RELIGIOUS LIFE IN AFRICA TODAY

by

Br. Vincent Rabemahafaly

 

 

In the Evangelization of Africa an important role belongs to the religious institutes, which, especially during the XIX century, were the protagonists of the heroic times of the mission.

Now, religious vocations are growing, on the level of the international, congregations as on the level of diocesan congregations (the growth of the latter is much more rapid). There is also a new blossoming of monastic life.

Of the 45,000 religious, 27,000 are African, while the urgency to create an autochthonous diocesan clergy has occurred at the cost of the religious clergy (only 1,500 religious of the 10,000 are African). The lay brothers! whose increase has been minor, are instead 6,000 of which 3,200 Africans.

In the perception of religious life certain ambiguous factors enter into play: a holier condition than usual of the Christian, means of personal perfection or for the achievement of well being. It is up to the religious to give light to the authentic value of their vocation.

As to inculturation, certain challenges must be faced: this is possible only in a particular Church, it must be specific (aimed at religious life, in this case), it must be submitted to the Bishop, done by the Africans themselves, answer the specific challenge of poverty.

For the formation of the religious, structures have been founded like the consortia, like the Tangaza Institute in Nairobi (which also constitute opportunities for theological studies by the religious).

Certainly, the problem of the formation of educators must be confronted. The structure called Rencontre et Collaboration Africaine has faced this problem in 1987‑88 and has founded the institute for formation “Mater Christi” for West Africa.

 

 

Original text in Italian