Since the commission was established, we have been working for the reign of God; within ourselves through the self-formation of our members, whom we train; amongst ourselves through outreach within the Assumptionist communities of the vicariate; and around us through participation in Inter-Assumption JPIC sessions, with the realisation that the culture of peace ‘is a way of behaving’.
Within ourselves, we reaffirm our faith in following Christ through collaboration with our local dioceses, guided by the principles of the Church’s social teaching in a synodal spirit. This has enabled us to take initiatives to strengthen our capacities within the VAO JPIC Commission, through training sessions (The general objective of the training is to enable members of the JPIC Commission to fully play their role as artisans of justice and peace in the service of the communion and mission of the Vicariate); and support (aimed at: understanding, discerning and supporting situations of injustice and the undermining of peace, from a pastoral and missionary perspective)
Among ourselves, Assumptionist religious and laypeople, the VAO JPIC Commission has developed a coordination network across our various communities in Togo-Sokodé (postulancy and novitiate) and in Burkina Faso-Ouagadougou (CIFA). Thus, we seek to inspire young people by organising sessions every two years for young brothers (postulants and novices) to foster in them ‘the defence of peace’ and ‘education for peace’: sessions on ‘The Art of Peace’; and ‘Compassion: A Response to the Earth’s Cry for Peace’. To this end, once the young people are in our formation communities, they put this into practice by engaging in their various apostolates. Thus, we see concrete actions by the brothers in Ouagadougou, who stand in solidarity with the poor:
– In the CIFA community in Ouagadougou, in solidarity with the poor: standing alongside vulnerable people (women accused of witchcraft, which led to the establishment of the ‘’Delwendé’’ residential centre in Sakoula); alongside migrants (internally displaced persons, refugees, the destitute, the dispossessed, those driven from their communities; the Assumptionist brothers and the lay alliance accompany all these people by organising income-generating and sporting activities for them… as Fr. E. d’Alzon said “The aim of the apostle is to sow Christ in souls”. Also in Ouagadougou, Br. Nicodème INANDJO, through his initiative, is leading a self-financing project in the production of liqueurs
– In the novitiate community of Sokodé, we have Brother Casimir KOUWAMA, who has undergone practical training in agro-pastoralism and is already initiating projects in the agricultural field: how to make compost, waste management for our common home (Laudato Si), an organic vegetable garden, and livestock rearing on a small farm…
– In the Lomé community, Brother Noel TOMFEI, drawing on his training in agri-business, has taken the initiative to set up a small poultry farm and a vegetable garden for legumes.
– The Bruno CHENU community in Abidjan, for its part, is striving to adapt to its environment to foster a culture of peace.
Around us, the VAO JPIC Commission works to foster a missionary spirit, spreading the peace of Christ by sharing experiences through various means of communication, particularly via WhatsApp. In this way, we support one another with the aim of strengthening our capacity to be peacemakers through online training within the Assumptionist family.
To the cries of the earth for peace, may your kingdom come…!
Armand FAWIE
