Africa is Thirsting
 
(Fr. Paul Pareckattil V.C. writes on the evangelization tour he undertook along with
Fr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil V. C. in the heart of Africa.
Fr. Paul is the Director of the Vincentian Retreat Centre, Puthuppadi.)
 

European cultural ethos calls Africa the dark continent. The reasons that prompted them to bestow such an appellation might be the dark colour of skin, the thick forests that keep sun light away or the primitive culture untouched by the "civilization" of the west. While faith is fast collapsing in western countries, African soil is on the way to becoming a land of light, the light of God’s word. This is the truth that was revealed by the Bible conventions held from last March till mid June by Fr. Kuruppamparambil and me.

The parish of Katubuka in the diocese of Kigoma in Tanzania is under the jurisdiction of the Vincentian Fathers. It was with a retreat for the people in the parish that the evangelisation work of ours began. There was also a special retreat for the priests and sisters of this diocese. Against the background of the Popular Mission Retreats, which Fr. Kurappamparambil, popularly known as Fr. JK Bill, had been conducting in Africa, we could see a people who were very sensitive and responsive to the word of God in this area.

Several thousands flocked to the Popular Mission Retreats in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Sudan and Congo searching for salvation and freedom from bondage in Jesus Christ.

These Popular Mission Retreats are organised by the Vincentian Prayer House in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This prayer house once served as a dispensary long years ago. It is the nerve centre of the African mission. This prayer house is the gift of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, an African Congregation, to the Vincentians, in gratitude for the renewal that was effected in their Congregation through the retreats of Fr. Bill.

The Popular Mission Retreats conducted in Africa are different from those conducted in the parishes of Kerala. They are modelled on the pattern of the Bible Conventions held here. There are no changes, however, in the structure of the retreat or in the themes dealt with.

In the retreat I conducted along with Fr. Bill for the priests and sisters of Nairobi, Bishop Thaban from Sudan was also a participant. These retreats were beneficial in transforming the people according to the will of God by the power of his word. There was no watering down of the word in order to present it attractively to the natives. The Vincentian Retreats conducted in Africa are not an adaptation of the doctrines of the faith along the lines of inculturation, in order to streng-then the faith through attractive and entertaining means. Importance and primacy are given to the word of God and to the teachings of the Church with no compromise whatsoever. The essence of Vincentian retreats is the mandate to give absolute importance and primacy to the word of God and the teachings of the Church.

The social set up of this people is such that the influence of tribal culture penetrates every aspect of their life. In many ways, the customs of the tribes and Christian faith are at odds with each other. As far as they are concerned, it is impossible for them to abandon the tribal culture that has evolved over several centuries, and to adhere to Christianity. Every individual is first a member of a tribe and only then a citizen of a nation or a believer of a religion. To be rejected by the tribe is to endanger their very social existence. Their fundamental existence is connected with the tribal set up. This tribal culture has bound up the African nation in many ceremonies, customs and regulations. A peculiar style of married life, that is totally at variance with the teachings of the Church, is prevalent among these people. However, the crowds that flocked to the retreat venue were able to distinguish between right and wrong through the interpretation of the word of God and thus order their lives in accordance with the Christian faith and the word of God. They have been expressing great zeal and fervour in this area, not easily visible in other matters. The enthusiasm that this people, in whom the tribal culture is so deeply ingrained, evinced in absorbing the word of God and the teachings of the Church, is truly praiseworthy. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined" (Is. 9:2). This word of God is truly being exemplified in the African nation’s consciousness.

As per their tribal marriage custom, the bridegroom has to offer a heavy sum to the bride’s father. Several prospective grooms find themselves in a position where they cannot provide such huge sums. In this set up, several couples cohabit without getting married according to civil or Church law. As a result of the retreat many have entered married life according to the precepts of the Church. There are several Christians who are unable to receive the sacraments due to the restrictions imposed by the tribal culture. Vincentian retreats have been able to pave the way for a new life in Christ even in the midst of social realities so intrinsically linked up with African life. This has been my conviction during the three months of my apostolate there. Several people who have attended Fr. Bill’s retreats are embracing the faith. A woman Anglican pastor, who was also former minister of Kenya, besides people from different walks of life, were among them. It was a heartwarming experience to see a protestant pastor and all his church members registering for the next retreat after having attended the healing service and the Holy Mass conducted at the Kenya Science College. We were able to witness a great number of people in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania accepting the teachings of the Church and entering actively into the life of the Church. We took care to share the teaching of the Church in all its purity, without taking into account the race, tribe, community or customs of the people. The secret of the Vincentian retreats in the various African countries has been the refusal to compromise the teachings of the Church. No profound doctrine is expounded. Only simple truths are explained and presented to the people.

More than one thousand people including priests and nuns participated in the residential retreat held at Kenya Science Teachers’ College. They were from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

The Popular Mission Retreat conducted in the diocese of Hoyima in Uganda on the parish level was a mega event. Organised by the Bishop of the diocese, almost all the priests and a huge congregation participated. Nearly a hundred thousand people were deluged in the word of God from May 2nd to 9th and experienced the new life of inner purification. Fifty thousand people slept on the sandy stretches for all five days. There were special sessions for couples, youth, nurses, doctors, civil servants, catechists and politicians in order to provide spiritual help for the different strata of society. There were also opportunities provided for exclusive interaction for these groups. The response to this arrangement to foster a word-orientated life style was very good. The openness of the African mind to absorb the good and reject the bad was very much in evidence. The priests and sisters of Africa are, to a great extent, under the influence of tribal culture. These retreats, however, have inspired them to gain new insights and make a fresh beginning. Their response was a proof. It is the mandate given to prophet Jeremiah that a preacher is reminded of: "Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant"(Jer. l :9-10). Every prophet is given the mandate to do away with life styles that have to be plucked up and wiped away and to breathe the breath of new life so that the people may have a resurrection. It is very encouraging that this people, who are ready to obey, are embracing the ways of salvation and redemption.

Dance and song are innate aspects of culture. Their presence is very welcome and enlivens the liturgy . The community participate in the Mass with drumbeating, dance and song. Those are moments when with body and soul the people are engrossed in worship.

The healing of a man totally blind for three years at the retreat in Nairobi and that of an Indian woman from London whose fingers had been curled in, were occasions for thousands to praise God in wonder and gratitude.

Africans are a people who believe that demonic possession is the basis of all evil. To them the retreats served to show Christ as the perfect light and thus prepared them to be saved from the powers of darkness. The darkness of evil caused by Satan is banished by growth in faith in Christ. Too great an importance is not accorded to exorcisms during the prayer services. Rather, fear of demonic possession is banished through the prayer of binding the evil spirit. The person is also helped to base his faith fully on the power of Jesus. In Popular Mission Retreats, before the beginning of Holy Mass all talismans and objects of sorcery are burnt. This is a highly beneficial and symbolic act. It helps to remove fear from the hearts of the people and to boldly destroy all the objects that symbolically represent the evil which the powers of darkness exercise over the community.

During the three months of my visit to Africa I received the insight that Jesus is spreading a new light on that people. God is also using Fr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil, who was the dynamic pioneer of Popular Mission Retreats in Kerala, in a mighty way for the evangelisation and renewal of Africa. If Africa continues to be deepened in faith so very fruitfully, the African Church will certainly occupy, very soon, a place in the frontline of the Universal Church in the matter of zeal and stability.