BOC 25 years in Pakistan

SCOL February 2012

Consolamini - Comforting the afflicted During Advent, the hymn “Rorate” sounds melodiously when the people are consoled by the hope that the Saviour is coming. “Consolamini, consolamini,” yes, the real Consoler is close. For in man’s history no other event has brought more consolation than this one, essential consolation, which opened the perspective on salvation. It puts us on the right track to think on the importance of consoling the distressed, the worried, the desperate, people who have lost the sense of life. Cheap words or balm on the wound do not suffice. No, genuine consolation always opens the perspective on salvation, on our final destiny, on what really matters in life. We see it in Job when he has lost everything and sits on his dunghill, stares ahead of him in silence, and yet keeps the perspective open: “If we take happiness from God’s hand, must we not take sorrow too?” (Jb 2:10). It is a sentence which always elicits some resistance in me, especially with regard to accepting evil which would come from God. It will not have been Job’s meaning because he remained resigned to the idea that all comes from God and all returns to God. Then Job’s friends appeared on the scene to console the one who actually did not need to be consoled, because Job persevered in taking and finding refuge in God and in God alone. “They wept aloud and tore their garments and threw dust over their heads,” (Jb 2:12). They were the ones who were distressed at the sight of Job, and who needed consolation. They kept Job company for seven days and seven nights, without saying a word. This was probably the best thing they did in the whole story – in silence watching the sufferer, for at such a time any word can be superfluous. Also, it is comforting to watch silently and be near. It is an art like no other, and few people succeed in being faithful. But then Job speaks and expresses deep hurt: “Perish the day on which I was born and the night that told of a boy conceived. For me, there

The international NGO for development cooperation of the Brothers of Charity GAAP changes name to ‘Fracarita International’ Global Action Against Poverty (GAAP), the coordinating NGO for development cooperation of the Brothers of Charity, has changed its name. Previous experiences revealed that the name that was chosen did not quite cover the whole meaning and could even give rise to misunderstandings. Read more ... Documentary: mental health care in China Newschannel Al Jazeera made a poignant documentary on mental health care in China. A recent study estimated that roughly 173 million Chinese suffer from a mental disorder. But very few are receiving care. Read more... Royal gifts for psychiatric patients in Ivory Coast At the occasion of Epiphany, a group of local children visited the psychiatric centre of the Brothers of Charity in Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast) bearing food for the patients. Attitudes towards people with a mental disorder are starting to change in Yamoussoukro. Read more ... Launch of annual sensitization and fundraising campaign in Belgium Caraes, the Belgian NGO for development cooperation of the Brothers of Charity, has launched its annual lent campaign (Zuidactie in Dutch). This year, the campaign will focus on the living conditions of tea workers in Sri Lanka and the technical institute of the Brothers of Charity who offer underprivileged Sri Lankan youth the opportunity to learn a trade. Read more ... Copyright © 2012 Fracarita International, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Fracarita International Jozef Guislainstraat 43 9000 Gent, Belgium Add us to your address book Forward to a friend

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Golden Jubilee of the Brothers of Charity in Peru

Brothers and Associates

News from Brother General (René Stockman f.c.)

From the 13th until the 15th of January, we had the meeting with several general superiors of the Vincentian congregations in Rome.We were all surprised with the activities that are organized worldwide out of the charism of St. Vincent de Paul. I was asked to give an overview of the social doctrine of the Church in relation with our congregation and the Vincentian spirituality and in preparation for the birthday of Blessed Frederic Ozanam. From the 16th until the 19th of January, we visited our house in Lubumbashi, both formation house and psychiatric institute. It was a fruitful visit with meetings with all the brothers students and a follow-up visit to our psychiatric center. Together with the direction we could do an intensive evaluation in order to improve our services. We are hopeful for the future. After a few days in Rome we left on the 24th of January for Peru, where the regional superior Brother Victor Hugo invited me to give a formation session to the brothers and associate members on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the brothers in Peru. We also opened officially the jubilee year. And we went for one day to Ayacucho where Bro. Jimi, responsible for our psychiatric clinic, organized several meetings with the co-workers and some authorities. We can say that the clinic is evolving very well under the guidance of the brothers. Together with Brother Victor Hugo we left for Nicaragua on the 28th and we could visit our community and the apostolates in Granada. Very important was the meeting with the Bishop in order to clear out the properties and the whole organization of our apostolate. At the end of our visit we could meet Mgr. Hombach, the former bishop, and give him a good report about our apostolate: the care for street children under the guidance of Brother Emmanuel and the care for children with social problems under the guidance of Brother Richard and also of Brother Antonio of the Philippines who arrived 3 months ago. We returned in Rome on the 1st of February for a meeting with some staff members of our international organization “Fracarita international” and in the evening we had the opportunity to pray with the Holy Father in St. Peters basilica on the occasion of the day of consecrated life. The 3rd we had a meeting about our International Institute Canon Triest and the formation organized together with Lateran University. Due to the heavy snow the meeting about inter religious dialogue was cancelled. From the 6th until the 9th of February, I participated in the congress organized by the Gregorian University in collaboration with the Vatican about healing after sexual abuse in the Church. More than 200 participants were present form all over the world: bishops, religious superiors and specialists in the field. After a weekend in Belgium I left on the 13th of February for Nairobi in order to give the retreat to our novices who are finishing their first year noviciate. A visit to Lusaka in Zambia and afterwards the retreat with oblation in the Philippines and the visit to Vietnam will fill the next weeks.