The general government under the supervision of the Fr. Erasto Mgalama, General Councillor for Africa, organized in Sagana, Kenya, a 5 days seminar for all the regional and delegation superiors and councillors of the Africa Continent.
By Marco Marini *
The topics chosen for the seminar were very relevant to the tasks that the superiors have to carry on in their circumscriptions: Leadership, The Directory of the General Government and Circumscriptions, Disciplinary cases and Code of Conduct, Emotional Intelligence in leadership, Resource Mobilization and Project Management.
The first day of the meeting was an introduction to what leadership is all about by Mr. Fred Olwenyi, the Managing Director of Corat Africa (Christian Organizations Research and Advisory Trust of Africa) based in Nairobi, explained how there are a number of leadership styles, and he indicated that the servant style is the one more in tune for the church. At the end of the section the group reached a definition of the IMC leadership style. Our leadership has to have the following qualities: Service, Influential, Discernment, Competence, Visionary, Humility, Transformational, Participatory.
The second day’s sessions were entirely dedicated to the role and duties of the Continental Council, The Regional Superiors and its Councils. In the first section of the day, going through the constitutions and the directory of the General Government and circumscriptions Government, Fr. Thomas Mushi, who studied canon law in Rome, enlightened the assembly on the organisation of our institute, pinpointing to the tasks of the General Council, the continental council, the regional council and the community local superior.
In the second section of the day Fr. Thomas, presented some disciplinary cases affecting religious life, contemplated in the canon law, and the IMC code of conduct. He specifically addressed some concerns among others; paternity, unauthorized absence from community, child abuse and accompanying missionaries in situations of fragility.
On the third day Sr. Lucy of the St. Joseph Sisters of Mombasa, introduced the assembly to the Emotional Intelligence in Leadership. She explained how Emotional Intelligence is one of the key skills for modern leadership, because it allows leaders to effectively manage themselves, their emotions and reactions, and those of the collaborators, creating a healthy, productive, motivating environment.
In the second part of the day the General Administrator, Fr. Fedrick Agalo, updated the assembly on the rules guiding the administration of goods in our Institute, and the present situation of the economy of the Institute.
Mr. Clement Kitetu, member of the IAPM (International Association of Project Managers) of Kenya, lead the Fathers to a one day and a half seminar on mobilizing resources and project management. Mr. Kitetu with practical examples, charts and group work, helped the members of the assembly to walk through the proper planning and the way projects should be implemented. Each circumscription chose a project relevant to its place, and presented to the whole assembly following the guidelines and directives received.
At the end of the seminar Fr. Erasto Mgalama shared what is going on in the Africa Continent, recalling some elements that were discussed in 2023 in Bunju, Tanzania. He explained his role as a General Councillor, encouraged and thanked the superiors for their service.
After Fr. Erasto, the Superior General, Fr. James Lengarin, stressed how the superior should be near to the confreres, in a paternal way, but at the same time firm and clear if problems come up. He recalled the importance of the oath taken and the secrecy of what is spoken in the council meetings, and to avoid preferring some confreres over others. He insisted that communities should have at least two missionaries. He finished by thanking the superiors for their service to the confreres, not forgetting to take care of themselves.
The positive final evaluation stressed the importance of such seminars, and the desire that might be a follow up.
After the conclusion of the seminar, on Saturday 16, all the missionaries went in pilgrimage to Tuthuu, “Where it all started”, to celebrate mass on the very place where the first Consolata Missionaries celebrated the first Eucharist. In his sermon the Superior General invited the missionaries to have the same spirit of hope of the first Consolata Missionaries, who not knowing where they were going, or how successful their mission would have been, they persevered and trusted in the Lord and Our Lady Consolata.
* Father Marco Marini, IMC, missionary in Ethiopia.
