Roger Nshono M., CICM
When our confreres Daniel Verhelst and Hyacinthe Daniels published Scheut: Yesterday and Today, they offered us more than just a history book; they provided a perspective on our Congregation rooted in gratitude and clarity. As the CICM celebrates 153 years of existence today, the idea of a third volume, “Scheut Tomorrow”, seems almost natural. The mission is not merely a legacy to preserve, but rather a living adventure that continues to unfold.
My recent participation in the ongoing formation session for CICM formators in Kinshasa reaffirmed for me that initial formation remains the core of our future. The young people we welcome and accompany today will carry the CICM charism to the farthest reaches of the world tomorrow. The Church faces various challenges, such as loss of credibility, internal divisions, and an allure towards comfort zones. However, these challenges can be transformed into fruitful opportunities if we approach our history with lucidity and hope.
1. Yesterday: A Legacy That is Both Humble and Powerful
In 1865, only five people embarked on a missionary adventure in China. They had no significant resources, no sophisticated strategies, and no material certainties. Their only capital was their faith in divine Providence and their willingness to serve without reservation. Their mission in China, which began in extreme poverty, was not an act of reckless bravery; it was simply the expression of the Gospel's logic.
They faced fragility, intercultural tensions, difficulties in adapting, health issues, and sometimes internal misunderstandings. Yet, their strength lay not in the absence of weakness but in their conviction that the Gospel is worth the risk. This legacy comprises values that have shaped the Congregation and remain essential benchmarks:
- A fraternal community life characterized by support despite tensions.
- Daily prayer as an integral part of the mission.
- A willingness to take risks that rejects comfort and security as criteria for discernment.
- Generosity, even in times of material deprivation.
- An openness to welcoming young people, often at great personal sacrifice.
2. Today: A Congregation in Transition
According to the Elenchus, the peak number of confreres was 1,986 in 1967. By January 2025, that number had dwindled to 733. Since then, 11 confreres have entered eternal life, and 8, which include two priests and six young people in initial formation, have left the Congregation. However, we joyfully celebrated the first profession of 22 young confreres and welcomed 16 novices along with over 50 young people starting their first year in the Pre-Novitiate. Thus, we are a family that, while shrinking, paradoxically shows signs of vitality. This smaller group continues to provide services that bring joy to the Church.
The fundamental shift is not just in the numbers. I I's in the quality of life and the composition of our members. Today, the CICM is marked by remarkable intercultural richness, which is a blessing and a visible sign of our universality. However, it also presents real challenges, including:
- Some provinces train many candidates but receive few missionaries in return.
- Difficult living conditions may discourage young people and confreres from making themselves available to serve in certain missions.
- Some entities struggle to welcome young people due to visa acquisition difficulties.
- Congregational solidarity appears to be weakening.
- There is a risk that self-preservation might overshadow our communal spirit.
This raises an urgent question: Are we still a family where "what is mine is for all," or are we slipping toward a situation where confreres, communities, and provinces merely coexist while focusing on their individual survival?
3. Tomorrow: Balanced Missionary Religious Life
During a visit to a province, a confrere remarked that the life expectancy of CICMs is declining. Whether this is true or false, it raises an important question: What is our lifestyle as missionary religious? I do not want to reduce the challenges some confreres face to mere personal discipline. There are external vulnerabilities such as harsh living conditions, unstable socio-political contexts, and limited healthcare, which are beyond our control. Additionally, prophetic commitment can expose individuals to significant risks. Some confreres pay dearly for their courage.
However, we must acknowledge that a missionary who burns out quickly is not always a hero of self-sacrifice. Often, he may be someone who has neglected his body and spirit. A balanced, rested, and well-supported confrere shines brighter in his mission. Taking care of oneself is not a luxury; it is an act of responsibility towards our mission.
4. Tomorrow: A Call to Take Risks
If Father Theophile Verbist were to arrive today in certain entities, would he find the CICM as he envisioned it? While several colleagues dedicate themselves fully to the mission entrusted to them, others lack not talent or good intentions, but often the audacity to act. Rugged terrain may seem less appealing, harsh conditions can be discouraging, and material security becomes a criterion for decision-making. But can we still call ourselves missionaries if we're not willing to take risks? Pope Francis reminds us that the mission leads us to the peripheries, not to our comfort zones. The CICM has thrived in places where others have not dared to go. Our initial training must, therefore, shape not only educated individuals but also disciples who are free in spirit, receptive to the guidance of the Spirit, and capable of going to where life is fragile.
5. Formators: Artisans of Tomorrow
No congregation can have a future without formators. However, many hesitate to accept this mission because they fear moving away from the "field of action," which is often more rewarding. There is a misconception that being a formator is less useful. Yet, formation is a significant missionary act. Being a formator entails a quiet sacrifice: giving up visibility to invest in something that may take 10 to 15 years to bear fruit. It requires becoming that grain of wheat that falls to the ground, invisible to many but essential for all. The CICM's future will largely depend on the generosity of those who embrace this demanding mission.
6. Tomorrow: A Family of Solidarity That Must Always Be Built
We often refer to the CICM as our spiritual family, but this must be reflected in our concrete choices. One danger threatening our future, linked to the broader crises within the Church, is the temptation of financial independence among confreres and provinces. Some are more affluent, while others face significant precariousness. When confreres display signs of excessive affluence in their places of apostolate or in their places of origin, it can discourage and weaken our young people in the formation, influencing their requests for missionary assignments.
One remedy for this challenge is what our religious family calls "congregational solidarity." This must be expressed not only through financial contributions but also through decisions that refrain from flaunting financial ease. Financial solidarity is not an optional extra; it is one of the most concrete expressions of our universal brotherhood. This was evident in the early Christian community. The General Government is concerned about this issue but can do little without genuine commitment from everyone involved. The future of Initial Formation, which is central to our mission, depends significantly on this solidarity. Tomorrow will not be built on ostentatious disparity but on sharing and faith in God.
7. Providence: Our Compass for Tomorrow
Father Founder, Theophile Verbist, believed in divine Providence, not as a strategy of recklessness but as a space of freedom. Trusting in Providence means refusing to let human calculations dictate our discernment. It means being open to where the Spirit leads, even at the cost of sacrificing certain securities. Training missionaries today, more than ever, requires preparing individuals who embody trust. Providence is not a naive concept; it is a way of living the mission with courage and spiritual realism.
Conclusion: Providence Will Guide Us
"Scheut yesterday, today, and tomorrow." Yesterday, we inherited a precious legacy from those who dared to believe that the impossible was possible. Today, we are called to nurture this legacy and allow it to bear fruit despite our shortcomings. Our future hinges on our ability to embrace risk, contribute to congregational solidarity, invest in formation, and have faith that Providence will guide us.
The greatest danger would be to settle into nostalgia for the past or the comfort of the present. The Spirit urges us to move forward. The mission is not over. It continues in this changing world, where the peripheries are always calling. May our Congregation remain faithful to its DNA: to go where others dare not go.
