Albertus Padang, cicm
Intern in DR Congo

Gaudencio Amaral, cicm
Intern in DR Congo

An experience of learning Swahili

Being a missionary can be a challenging task, particularly when it comes to language barriers. As a native Indonesian speaker, my first language is Bahasa Indonesia. However, since I joined CICM, I have had to learn how to speak other languages like English and Swahili. Though it has been a challenging experience, learning these languages is necessary to communicate effectively with the people I serve.

Since joining CICM, I have learned to adapt to living in different countries to continue my missionary work. Initially, I had to learn two languages, English and French, as I come from Asia. I learned English before attending the novitiate and studied theology in the Philippines. After English, I was assigned to work as a missionary in the AFA Province, which led me to Cameroon, where I had to learn French. This language is essential as it is widely spoken in my mission province.

Missionary work is my response to God's call to serve His people. As a missionary, I must immerse myself in the life of the people I serve. This required me to learn their language, as language plays a vital role in bridging the gap between us and the people. I learned this quickly after my experiences in the Philippines, Cameroon, and Congo. I had to learn their language to integrate and connect with the people's culture, which was a great challenge. However, learning the language of the people we are sent to is an essential part of missionary work, so there is no excuse to avoid it. Therefore, I prepared myself accordingly to face the challenge of learning the language of my new mission in Lubumbashi. When we arrived, the people welcomed us warmly and encouraged us to start our apostolate.

I want to share my recent mission land in Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in Congo after the capital, Kinshasa. People in Lubumbashi speak two languages, namely French and Swahili, with Swahili being the most widely spoken language. I had just finished learning French in Cameroon before going to Congo, so I needed to learn Swahili to communicate with the locals. This is a tough challenge for me as it is not easy to master two languages simultaneously.

I have organized my Swahili lessons with two teachers for my companion, Gaudencio Amaral. Initially, I had a lesson from 1:30 to 3:30 pm with my teacher, and Gaudencio had his lesson from 3:30 to 5:00 pm with his teacher. However, learning was difficult as our teachers were busy and needed more time to teach us. After a month, we decided to change teachers, and Father Jean-Paul Kasengu found a new teacher for both of us. We had separate lessons at different times - Gaudencio in the morning and I in the afternoon. Gradually, we started picking up the language and having small conversations with people. However, we don't think one month is enough to master a language.

We still have two more months left for learning and the immersion program with host families, which lasts for three months, to improve our language skills. To strengthen my Swahili personally, I read during morning masses in our community and the parish. I also joined a parish choir to learn the words of the songs. However, singing in Swahili is challenging because it is a tone language. Nonetheless, I draw two important values from this experience that remain engraved in my heart. I seek the presence of God during difficult times, and secondly, I seek the strength to continue my vocational journey to serve the people to whom God has sent me through prayer.

As the letter to Hebrews 13:5 states, "I will neither leave you nor forsake you." So, when I am having a good time alone or with others, I thank God, who is always by my side. I feel so blessed that everything I am, have, and do are fruits of divine providence.

The second important thing to me is having the support of God's people. The teachers here are incredibly kind. They help me improve my Swahili so that I can converse with people in practice. My colleagues are also very supportive and guide me through my training. I feel very grateful for all of this. I pray to God to grant me more of His grace and to put people of goodwill in my path who can help me advance in my missionary and religious life for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind. - Albertus Padang

An experience of Living in Community

My name is Gaudencio Amaral. I am an Indonesian national and currently working as an intern with the CICM Province of AFA. Over the past few months, I have been learning the Swahili language and also involved in a pastoral experience in Lubumbashi, under the guidance of Father Jean-Paul Kasengu, the Parish Priest of Notre Dame de Guadalupe Parish. I am writing this article to share my experiences and information about community life with you.

As mentioned earlier, I am currently doing my internship at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is a part of the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi. Our arrival has made our community more diverse and international. Our parish priest and mentor, Father Jean-Paul, is a Congolese, while my longtime companion, Albertus, and I are from Indonesia. Despite our different backgrounds and cultures, we live and work together like brothers, striving to fulfill our mission. After having lived in this community for almost seven months, our life's dynamic here is lively and enriching.

As religious missionaries, prayer is an essential part of our daily routine. For us, prayer is crucial to fulfilling our mission of serving the Lord, as without Him, we are nothing. Therefore, we have community prayer and Mass every day. We attend morning mass with Christians on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, we have mass in our community. In the evening, we pray vespers together as a community in a spirit of fraternity. This spiritual exercise not only helps me grow in my faith but also brings me closer to God. It provides me with the steadfast support and strength I need to carry out my mission.

I cannot ignore God because he inspires my prayers and missionary work through the Holy Spirit. Fraternity is our congregation's second most important aspect after the priestly life. As our motto says, “one heart and one soul,” we share our experiences daily with a bottle of beer at 12:00 and 21:00. Father Jean-Paul is a model of a CICM missionary. Despite being busy with pastoral work, he always finds time to be with us for meals and community prayer. He is always available to listen to our difficulties, gives us advice when necessary, and encourages us as we follow Christ. Living in an international and multicultural community takes work. Still, with a bit of openness and self-denial, I have learned to adapt, integrate, and appreciate the cultural habits of the environment in which I now live. That is why I am proud to say that I am delighted to work and live in our Lubumbashi community. - Gaudencio Amaral

Franck Tchiengang, cicm
Student in Cameroon

Initial Formation Following the 16th CICM General Chapter: An Unfolding Experience for a Changing World

At the 16th CICM General Chapter held in Rome from June 4 to 30, 2023, the attendees discussed the topic of initial formation. Although no specific memo was dedicated to this subject, it is noteworthy that the General Pre-capitular Commission ensured its inclusion in the Chapter's agenda, recognizing its importance for the various provinces. It has been almost a year since the conclusion of the 16th General Chapter, and it remains to be seen how the recommendations and exhortations related to initial formation in CICM houses of formation have been received.

Intercultural Living in the “Communauté Internationale de Formation en Afrique (CIFA)” after the 16th CICM General Chapter

As per recommendation 8 of the Acts of the 16th CICM General Chapter, the CIFA included talks on interculturality or aspects of intercultural living in its annual strategic plan. These discussions help us to embrace multiculturality as a valuable gift and view our differences as a source of richness. They also enable us to appreciate the benefits of multiculturality while being aware of the challenges we may face.

The Joys

Liturgical celebrations in our community bring great joy to our confreres. We use different languages in our liturgies which provide a unique spiritual experience. From the Gloria chant in Lingala to the Communion song in Ewondo and the Agnus Dei in Creole, each liturgical celebration is a source of great joy. Our refectory is another source of joy, where delicious dishes from different cultures delight the bellies of our confreres. This culinary variety, which we experience particularly during the celebration of the independence festivities of the various countries represented at the CIFA, delights the taste buds of all and prepares us to acquire a “missionary belly.”

The Challenges

Intercultural life at CIFA is a beautiful gift from God, but it also comes with some challenges that can be overcome. One of these challenges is the tendency to compare cultures and make others believe that our culture is superior. It can lead to frustration or even harm to others. Another challenge is the language barrier. Many of our fellow students struggle with the local language, Ewondo, which limits their ability to communicate with the people in the host village.

Reception of the Exhortation for Intercultural Living

The CIFA has been good in implementing exhortation 4 of the Acts of the General Chapter, which deals with interculturality in the formation communities and the selection of formators. For this academic year 2023-2024, the CIFA has welcomed students from six different nationalities, from the Philippines, Zambia, Indonesia, Haiti, Cameroon, and the DR Congo. This diversity is also reflected in the team of formators, which includes an Indonesian and a Cameroonian. The CIFA's diverse composition provides ample opportunities for intercultural experiences.

CIFA and social media: Positive Points and Challenges in the Light of the Proceedings of the 16th CICM General Chapter

Starting from the 2021-2022 academic year, CIFA has been installed with a high-speed fiber optic internet connection. This technological advancement enables the community, especially the students, to be more connected with the evolving and globalizing world. Connecting your smartphone or laptop to your room is convenient, but it also comes with its fair share of risks.

The Impact of Internet Connection on Academic Performance

If I had to give an opinion on the subject, I would say that it wasn't easy to do academic research before fiber optics were installed in our community. Of course, we already had an Internet connection by modem, but it was unstable and slow. The new fiber optic connection makes it easier for us to research. We can quickly consult digital libraries and watch online courses. All these greatly enrich the quality of our academic work.

Social Networks: An Enemy for CIFA Student Confreres?

Acknowledging the positive role of social networks in our community is important. A great example of this is the existence of a WhatsApp group for CIFA students. This internal digital channel allows us to receive communications and digital documents from the Congregation (Chronica, provincial newsletters, etc.), making it easier to circulate information within our “common home.” However, social networks can also have negative consequences for student confreres. They can become "digital hermits," constantly staying in their rooms to communicate with the outside world. It can cause serious integration problems, not only within the community but also in the apostolate. Additionally, they can absorb the attention of confreres to the point of making them physically present but absent. Finally, the time spent on social networks can positively impact studies, explicitly leading to the late submission of research work.

Upon re-reading my experience of initial formation in the context of the 16th General Chapter, I find it to be a source of personal growth. If the recommendations and exhortations of the Acts of the 16th CICM General Chapter are implemented progressively, CICM Formation Communities can train effective missionaries who can respond to the challenges of today's world. To achieve this, each Formation Community and each student confrere would benefit from regularly evaluating their annual journey based on the recommendations and exhortations of the 16th CICM General Chapter regarding initial formation. Ultimately, what is important is to abide consistently and to move forward.

Mark Steven Joyce, cicm
Novice in the Philippines

Storytelling during the Novitiate Annual Retreat

From being in a room with Fidel Castro to the real joy of his missionary experience doing community development and human development, Fr. Alejandro “Alex” A. Ulpindo, CICM, made storytelling the theme of our retreat. The story began with all of us novices arriving at Home Sweet Home after spending two weeks at various CICM schools. In the cool Baguio weather, we were animated and excited to see one another and share our stories from our school immersion. Yet, through the examples and guidance of Father Alex, we broadened the horizon of the stories we told, which made the retreat much more than just a reflection on our two-week exposure. During our annual retreat, Father Alex provided a grounding experience for our batch through which we learned more about ourselves and each other, found rest and recharge after a two-week exposure, and found inspiration in a CICM expression of the missionary experience.

As part of our novitiate program, we have told “our stories” in many different formats. Usually, “our story” means our vocation story or the narratives on why we decided to join CICM. Yet, on this retreat, I heard my brother novices tell their stories in new ways. On the first day, Father Alex told us he preferred teaching through storytelling instead of lecturing. The format was that he would spend an hour with us in the morning telling stories, after which we would receive reflection questions. We were told to listen to each other and tell stories in the afternoon. I came to the afternoon session with a story I thought I could tell based on my reflection, only to feel prompted to tell a different story based on the stories I heard. One thread in several stories was “How do we define ourselves.” Through these stories, I realized we have all gotten to know ourselves better through our novitiate, which has allowed us to tell our stories in new ways.

 Early in the retreat, I asked Father Alex what he felt about us going for runs or walks during the retreat. He encouraged it by saying, “Happy mind, healthy body, that is the point of a retreat.” I think this mentality helped all of us make the most out of our time during the retreat. After two weeks in the schools, we could rest, exercise, and reflect on our half-year journey with CICM. For some congregations, the idea that novices can go for runs while on retreat may sound unacceptable. However, I think it was a perfect addition for a missionary congregation with an ad gentes priority. After hearing Father Alex tell stories emphasizing the importance of being close to the people, we ran around a soccer field in Burnham Park. There, we saw the young people of Baguio congregate, play sports, laugh, and practice the traditional dances of the Igorot people. To me, not only did these runs help me feel mentally balanced, but they also helped me reflect on an ad gentes-oriented missionary life.

During our retreat, Father Alex told a range of missionary stories that were shocking, inspiring, and informative. One theme that encompassed many of his stories was the reality of living with and serving the poor. These stories opened our eyes to what could be ahead of us. One exercise that stood out to me was reading a letter our founder, Theophile Verbist, wrote to the first CICM novices. I liked the fact that Father Verbist wrote the letter from his mission in China. Even though the letter was written over 150 years ago, the lessons and teachings are still relevant to me as a CICM novice today. Especially when he said, “The missionary has only the spirit of faith to support and protect him.” What stood out to me in the letter and the stories Father Alex told us was the hardship involved in a missionary vocation serving the poor.

These tales of CICM experiences in mission helped us reflect on what we are working on in our life journeys with CICM. Our batch truly appreciates the hospitality we received from the Home Sweet Home community. At close to the halfway mark of our novitiate year, it was nice to experience how far we have all come in self-knowledge and self-understanding. It was also important and helpful to have time to find a grounding experience and recharge for what lies ahead of us. Most importantly, though, the retreat helped us focus on some key themes of missionary life that can inspire us in our vocational journey. The retreat helped us become aware of the “spirit of faith” needed to succeed in a mission environment.

Eric Michael Imbao, cicm
Missionary in the USA

It has been months since pilgrims from the World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, returned home. Yet everything we have seen, heard, and witnessed on the pilgrimage still feels unreal. Undoubtedly, it left an indelible mark in our hearts and faith that we will carry for the rest of our lives.

A week before WYD, our pilgrim group was blessed to visit holy sites in Rome and Italy. Visiting the catacombs of the first Christians and first martyrs filled us with deep inspiration. We also visited the four major basilicas in Rome, with special access permission to the Necropolis or the tomb of St. Peter (underground Pope’s grottos at St. Peter’s Basilica). The group immensely enjoyed our visits to saints like St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis, Blessed Carlo Acutis, and St. Claire in Assisi, Italy. 

Arriving in Portugal, we spent a day in Fatima, visiting the houses of the three little children and walking meditatively at Via Sacra in Aljustrel (Shepherd Way). We also had the opportunity to visit all the apparition sites of the Our Lady of Fatima. These were meaningful and unforgettable blessings that our group would carry in our hearts.

According to the Vatican News, the week-long event was an electrifying tapestry of encounters, reflections, and prayers by young people from around the globe. United by the theme "Mary arose and went with haste" (Luke 1:39), participants answered Pope Francis’ call to come together and explore the depths of their faith and spirituality amidst diversity. These pilgrims rose to the challenge of the pilgrimage and went with haste to be messengers of joy.

The journey itself is filled with ups and downs, and one word that can sum it all up is – “challenging”. When faced with challenges and difficulties in accomplishing a task, there is also much to learn and gain. It can be likened to the principle of life: where there is much to gain, there will be pain. Or, putting it in another way, no pain, no gain. Our pilgrim group gained so much from the sacrifices that our group had to make for the WYD experience. From the long walks in the heat of the day to sleeping on gym floors, eating unfamiliar food, having nights of less sleep, and talking to people who speak a different language, these are all life-changing and impactful challenges that made our experience truly unforgettable.

Our pilgrims are happy to share their testimonies here:

“One thing that will stay in my mind is the joy I’ve felt meeting people who are passionate about God. We sang and danced practically anywhere. We found ourselves exhausted and tired. But instead of being impatient and complaining, our group remained joyful at every moment. I believe we should take life the same way.” - Fr. Eric Michael Imbao, CICM.

Among the pilgrims, Anthony Pablo (18 yrs. old), a parishioner of Maria, Reina De Las Américas in Mount Olive, cherished the memory of being in the presence of Pope Francis. He shared the message he took to heart: "No tengan miedo, tengan coraje" – "Don't be afraid, have courage." For him, these words meant embracing God's path without fear. Karen Hildalgo (29 yrs. old), a parishioner of St. Mary of the Angels in Mount Olive, said, “The sheer sight of thousands of faithful gathered never failed to inspire awe within her. She mused, this time, I thought I was ready not to be surprised, but it felt like starting over again." For Fatima Gloria Mesa-Romero (17 yrs. old) from Sta. Teresa, Beulaville, “Seeing thousands of people travel all over the world to worship one God is so amazing. I am not alone in the Catholic Church. There were thousands of us sharing the same faith.” 

Edwin Castaneda (20 yrs. old) from St. Catherine of Siena in Tarboro said, “I walked into WYD not knowing what to expect. I knew I wanted to grow in my faith, and I felt like I did tremendously! I enjoyed the Masses, meeting different people, and especially learning about my faith in ways I wasn’t sure about.” “The moment that will stick with me forever would be when Pope Francis said, “Don’t be afraid.” “Those three simple words meant so much more to me because I feel like a teen who was trying to grow in my faith. I felt afraid. I was afraid to speak about my faith. I was afraid to acknowledge it. Now, I feel like instead of avoiding my faith and looking at the other way, I should embrace it! I should never be afraid to share my faith!”

Edwin added that when things get hard, he can look back at this pilgrimage as a reminder that he encountered many obstacles, so there was nothing impossible that he was not willing to try. He added: “I think life gets difficult sometimes, and we often lose ourselves from those difficulties, whether it’s our faith or our passion for the Church. I believe the Lord chose each of us in that group to be there, so it’s our responsibility to share those experiences with others and encourage them to strengthen their faith in God or maybe try to encourage them to go to the next WYD!”

Other pilgrims shared their thoughts, too:

“When it was time to sing, we sang; when it was time to dance, we danced. And when it was time to pray, we prayed. We prayed for our families and all our communities. It was so nice to pray for others in different basilicas in Italy and Portugal, which left us amazed by the beauty and holiness of these sacred churches.” - Amy Galvez Ortiz, 18 years old.

“The main thing I learned about WYD was how not to take everything for granted at home, to be grateful for everything we have, and always be thankful to the Lord that He gave us another day, food, and a roof over our heads. Also, a time I will remember was when we were going up a mountain on a bus trip (this was a day after WYD). I was telling Fr. Eric I saw people hiking and how they looked exhausted, and it just reminded me of the time we were going up on a bridge on our way to the last activity at the WYD vigil site, carrying so much food and being very tired. WYD taught me so much to be humble and to be glad about what I have.” - Joseph Vasquez, 16 years old

“Not a day went by where I wasn’t tired, yet a day did not go by where I didn’t experience God’s love and joy. Walking extensively alongside 1.5 million people in the heat daily gave me the happiness I didn’t know I lacked (and an awful Chaco tan line). You gave me dance parties in the street and packed metros. Thank you, WYD; because of you, I realized how comfortable it is to sleep on the floor. For all of this and more, I am grateful. – Dulce Perez Berduo, 18 years old

“The moment I loved the most was how each day we worked as a team by encouraging one another.” - Franuel Chima Cagal,15.

“The thing I experienced personally with my faith was accepting who I am. As Pope Francis said, "God calls us to the faith as we are." We do not have to change ourselves to be like everyone else; we are uniquely made in God’s image. I will carry this moment with me because I have always struggled to fit in and to get along with others so I can call them friends. I was too scared to tell them my life story, for they may not want me. So, I closed off. But now, I embrace my background and experience because they make me who I am. The struggles, the pain we endure, even the good moments, are what made us the people we are today, and that is who God tells us to be, and we all have a purpose.” – Anthony Pablo, 18.

“I experienced calmness and a true connection with God. A moment that will stay in my memories is singing in the metro with other pilgrims. That brought me joy and inspiration.” - Diana Hernandez, 16.

“During the pilgrimage, I learned to be patient with God’s timing and to trust in him. I experienced how huge the love of God is.” - Alexa Hurtado, 16.

Pope Francis’ words that the Church is always a place "para todos, todos, todos" continue to echo in the hearts of the pilgrims. World Youth Day is a pilgrimage for everyone, but what you will gain from it depends on the extent of your willingness to invest in it. Our group invested in the sacrifice and the challenge of living the pilgrimage. Because of this, we gained more to last us a lifetime. We seek discomfort by being comfortable in being uncomfortable. Just as Jesus’ disciples were called so much more than just having a comfortable life, we, as pilgrims here on earth to journey towards our destination – in heaven, are also called for greatness, holiness, and discipleship. It is the road that God calls us to walk.

For pilgrims, WYD is not the destination, nor does the journey end in Portugal. Our pilgrimage continues, and WYD Portugal is just a one-stop along the way to heaven.

At the sending mass with the Pope, CICM confreres from different missions met and shared the joy of our One Heart and One Soul. (photo) In the picture (from left to right): Fr. Louland Escabusa-Hongkong, Fr. Joseph Gao-Hongkong, Fr. Galuh Arjanto Bubun-Japan, Fr. Ryan Carnecer-Texas, Fr. Frederick Mizengo-North Carolina, Fr. Sonny Aryanto-Texas, Fr. Eric Imbao-North Carolina, and Fr. Bakatubia Madiayi Sébastien-Taiwan, and Fr. Francis Javelosa-Taiwan.

Source : Chronica No 5