It’s summer in South Africa, when in Germany it’s wintertime. Temperatures are falling in Germany and Austria: Vienna, 9 degrees Celsius; Berlin, 4 degrees Celsius; Friedberg down to 1 degree Celsius. As we are having flurries of snow and hail, occasionally, it’s all sunny in South Africa. The Pallottine Continental Meeting of those in responsibility for the African unity took place at a time when temperatures rose up to 30 degrees Celsius.

African Cooperation

16 provincials, regionals and delegates exchanged views on topics like education of our young African Pallottines, child-protection measures, financial autonomy, as well as planning and implementation of projects.

Students and Provincials to meet in Merrivale 

This meeting takes place every 2 years and is initiated by the General Leadership. This year, it was for South Africa to host this and thus the Heart-of-Jesus Province was able to provide its Merrivale-based house of studies (close to Pietermaritzburg) for the meeting. The „Vincent-Pallotti House “, as it is called, is the place of education for Pallottines from South Africa and Malawi. Both the students and the international persons in charge highly benefited from this inspirational meeting. “Although I am studying here, I would very much like to get to know our university in Germany, as it is our own.” a student from Malawi stated.

Superiors on Field Trip

During the Continental Meeting, the Superiors went to visit the Mandela Capture Site at Howick and the monastery complex at Mariannhill. Additionally, the Provincials from all over Africa got a deep insight and numerous impulses through an introduction to the Zulu Culture.

Praise for the General Leadership

The participants highly appreciated the General Leaderships‘ efforts here. Both contents and organization of the African meeting appealed to the members of the meeting. Along with the mutual approach to topical themes, the brotherly togetherness and the cooperative counseling were highly rated.  Our province was represented by Fr. Helmut Scharler, the Provincial and Fr. Cosmas Chidiebele Onwukwe (South Africa) as a delegate.