Martin Mvibudulu M., cicm
Missionary in Belgium
Twenty years ago, the CICM-BNL province had more than 250 members, the vast majority of whom were in their fifties and sixties. There were 12 CICM houses, eight in Flanders, three in Wallonia, and one in Holland. There were only seven non-European confreres (all Congolese) working in Wallonia (three) and Flanders (four). At that time, only one lay person played a leading role in the management of our houses.
Today, the situation is entirely different. The number of confreres (140) and CICM houses (5) has decreased significantly. There are no longer any houses in Wallonia. Still, there are two new small international communities with new missionary projects (not counting the one in Ostend, which is due to start in the coming weeks), a greater presence of non-European confreres (20), and lay people in the administration.
A few years ago, some confreres were wondering about the future of the BNL Province. Thanks to the arrival of several confreres from non-European countries, we can dream again, but dreaming alone is not enough. We still have to work to make the dream a reality. The growing number of non-European confreres in the Province gives the BNL a new image. The BNL has become a true mission province. It is no longer primarily a province from which missionaries depart and where older missionaries come to rest. The developments of the last ten years give us real reasons to believe and hope for a better future for the mission in Europe. That is why we are writing this article.
We are taking advantage of this jubilee year, which Pope Francis has placed under the sign of hope, to share through these writings the visible signs of hope in our Province. These signs would have been impossible without the faith of a few confreres, some of whom may already have gone to the Father, without the perseverance of the "little remnant" of non-European confreres, who stood firm in difficult times. Finally, nothing would have been possible without the courage and determination of the provincial governments over the last decade, which have once again opened the doors of the mission in BNL to young confreres.
Currently, BNL only accepts missionary commitments in dioceses at their request: discussions have taken place and are continuing between the provincial government and the dioceses. Pastoral commitments and appointments are laid down in contracts between the Province and the dioceses. Active confreres are mainly involved in new missionary projects, while most of the older confreres live together in larger communities. Where many active confreres used to live alone, the preference is now for teamwork and community life. This has many advantages.
Nevertheless, community life remains a challenge for all, but it is a "mission" for us, as stated in the latest general chapters. The fact that the confreres of BNL come from four continents and eight different countries is enriching, but remains a challenge. It is also a new reality.
1. A Renewed Missionary Vision
The emphasis is now on how we are present in society and the Church in Europe. We choose to be present not as individuals but as a religious and international community. This is the first witness of our mission at BNL. After several years of reflection and discussion among our confreres and provincial governments, the following statement was adopted as the inspiring text for our missionary activity and presence in Europe:
"We are a community of Scheutist missionaries. Based on a missionary vision and as religious of different cultures living in small multicultural communities, we want to be present in culturally diverse environments like leaven in dough. In this way, we bear witness to the fact that it is possible to live and work together. Based on a renewed pastoral vision, we are at the service of people on the margins of society. Through local initiatives, we want to build bridges between people, overcoming cultural and religious differences. We prefer to do this in collaboration with partners and leaders in existing structures. As a small group of brothers active in the field, we are united with our older brothers in our communities and elsewhere. Our commitment is also supported and encouraged by them. In this way, we, the older and younger brothers, remain together faithful to the spirit of cor unum et anima una, one heart and one spirit" (Excerpt from the GP BNL Report of March 25, 2019). This statement is our shared vision.
2. Community Life: The First Witness of our Mission
In Western society, where we are called to live our religious and missionary commitment, the Church, faith in Jesus Christ, and religion in general no longer enjoy the popular support they once did. Our mission field is this secularized Europe. From this starting point, we are entitled to ask ourselves: what message of the Gospel can we bring to this society today? Let us recall the amazement of the pagans at the beginning of Christianity when they saw how the first Christian community lived in communion of heart and spirit. Tertullian, one of the first Christian writers, reported what was said about Christians in these terms: "See how they love one another!" Jesus had recommended this to his apostles: "A new commandment I give to you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). By living in fraternal communion with one another, in a community of life or of reference, by working in harmony as brothers and sisters of different cultures, languages, and races, by living in communion with the Church, we can bear witness to the love of Jesus for us and for all people. (John 13:34-35).
By living in fraternal communion with one another, in a community of life or reference, working in harmony as brothers and sisters of different cultures, languages, races, and nations, we want to arouse curiosity and wonder in our contemporaries, giving witness to Christ who sent us. Through this witness, we want to contribute to the coming of God's Kingdom among us: a Kingdom of justice, peace, and love. In this sense, our multicultural and international communities become visible signs of God's Kingdom. Signs to which no one can remain indifferent, even in a secularized Europe, where individual freedoms often take precedence over communities. This is why our communities of life must be our first mission.
3. Our Commitments Inspired by our Shared Vision
In close collaboration with the local Church and at the request of the bishops, we accept pastoral and missionary commitments in various sectors: parishes, chaplaincy in retirement homes, prisons, hospitals, accompaniment of the homeless, immigrants and refugees, interreligious dialogue, etc.
We carry out the tasks entrusted to us in the spirit of our shared vision. That is, in communion with all the confreres of the Province, and more particularly with those of our reference community if circumstances require us to live alone. We follow the Province's policy in this matter. For this reason, every confrere who is called to pastoral or missionary responsibility outside a CICM religious community must be linked to a CICM community of reference that guarantees him fraternal communion with his confreres.
4. Some visible signs of our missionary project
4.1. Small international religious communities in large cities that represent our present and future missionary projects, in response to the specific requests of the local Church:
CICM-ICM in Mechelen
--- ICM-CICM missionary community in Mechelen: from left to right (Jerry-Jr. Senapai, Sr. Elizel, Jean Poulard Espady, Sr. Berlaine, and Sr. Jeya) ---
Inspired by Article 8 of our Constitutions, which invites us always to seek to "collaborate with other missionary institutes and organizations, and with all those who work for the growth of the Kingdom of God," we accepted this missionary presence at the request of the local Church in the city of Mechelen. We did not want to respond alone, but together with the ICM sisters, whose missionary enthusiasm to join us in responding to this call we greatly appreciate. Indeed, as we read in our Constitutions: "A special association unites our Institute and that of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for mutual assistance in missionary work, whenever possible. However, we are legally and financially independent." (Const. 8.1). Several reasons prompted the Vicariate of Flemish Brabant to ask our two congregations, CICM and ICM, for missionaries for this joint missionary project, including: the strong secularization of Belgian society, the intense religiosity (in various forms) in this city, the need to give missionaries the space and time necessary to seek new forms of missionary presence creatively and to be pioneers in this sense.
To respond to the various missionary needs and challenges expressed here, two international communities of missionaries have settled in Mechelen: the CICM community (today) with two members of Haitian and Central African nationality (originally with a third Belgian confrere) and the ICM community consisting of three members of Congolese, Filipino, and Indian nationality. The two teams complement each other and work together in their missionary and pastoral commitments.
CICM in Deurne
Deurne is a municipality located northeast of the city of Antwerp. It is particularly known for its large Muslim community and multiculturalism. The bishop of Antwerp asked our congregation to ensure a missionary presence in this pastoral unit of his diocese. More specifically, he wanted an international religious community to whom he could entrust pastoral and missionary tasks to accompany, animate, and inspire the people of God in the large city of Antwerp.
For this reason, in 2016 Scheut responded favorably to this call with the creation of the international community of Deurne, now made up of three confreres of Brazilian, Congolese, and Indonesian origin. They are involved in various areas of the Church's life: parish, interreligious dialogue (with Muslims), youth, lay formation, etc.
--- CICM International community in Deurne: from left to right (Pascal Kakenda, Thomas Hendrikus, and Fabio Teixeira) ---
As in Deurne and Mechelen, this project was accepted by Scheut at the request of the Bishop of Bruges, who wanted an international CICM community to come to the Belgian coast to provide pastoral care for sailors in the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, immigrants, and to engage in parish pastoral care. The bishop believes that the missionaries can make a significant contribution to the parishes of Ostend. For this reason, a team of three confreres from Indonesia, Haiti, and the Congo will soon be moving to the pastoral unit in Ostend, after studying Dutch.
CICM-Ostend-Zeebrugge:
4.2. Integration of younger members into the internal services of the Province
--- From left to right: Germain Nsasi, Yeremias Lakonawa, and Sony Pierre ---
To revitalize our large communities, which are made up mostly of very elderly and sick confreres, younger confreres are being appointed (either as leaders or as residents with a pastoral commitment outside the community) to bring new life to our aging communities. The same is true for our provincial commissions and working groups.
--- The provincial finance commission: From left to right (Thomas Hendrikus, Yeremias Lakonawa, Marc Vandermeiren, Jef Matton, and Germain Nsasi Yengo) ---
The annual meeting of the youngest (active) confreres on May 1, 2025
As you can see from these pictures, BNL today exudes a certain freshness, a new wind, and a new dynamic. This gives us the faith and hope to continue dreaming of a better future for the mission in Europe.
