By Fr. Danis Ponniah, S.J., Coordinator of JAAT
St. Xavier’s College Palayamkottai – 627002 India

About 175 delegates representing 35 countries converged in the beautiful lake city of Bujumbura, the capital of the Republic of Burundi in the continent of Africa, to participate in the Fifth World Congress of Jesuit Alumni/ae held from July 22 to 27 focusing on Africa with the theme, ‘Witnesses to Hope. Jesuit Aumuni/ae for Better Africa: What have we done? What are we doing? What must we do?’ Bujumbura known as the land of a thousand and one hills and of the Sacred Drum is a neighbour of Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo spewing heat of only 25 deg Celcius in the prime summer. We looked for warm water to have a bath in the morning. Bujumbura blessed with a pleasant and temperate climate during the conference days provided the much needed ambience to actively participate in the proceedings of the congress. A big lake called lake Tanganyika which is 675 km long, 30 km broad and 1.5 km deep and fed by several rivers adds to the natural beauty of the land. Fr. Dhanapal, Fr.Augusine and I never let slip away from us the opportunities to have a swim in it. We grabbed everyone of it. And we said, “No, it is ocean and not a lake”. Its waves are as big as sea waves.

Africa is characterized by political turbulence, acute hunger and the AIDS pandemic and Burundi is not spared of such malaise. At this juncture it is worth mentioning that Africa does not figure in the list of WHO listed countries infected by swine flu. Although most of the delegates had arrived at the venue with highly fossilized and deep-rooted perceptions, mostly negative, of Africa, yet at the end of the Congress we, the delegates, saw a dramatic change in our perceptions and views we had entertained of the people of Africa. That they have a rich cultural heritage, that they are very warm and affectionate and that they are very dynamic and hardworking are but a few new perceptions that we gained of the people.

Fr. Dhanapal, S.J., affectionately called by everyone as Fr. Dhana, Rector of Jesuit School in Chikuni Mission in Zambia affirms that a Zambian student of Science or Humanities would be a formidable challenge to his or her counterpart in India. Indeed, I would like to agree with Dhanapal in several respects. Their Liturgical celebrations are participatory and highly congregational. I was thrilled by the way they sang songs during a couple of Eucharistic Celebrations. I do not think I would ever in my life witness a cultural programme richer in both quality and content than the one I witnessed there. During a three-and-a-half-hour cultural programme performed by a group of 50 students which were marked with variety depicting diversity of their rich cultures, one that filled every eye with tears was a one-hour long ballet or a musical play bringing out very effectively their century-long struggle for liberation from the clutches of colonial rule that has successfully established divide-and-rule mentality pitting one group against the other, though both of same ethnic identity, oppressive political system, illiteracy, malnutrition, hunger, chronic illness etc.

Much overwhelmed by the cultural programmes, I enquired the organizer about the time spent in the preparation. Pat came the reply, ‘only six months’. I said a big ‘wow…’. African students are hardworking and committed to the cause. Most of the present generations grew up in a situation of constant political conflict triggering large scale violence which resulted in the killing of 5 million people. Therefore, trauma is writ largely in many faces; they need to be de-traumatized. I feel that in this painful socio-political and economic scenario, the choice of Burundi as host country itself is a big step in the efforts of Jesuit Alumni/ae to garner their support to Africa.

The Congress opened with a grand, solemn inaugural Mass on 23rd July 2009 and a series of good presentations focusing on the strengths and concerns of Afirca followed thereafter. The highlights of the presentations are as follows:
1. Potentials outweigh problems in Africa.
2. The Jesuit General Congregation 34 meeting in 1994 made a clear commitment to making Africa a “priority” (GC 34, 17 & 61). Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., re-enforced this commitment by listing Africa as one of the five areas of apostolic preference for Jesuits. And in the General Congregation 35, meeting in early 2008, stated very clearly the meaning of this priority:
“Aware of the cultural, social, and economic differences in Africa and Madagascar, but also conscious of the great opportunities, challenges and variety of Jesuit ministries, we acknowledge the Society’s responsibilities to present a more integral and human vision of this continent. In addition, all Jesuits are invited to greater solidarity with and effective support of the Society’s mission of inculturating faith and promoting more justice in this continent.” (GC 35 #39(i))
3. This GC-affirmed priority was understood by the Alumni Congress to mean giving first place to (i) clear understanding of Africa, (ii) committed respect for Africa, and (iii) efficient response to Africa.
4. Conflict, which have devastated the African continent since Independence are, according to many analysts, one of the restrains to its economic take off and its development. Even today, peace building in Africa is still a major challenge; violent conflicts are still going on. Fr. Rigobert Minani in his presentation highlighted that studies suggest that structural causes of conflicts in Africa can be grouped into three main categories: Bad governance, tension about resources and ethnic differences and nationalism.
5. Future of the world depends on the future of Africa. Think about it, pray about it, and say about it.
6. The German Federal President Hans Kohler stated, “In my view, the humanity of the world can be measured against the fate of Africa.”
7. The World Congress threw a challenge to the Alumni/ae spread all over the globe to have the wisdom and the courage to be witnesses to hope and with God’s good help face up to that challenge.

Father Superior General Adolfo Nicolas gave clarion call the alumni/ae to be open to rich diversity, to create atmosphere of diversity at early years of schooling so as to grow in the attitude of respect, appreciation, patience, tolerance and acceptance. He made a reference to the call of the Holy Father to go beyond the visible frontiers of the Church. He added that he dreams of synergy between alumni/ae and Jesuits. He also invited us to revisit structures in our associations and adapt and modify them for effective collaboration. He finally insisted up on (i) in-depth analysis of everything we do, (ii) creativity as the world is changing fast, and (iii) strong and deep-rooted spirituality. He concluded his address saying that alumni/ae must be active, collaborative, creative and inclusive.
India recorded the highest number of delegates to the Congress – 9 Jesuits and 11 alumni/ae - and made a prompt but significant contribution towards drawing up of action plans by way of follow-up of the Congress. Mr. Conrad Gonsalves was elected the Treasurer of WUJA (World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae), Mr. Ronald D’Costa and Mr. Naresh Gupta, Secretary of JAAI were nominated to the Governing Council of WUJA). Congratulations to these three prominent alumni.

Given the present socio-political and economic conditions of the country, I am strongly of the opinion that the organizers of the Congress did their best and thus we witnessed a meaningful and successful conduct of the Congress. We congratulate all the organizers of the Congress.