCCESS!
“Good things always come in threes”. Last Sunday, 8th November 2015, St. Conforti Parish (Makeni) commemorated three memorable events in one occasion: it celebrated the Patron Feast of St. Conforti and his 150 years Birth Anniversary; parishioners were blessed with the First Episcopal Mass of His Excellency Bishop Natale Paganelli, s.x; and parishioners joined the whole country in celebrating the End of Ebola. Three historical moments in one day, in one celebration, and in one parish.
The celebration began with an appropriate procession from the main road to the parish Church. The Parishioners together with their priests Fr. Jerome and Fr. Patrick welcomed with jubilation His Excellency Bishop Natale Paganelli, s.x. The PPC Chairlady Agnes Kamara donated a new Chasuble, a gift from the parish to the newly ordained bishop. He used the chasuble for the celebration of the Mass. The Mass started at 10.00 am: the church was quite crowded, we may say "overcrowded" with about 700 people. Altar Servers, Choir members, Men and Women Associations gave colour to the celebration by their respective service and their colourful attires.
At the beginning of the Mass, his Lordship Natale asked the parishioners to remember the people who died of Ebola and to pray for them. At the same time he asked the congregation to sing the well known tune “Tell Papa God tenki” since on that momentous day the country was declared free of Ebola. In his homily, Bishop Natale re-‐echoed the call of Pope Francis for Bishops, Priests and Lay people not to “love” money, power and position, but to be generous at all times and to all people, like St. Guido Maria Conforti. He reiterated the call for this parish to be a missionary parish with missionary parishioners; christians should go out of themselves and try to give their lives for the good of the church. Before the celebration ended, people from different parts and the organizations of the parish brought their gifts to Bishop Natale. This showed how St. Conforti Parishioners love and support the newly ordained Bishop.
After the Mass, the members of the 5 prayer zones of the Parish offered a bountiful meal to their respective prayer zone members and visitors from other communities. Meanwhile, CWA laid out delicious food for the visitors. No one was left hungry; everybody was going around with a smile on his face.
The Feast Day celebration continued in the afternoon with the Final competitions of Volleyball and Football. During the previous week, there were Volleyball and Football Competitions. The Volleyball Tournament was played by the Youth members of the Four Parishes in Makeni (St. Francis Xavier, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral and St. Conforti), while the Football Tournament was played by the youth of the Parish. On the Feast day, the Finals Day, the St. Conforti Mini-‐Stadium was fully packed by spectators from different parts of Makeni. The presence and participation of the adult members of the parish were so evident for the occasion. The Volleyball competition Final was played by St. Conforti Spikers against Cathedral Spikers. The former won the competition. The Football Finals Tournament was played by Vittorio FC and Leo FC. The latter won the cup.
This year Feast was really a success: thanks to the cooperation of all the members of the church. It was really good to see parishioners reaching out not only to other members of the parish but to other parishes. It was good to witness parishioners both young and adult sharing their gifts, time, talents and treasures for this feast to be successful. Truly, on this day “salvation came to this house” (cf. Lk 19:9).
I N F O R M A T I O N
FR. GEORGE J IMENEZ ESTRELLA
Fr. George has recently been recalled to the Region of Mexico, where he will use his experience of seasoned missionary in the field of many activities of his native country. He spent 10 years in Sierra Leone in the parishes of Binkolo, Kambia, Madina and Fadugu. We thank him for his generosity and friendship and wish him God's blessings in his ministry. Ø Fr. Marsel is now in Rome on study leave: He is doing a specialised course on formation.
