Arsène N. Ndjamba, cicm
From August 3 to 16, 2025, I participated in the 5th edition of the CICM Ongoing Formation Session for Formators at the Theophile Verbist Center of Mbudi (CTV) in Kinshasa. The theme was "CICM Formation for Mission in a Changing World." Twenty-two CICM formators from our ten formation houses worldwide attended. The atmosphere was deeply fraternal, embodying our motto: "cor unum et anima una." It was a time of sincere sharing, during which CICM formators expressed their joys, pains, fears, and expectations regarding their ministry. In this article, I want to share this uplifting experience, which I believe is a trustworthy source of motivation and revitalization for our CICM identity.
The program began with an opening Mass presided over by Father Charles Phukuta, CICM, Superior General. This was followed by a recollection led by Bishop Edouard Tsimba, CICM, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, on the theme: "Formators: Shepherds and Sheep." The session, moderated by Archbishop Faustin Ambassa, CICM, Metropolitan Archbishop of Garoua, was held under the supervision of the General Government.
The program was organized around four main themes:
1. Spirituality and Mission
2. Foundations of Formation according to the documents of the Church and the CICM
3. The Role of Psychology in Initial Formation
4. Leadership at the Service of Initial Formation
Throughout these themes, several competent speakers delivered teachings. However, our exchanges led to a clear realization: the challenges of CICM formation are significant and tangible. We formulated eighteen actionable recommendations for the different levels of government within our Congregation. The urgent task is to ensure that these recommendations do not become "dead letters." They are intended to take shape in our daily mission, becoming concrete decisions, bold initiatives, and transformative actions within our communities. May they serve as a spark to rekindle our missionary zeal, revitalize our passion for formation, and renew our methods of preparing workers for the Lord's vineyard.
We also recognized that our mission is grounded in an international Congregation where borders dissipate as we engage with one another's languages. Learning the two official languages of the Congregation is a concrete missionary act—a living bridge between cultures. By personally committing to this learning, we lead by example and provide our young people with the key to access the universal CICM fraternity. Let us inspire them with conviction: each new word learned in another language is a seed planted for communion, collaboration, and mission without borders.
In a world where new technologies advance at a rapid pace, our mission is not only to use them but also to place them at the service of the Kingdom. Technology can open new horizons for evangelization, accompaniment, and formation. Let us commit to utilizing these tools effectively while maintaining the inner freedom that allows us to remain masters of our instruments. We must also encourage our young people to develop a critical perspective, nurture their sense of discernment, and avoid letting screens dictate their decisions. Thus, rather than stifling their spirit, technology can become a catalyst for creativity, communion, and service.
The CICM formator in today's world is engaged in a spiritual mission that demands ongoing adaptation within a globalized context. This mission is based on the documents of the Church and the Congregation and requires psychological competence, as well as strong leadership, in managing and guiding our formation houses.
More than just a series of conferences, this session was a moment of genuine renewal, equipping us with important lessons for our ministry as CICM formators. Each formation house shared its activities, joys, pains, challenges, and projects. It was a privileged time where encounters, sharing, formation, and CICM fraternity converged. We experienced our multicultural and international identity, rediscovering our human richness and realizing that each of us can express ourselves or understand one of the Congregation's languages, some even fluently. This was a unique opportunity to meet in person confrères whose names we had only heard before. It was a time for evaluation, advice, and dialogue with members of the General Government, marked by a relaxing excursion—a time filled with joy and pride in being missionary CICM formators.
