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Use of the Book Jesus, Source of Life for All (Yesu, Chanzo cha Maisha Kwa Wote) in Tanzania As a Preparation for the World Mission Congress Jesus, Source of Life for All, the book of working papers for the World Mission Congress that will take place in Rome from 18-22 October, 2000, was translated into Swahili by Father Alfons Ndekimo, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Tanzania with the title Yesu, Chanzo cha Maisha Kwa Wote. Both the English version and the Swahili version especially have been widely used by groups and by individuals for prayer, liturgical ceremonies, reflection and discussion in Tanzania. Here are some ways that members of the Mission Awareness Committee (MAC) of the Religious Superiors' Association of Tanzania (RSAT) have used this book. I. General Reflections 1. During this Jubilee Year 2000 we are celebrating 2000 years of Christianity (see page 6 of the book Jesus, Source of Life for All). We are also celebrating 2000 years of Christian missionary activity. Think of the billions of people who have lived and died on this planet earth. They did not see “this” day. Yet we are blessed and privileged to be living now, blessed and privileged to see this year 2000. In his 2000 Message for World Mission Sunday (22 October, 2000) Pope John Paul II states: “The Jubilee is a favorable time for the whole Church to work, thanks to the Spirit, with new missionary impulse… the prospective of the Great Jubilee, which we are celebrating, induces us to ever greater missionary commitment ad gentes.” 2. Mission ad gentes: Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles narrates Jesus’ powerful words to the first apostles: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." During the past 2000 years Christian missionaries have carried out this mandate everywhere. Now in this year 2000 we are today’s apostles, today’s missionaries, today’s witnesses. But now there is a big difference as echoed in Pope John Paul II’s stirring words to the people of Tanzania during his visit to Moshi, Tanzania in September, 1990: “Now it is your turn to go to the rest of Tanzania, to the rest of Africa, even to the ends of the earth.” These words can be addressed to the people of each of the 53 African countries. So now it is the turn of African priests, religious and lay people to be missionaries ad gentes. Jesus says at the end of St. Mark’s Gospel: "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Now African missionaries are going into the whole world to proclaim the Good News of Salvation.
3. New Evangelization: In various places the book Jesus, Source of Life for All emphasizes the “new wave of evangelization” (page 5), the “new springtime of mission” (page 109) and the theme of the “new evangelization” (page 109). This theme was discussed during the MAC Meeting in Iringa, Tanzania on Tuesday, 4 April, 2000. It was agreed that our mission awareness activities during the Jubilee Year 2000 should be based on Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” The monthly radio programs of "Sisi Sote Ni Wamisionari" (“We Are All Missionaries”) on Radio Tumaini in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania have focused on service to people with AIDS/HIV, refugees, street children, the sick and other needy people.
1. Lent: During the MAC Meeting in Iringa, Tanzania the theme of the Eucharistic Celebration on Thursday, 6 April, 2000 was on “Reconciliation” in relation to the significant gesture for the Jubilee Year proposed on page 22 of the book Jesus, Source of Life for All. 2. Pentecost: Page 55 of the book Jesus, Source of Life for All states that the sending of missionaries is a significant gesture for the Jubilee Year. Sister Rita Kimolo, M.C., a Tanzanian Consolata Sister had an official “Sending Forth Ceremony” in her home parish in Kondoa, Dodoma Diocese on 19 March, 2000. She was “missioned’ to Liberia in West Africa. She received various gifts that symbolized her missionary commitment. The liturgy, celebration and related events helped her family, friends and the local parish community to feel part of her missionary vocation and future missionary ministry in Liberia. After the Holy Spirit the Local Church has the main responsibility for the mission of the church. Religious of Missionary Congregations, members of Societies of the Apostolic Life, Fidei Donum Priests and other missionary groups assist and support the Local Church in this task. In Tanzania the month of October, 2000 will be “Missionary Month.” It will begin with the canonization of Josephine Bakhita, the first modern African woman saint, in Rome on 1 October (which is also the feast of St Therese of Lisieux, the Patroness of Mission). Various ceremonies are planned in Tanzania such as a special celebration at Blessed Josephine Bakhita Church in the Mtoni Area of Dar es Salaam. The climax will be the celebration of World Mission Sunday on 22 October, 2000 that will be the official “Jubilee of Missionaries.” In his 2000 Message for World Mission Sunday Pope John Paul II states: “Celebrating the Jubilee of the Holy Year 2000, the whole Church is even more committed to a new missionary advent. We must increase our apostolic zeal to pass on to others the light and the joy of the faith.” 3. Advent and Christmas: Page 111 of the book Jesus, Source of Life for All reviews some main points of Chapter V of Redemptoris Missio including the importance of Basic Christian Communities (Small Christian Communities). One special way of promoting mission locally is through the missionary outreach of Small Christian Communities (SCCs). Already back in 1979 the AMECEA (Catholic Bishops Conference of Eastern Africa) Study Conference described the missionary role of Eastern African SCCs in these words: "SCCs are an effective way of developing the mission dimension of the church at the most local level, and of making people feel that they are really part of the church's evangelizing work." Now thousands of SCCs in Eastern Africa emphasize practical outreach to lax Catholics or those searching for God as well as accompaniment and service to people with AIDS/HIV, refugees, street children, the sick and other needy people.
In some parishes in Tanzania adults interested in becoming Catholics (called "Inquirers") first pass through the SCC in their geographical area/neighborhood that submits the request forms for the baptism of adults to the parish office. Some SCCs have started the ministry of Accompanier in the Adult Catechumenate. A catechumen chooses a SCC member to "accompany" him or her through the stages (steps and rites) of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The catechumen is invited to participate in all the activities of the SCC. Personal relationships and friendships are an important part of helping people who are preparing for baptism to feel "at home" in their local Christian community. Growth in faith is an experience of living in a believing community. The emphasis is on the faith being “caught” in
sharing the life of the SCC rather than just being “taught” in formal instruction classes. Sometimes the whole SCC accompanies "its" catechumens - another example of community ministry and group evangelisation. Here all the SCC members are responsible for the spiritual and pastoral life of their own small community. This approach is closely related to the African values of community, joint responsibility, togetherness and sharing.
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