Father Jean-Claude Ceillier
(+2019)
Founded
in 1868 at Algiers by the His Grace Charles Lavigerie,
at that time Archbishop of Algiers and future Cardinal,
the Missionaries of Africa or White Fathers are an institute
essentially directed towards the mission ad extra. From
its origins, the Founder clearly formulated its priorities
that defined his plan: to constitute a society consecrated
to the evangelisation of Africa consisting of men of
all nationalities and ready to commit themselves to
a lifestyle marked by a family spirit and work in common.
The beginnings of the mission of the White Fathers,
distinguished by their founding location and by the
orientation given by Lavigerie, evolved in the framework
of presence and 
testimony
in an entirely Muslim environment. More precisely, this
was in Algeria, the Sahara and Tunisia. Quite soon afterwards
however, in the 1870s and onwards, the apostolic horizons
of the young Society expanded. On the one hand, and
although this was not on the African continent, Lavigerie
insisted on founding a community at Jerusalem
in 1878. The WFs are still there today, notably involved
in dialogue with the Oriental Churches.
At
the same time the same year, Pope Leo XIII entrusted
Lavigerie with vast regions of sub-Saharan Africa, from
the east of the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo
to the shores of the Indian
Ocean. Some years later, ultimately, the Missionaries
left from Algiers and through Dakar reached the hinterland
regions of West Africa. Thus, they arrived at Ouagadougou
in 1900.
Almost
a century and a half after its foundation, the Society
of Missionaries of Africa remains attached to the initial
inspiration of its Founder. This takes place in a social,
cultural and religious context that has, clearly, very
greatly evolved. The Missionaries of Africa maintain
a particular sensitivity to all that concerns the
Islamic world and many of them are involved
in interreligious dialogue, in Africa itself or in old
Europe. In Africa itself, their commitments are lived
out in the context of the local Churches, at the same
time marked by a distinct concern for primary evangelisation
and involvements in favour of justice and peace, for
the sake of the Gospel.
Long consisting of men from Europe and North America,
committed as priests or brothers, the Missionaries of
Africa today have been joined by many young men from
Africa itself, as well as from Asia and Latin American
countries. The entire Institute currently numbers 1100
members and its Generalate is in Rome. Its Formation
Centres are in Africa, in Asia, in America, and in Europe.
A General Chapter is in preparation for 2022. As happens
every six years, this will enable an assessment to be
made of lived experience and to prepare, as far as possible,
a better service for mission in the years ahead.
J.Cl. Ceillier, MAfr.
Historian of the Society
Translated by Donald MacLeod M.Afr
