Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo, O.Carm.
‘Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy’ (Ps 126:5)
The year 2015 began on a very positive note. The All Africa Carmelite Leaders and Formators Assembly took place at Boko Spiritual Centre, Dar es Salam, Tanzania. A total of 17 persons attended including the organisers and translation staff. All seven countries were represented: Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Thanks to the Carmelite Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus who proved to be great hosts.
Three discussion papers were delivered by Noel Rosas, the Administrative Secretary for Formation and, Conrad Mutizamhepo, General Councilor, with expert translation skills of Miceal O’Neill. Conrad gave the other two papers on the themes: An Appropriate Model of Carmelite Leadership in Africa? Exploring Servant Leadership: Fears and Hopes for the Future; and Forming the Next Generation of Carmelites in Africa: Experiences, Challenges and Hopes.
After the Conference, during January 27 to February 15, 2015, I embarked on my first leg of fraternal visits to Tanzania, Mozambique, and due to unrest in the DRC, had to take a break in Zimbabwe. The second leg of the fraternal visits continued from March 23 to April 23, 2015, which saw me going to Burkina Faso, Cameroun, eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. In all these visits, I felt very privileged as well as humbled to be welcomed in all our houses as a brother.
A general overview of my observations fall into three categories: positive aspects, concerns and recommendations. First of all, it is important to point out that there are many positive things happening in Africa. Some of the more significant positive experiences are:
a. Youthfulness: the majority of the African friars are still young, healthy and enthusiastic about living and witnessing their life of consecration;
b. Community life: the overwhelming majority of the brothers are living in community and follow the community horarium;
c. Vocations: all communities in Africa that are putting an effort in vocation promotion work are getting young men to join the Order;
d. Formation: in each of the Carmelite ‘presences’, there are candidates and/or friars undergoing initial formation at various stages. The combined total of solemnly professed friars is about 84; about 105 students; about 20 novices and about 30 pre-novices. There are 23 Carmelite houses which are in a good state of repair, while some brothers live in diocesan parochial houses;
e. Financial Support: the various jurisdictions with oversight of African entities are doing a good job in maintaining them;
f. Programmes of collaboration: these exist in two regional novitiates, in Kriste Mambo for the English speaking Africa and Mbalmayo for the French speaking African Carmel.
While there are many positive aspects to African Carmelite experience, there are also concerns that need to be addressed if we are to build on and consolidate the positive aspects. More thought, in my view, needs to be given to the following issues: a. Leadership:, b. Community life dynamics, c. the Process of Formation, d. Financial self sustainability on African resources, e. Service in the midst of the people, f. Coordinated Carmelite Family Programmes and g. Role of Founding or Supporting Jurisdictions
The concerns and challenges are many. Yet, I believe that they can be addressed. These challenges can be opportunities for growth. But this can only happen through genuine spiritual renewal of each friar and member of the Carmelite Family in his/her personal as well as communal encounter with Jesus the Lord. As has been said by Pope Francis: ‘A person who is not convinced, enthusiastic, certain and in love, will convince nobody’ (EG. 266). So my recommendations are:
1. that the Provincial, Delegate and local leaders continue to facilitate and encourage the spiritual renewal of each member’s encounter with Jesus Christ which will be the springboard of engagement with the particular visions and plans of Carmel in each entity;
2. that entities cultivate participative servant leadership culture and structures;
3. that each entity prioritize initial formation and ongoing formation and try to produce a formation guide for formators integrated within the vision and plan of each entity;
4. that measures be put in place to think on and set up strategies for financial self-sustainability in consultation and dialogue with the supporting Province;
5. that African entities communicate and engage in cooperation and collaborative ventures among both friars and the Carmelite Family in general;
6. that service in the midst of the people of God be diversified to help the Carmelite Family to prepare for other forms of service other than parish-based ministries. Each entity would need to reflect on their engagement and training in ‘sign of the times’ ministries in keeping with world-human issues;
7. that Carmelites engage in activities to popularize Lay Carmel and popular piety incorporating devotion to the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel;
8. that entities implement the General Chapter Resolution on the creation of Safe Environment for Children and Adults as a matter of urgency in keeping with the Pope’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy to ensure that abuse does not take place in places where Carmelites inhabit.
During September 15-18, I was invited to participate in some sessions of the meeting of European Provincials and I raised some of these issues with them. I am convinced that Carmel is capable of adapting to the African terrain and can take root. There is need for the spirit of Carmel’s appropriation of and witness to the Gospel to be inculturated in Africa. It is our enduring challenge for African Carmelites to evangelize our cultures in order to inculturate the Gospel through joyful Carmelite witnessing. The labours of sowing the seed of Carmel in Africa may prove to be slow. But as the Psalmist says: Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! (Ps 126:5). I am convinced that the efforts of so many since the last half of the 20th century and into the 21st century have not been in vain. Carmel will grow in the African soil, in the hearts of the consecrated and the people of God.