Mission as Regeneration Missionary Heritages of the Plan for the Regeneration of Africa
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Date
2015
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
On the 18 of September, 2014 the entire Comboni family celebrated with joy
one hundred and fifty years anniversary since the first draft of the summary of the
new Plan of the society of the sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for the conversion of
Nigrizia, which was proposed to the Holy Congregation of Propaganda Fide by
Father Daniel Comboni of the Mazza Institute. This Plan marked a turning point in
Comboni‟s missionary life, specifically in central African mission. This first edition
of the draft was followed by others in different languages: French, German and
Italian. These other editions got updated depending on the changing situations or
the suggestions received from those who read the first edition. The fourth edition,
which is the main topic of this paper, for example has a different title: Plan for the
Regeneration of Africa. The event of the Plan rather than the Plan itself certainly
represents a very important moment in the maturing of the missionary charism of
Saint Daniel Comboni. After one hundred and fifty years, the question is, what are
the missionary heritages the Church in general and the Comboni missionaries in
particular can draw from the Plan? What can the missionary Church learn from
Comboni‟s methodology? Is the Plan still relevant in the modern Church?
The Plan of the Regeneration of Africa has a lot to teach the Church today as
far as mission is concerned. Professor Fulvio De Giorgi who is in charge of Comboni archives pointed out that the Plan of Comboni should be read in terms of
discontinuity as growth, Actuality and prophecy, unity, utility and simplicity. That is
why it should be noted that the Plan is not a document of the past rather it should
entirely be seen as an actual and prophetic guideline for the mission, but only if it is
successfully contextualized. It is also necessary to understand the historical context
which stimulated the inspiration of the Plan. In this case the main reference is on the
eighteenth and nineteenth century‟s missionary activities. In particular such an
understanding is the very tool that will help the present Church to contextualize the
Plan and consequently see its genuineness and applicability.
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Keywords
Mission, Regeneration, Heritage, Africa