he Xaverians of D. R. Congo gathered together for their 9th Provincial Chapter at the Amani Center of Bukavu,
April 23-30. Fr. Rino Benzoni, General superior of the Xaverians, was with the 18 delegates chosen among the Xaverians present in Congo.
As in every Province where the Xaverians work, the Chapter is an important event of our missionary congregation, a moment where we look at past and present efforts, and a way to reaffirm and reformulate the new strategies for the ministries and presences of the Xaverians. The Xaverians in Congo work in the dioceses of Kasongo, Goma, Uvira, Bukavu and Kinshasa.
Fr. Virgil Simoncelli, as out-going Vice-Provincial, represented the role of Fr. Simone Vavassori, who died on Feb. 10th 2004.
Inspired by the liturgical readings of Easter, Fr. Rino Benzoni called all Xaverians to follow the disciples of Christ, who were invited to "go into the boat, and move on deep water", start a new journey, founded on spirituality, discernment, and building living communities. It is only through this journey, experienced in international communities, that the world will believe in Christ Jesus.
The new Provincial administration was elected on April 27, with Fr. Gianni Brentegani, Provincial, Fr. Giuseppe Dovigo, Vice-Provincial, Frs. Gianni Pedrotti, Joseph Musafiri, and Fr. Faustino Turco, councilors.
In an interview with Radio Maria Malkia wa Amani of Bukavu, Fr. Brentegani shared his experiences at St. John the Baptist Parish of Chai, at the outskirts of Bukavu, and the renewed mission service of the Xaverians present in Congo. On hearing the news, Fr. Pascal Kasanziki, present at our Theology in Chicago, shared: "I am happy to see that the young generations of the Xaverians are taking the leadership in Congo. Gianni Brentegani, 47, was one of the first students to be part of the Theology of Yaounde in Cameroon. I'm sure he will do great things in terms of fostering new ways of expressing our Xaverian charism of Blessed Conforti."
The Vice-Provincial, Fr. Joseph Dovigo, was the former pastor at the parish in Cimpunda, and is pastor of the new St. Francis Xavier parish, still under construction, in the outskirts of Goma. Fr. John Pedrotti is the pastor of Holy Family parish in Luvungi (Uvira diocese); Fr. Joseph Musafiri is in charge of missionary and vocation work in Bukavu after his mission experience in Cameroon; and Fr. Faustino Turco is assistant at Holy Spirit parish in Kitutu (Uvira diocese).
Continuing on his assessment of the new Council, Fr. Kasanziki states: "Faustino is definitely a pastorally oriented person... I met him three years ago while he was still in Bukavu, and I saw his apostolic zeal and how the people love him. Fr. Musafiri, a Congolese who is working now in Mission and Vocation education, has spent 10 years in Northern Cameroon. I have the impression that it is a very good team because three of them have been trained in Yaoundee, Cameroon... Of course, they will need the wisdom and direction provided by Fr. Pedrotti and Dovigo, two wise men who are very experienced missionaries."
They follow in the footsteps of Fr. Simone Vavassori, a leader of humble service and dedication to the mission cause. It is because of his example that the Xaverians ended their 9th Chapter with a pilgrimage to the Postulancy community, for a concelebrated mass at the Cemetery of Panzi, where Xaverians who worked in Congo, are buried. They are "our ancestors in faith and hope." It is a way to thank the Lord of the harvest for Xaverians who labored in Congo, and who are now in heaven interceding for us on earth.
Fr. Pascal concludes: "It is obviously a way to pay homage to Fr. Vavassori who has led the Province of Congo for 15 years. It is a simple gift to offer him the work of the Chapter that he had prepared... The Provincial administration wanted to feel in communion with the wonderful vision Fr. Vavassori always wanted to implement. May he intercede for a lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region."
Fr. Gianni Brentegani, in his interview at Radio Maria Malkia wa Amani, shared the words of Pope John Paul to the Xaverians in 2001: "The church, and the world, needs your Charism." And that was the concluding wish of Fr. Rino Benzoni, before returning to Rome: "We thank God each day for the gift of each Xaverian, past, present and future. Each Xaverian is a gift from God, to our family, and to the Church. May we continue to share our faith in the Gospel, wherever we are, so as to build one single family for the Lord."
(From Xaverian News)