Africa | OC Catholic

EPISODE#244
OC CATHOLIC RADIO: GUEST IS RICHARD BORGMAN: THE AMAZING LIFE OF A MISSIONARY

Welcome to another episode of Orange County Catholic Radio, featuring host Rick Howick.

Today’s guest has a life testimony that is unlike any you have heard before. Over 5 decades ago, Richard Borgman felt a strong missionary calling on his life. He spent years overseas in places ranging from Africa to Abidjan, teaching and sharing the message of Christianity. Somewhere along the way, he and his family felt a tug to convert to Catholicism. He eventually jumped in with enthusiasm. His son Scott took that commitment even further by eventually being ordained a Catholic priest. (Currently serving in the Diocese of Orange).

Do yourself a favor and tune in to this lively conversation. It’s sure to energize you and boost your spirits!

Originally broadcast on 1/1/22

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VIDEO: AFRICAN RELIGIOUS NAVIGATE AMERICA

Participants at the African National Eucharistic Congress in Washington say they would like a higher profile for African clergy and religious with the U.S. bishops and across the country.

SMCHS STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WORK TOGETHER TO HELP PEOPLE OF AFRICA

Earlier this month more than 100 students, faculty and staff at Santa Margarita Catholic High School came together in an effort to provide clean drinking water and to help feed the people in Burkina Faso, Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world.

The school partnered with Stop Hunger Now, Catholic Relief Services and Wells of Life. They also contributed money that will help fund the building of a well for a Ugandan village. The well will bear the name of Santa Margarita Catholic High School.

All students at the school are required to perform meaningful acts of service before graduation. This was the school’s fifth all-school faculty and staff service day.

The day began with morning mass and was followed by a presentation on the topic of clean water. The speakers for the morning were leading members from the organization, Wells of Life. President, Pete Callahan, Founder and CEO, Nick Jordan and his wife Michelle, spoke to the meaningful work that Wells of Life is doing in rural Uganda to build wells that provide clean drinking water to the people. Each well provides clean, accessible drinking water to 1,000 people in Uganda for 25 years.

“We believe true respect for human life begins with serving others,” said Jordan. “Engaging our youth’s hearts and minds encourages them to be agents of change, provides an activity to share with their families, and allows them to grow in compassion, confidence, leadership and goodwill to all.”

Following the presentation, the faculty and staff worked at several stations that were set up in the gymnasium where they created food packages that would be delivered to Catholic Relief Services centers in Burkina Faso.

Santa Margarita Christian Service Director, Peg Hanley, said the day was a great opportunity for the faculty and staff to work together and set an example for the students of Santa Margarita.

“The faculty and staff retreat is a day in which, together as a community, we dedicate our minds and hearts to acts of mercy, justice and compassion,” said Hanley. “That is a powerful model for the young to witness.”

In a single hour, the faculty and staff pulled together to prepare food packages filled to feed 20,088 people to send to the CRS centers. In addition, donations from members of the Santa Margarita faculty and staff to support Wells of Life and the construction of a well in Uganda totaled $3,000.

“The greatest thing about our faculty/staff service day is that as a united community of faith, we work as a team to accomplish a common goal and in-so-doing we help to provide meals to 20,000 people who are in desperate need of them,” said Santa Margarita Principal, Ray Dunne.

Following the day of service, Dunne encouraged students to match the money raised by the faculty and staff in order to fund a well. An additional $4,387 was raised by Santa Margarita students, putting the total well over the $6,000 necessary to fund the well through Wells of Life. This will be the second well in Uganda made possible by the donations of Santa Margarita, as a few years ago the ‘Rock for Peace” concert raised enough for the first well.

POPE IN BANGUI: OPEN THE DOORS OF MERCY, COUNTER VIOLENCE WITH LOVE

BANGUI, Central African Republic (CNS) — Put down the weapons of war and work for justice, Pope Francis urged the people of the Central African Republic.

“Even when the powers of hell are unleashed, Christians must rise to the summons, their heads held high, and be ready to brave blows in this battle over which God will have the last word. And that word will be love and peace,” the pope said in an evening homily Nov. 29 at Bangui’s cathedral.

A civil war that began in 2013 and ongoing outbursts of violence, including between mainly Muslim and mainly Christian militias, have sown terror in the Central African Republic, which already was on most lists of the five poorest countries in Africa. A fifth of the country’s population has fled abroad or is living in camps for displaced people.

Explaining to people outside the Bangui cathedral that their city was, for the day, “the spiritual capital of the world,” Pope Francis prayed for the mercy and grace of peace as he used both hands and his body weight to push open the Holy Door of the cathedral. The main opening of the Year of Mercy will be Dec. 8 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Marking the first Sunday of Advent at the Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths, Pope Francis urged the Catholic community to be committed to helping the country make a new start.

Christians, and especially those with a vocation to priesthood or religious life, are called to love their enemies, “which protects us from the temptation to seek revenge and from the spiral of endless retaliation,” the pope said in his homily.

Anyone who has a role of evangelizer, teacher or preacher in the Christian community, he said, must be “first and foremost practitioners of forgiveness, specialists in reconciliation, experts in mercy.”

As Catholics observe the Advent time of waiting to celebrate Christ’s coming, he said, they should keep reminding themselves that God is a God of justice and of love — two things the people of Central African Republic need desperately.

“God is stronger than all else,” the pope said. “This conviction gives the believer serenity, courage and the strength to persevere in good amid the greatest hardships.”

“To all those who make unjust use of the weapons of this world, I make this appeal: Lay down these instruments of death! Arm yourselves instead with righteousness, with love and mercy, the authentic guarantors of peace,” the pope said.

Pope Francis arrived at the cathedral after a meeting with representatives of the Central African Republic’s evangelical and Protestant communities.

Catholic Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, president of the Central African Republic bishops’ conference, Rev. Nicolas Guerekoyame-Gbangou, president of the Evangelical Alliance of the Central African Republic, and Imam Oumar Kobine Layama, president of the Islamic Community of Central African Republic, have been working together to persuade their people to end the vendettas and embrace peace and reconciliation.

Rev. Guerekoyame-Gbangou was among those welcoming Pope Francis Nov. 29 to a special meeting with representatives of the country’s evangelical and Protestant communities.

The pope publicly expressed “closeness and solidarity to Pastor Nicolas, whose home was recently ransacked and set on fire, as was the meeting-place of his community. In these difficult circumstances, the Lord keeps asking us to demonstrate to everyone his tenderness, compassion and mercy.”

For too long, too many Central Africans have been suffering, the pope said.

“There are also those who have been scarred in soul or body by hatred and violence, those whom war has deprived of everything: work, home and loved ones,” the pope said. When God looks upon the suffering, he does not see members of one denomination or another.

“I have often called this the ecumenism of blood,” he said. “All our communities suffer indiscriminately as a result of injustice and the blind hatred unleashed by the devil.”

Pope Francis urged the country’s Christians to continue on the path of ecumenism, cooperation and common prayer.

“The lack of unity among Christians is a scandal,” he said, “above all because it is contrary to God’s will.”

But it is also a scandal in a world torn apart by hatred and violence, a world yearning for a word of peace and unity, he said.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE POPE’S TRIP TO AFRICA

The Pope’s five-day trip will take him through three countries in Africa: Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic. All three countries have experienced violence and corruption that makes life difficult.

More than 10,000 police are part of the security forces in place in both Kenya and Uganda. Even more are expected when the Pope arrives in CAR.

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POPE FRANCIS THIS MORNING BOARDED FLIGHT FOR AFRICA

Pope Francis left Rome, Italy at 8 a.m. this morning, flying Alitalia airlines, and headed to Nairobi, Kenya. Cameras and military officials were waiting for him on the tarmac.

The seven-hour flight marks the beginning of his long-awaited trip to Africa.

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POPE TO VISIT AFRICA NOV. 25-30; INCLUDING CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Despite continued instability and outbreaks of violence in the Central African Republic, the Vatican announced Pope Francis will spend about 33 hours in the country during a Nov. 25-30 visit to Africa.

Releasing the schedule for the trip, the Vatican said that while the pope is in the Central African Republic Nov. 29-30, he will visit a refugee camp, hold a meeting with evangelical Christians and visit a mosque in Bangui, the nation’s capital.

The country has known little peace or development in its 55 years of independence. In March 2013, a rebel movement, Seleka, led by Arab-speaking Islamists, suspended the nation’s constitution. French and African peacekeepers were deployed in January 2014 and the rebels were driven out of the capital.

The National Reconciliation Forum, convened by the country’s transitional parliament in May, has been trying to bring Seleka and its Christian-dominated rival, Anti-Balaka, into talks and preparations for elections that originally were scheduled for Oct. 18. The vote, however, was postponed after violence broke out again in late September.

Kenya is the first stop on Pope Francis’ first visit to Africa as pope; there, too, he will meet with ecumenical and interreligious leaders, but he also will visit the Kangemi slum on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Traveling to Uganda Nov. 27, the pope will honor the memory of the 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic Ugandan martyrs, killed for their faith on the orders of King Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887.

Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:

Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Rome, Nairobi)

7:45 a.m. (1:45 a.m.) Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

5 p.m. (9 a.m.) Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, followed by a welcoming ceremony at Kenya’s State House.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Courtesy visit with Kenya’s president at the State House.

6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Meeting with Kenyan government officials and members of the diplomatic corps at the State House. Speech by pope.

Thursday, Nov. 26 (Nairobi)

8:15 a.m. (12:15 a.m.) Meeting with interreligious and ecumenical representatives at the apostolic nunciature in Nairobi. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (2 a.m.) Mass on the campus of the University of Nairobi. Homily by pope.

3:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians on the sports field of St Mary’s School. Speech by pope.

5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Visit to the United Nations Office in Nairobi. Speech by pope.

Friday, Nov. 27 (Nairobi; Entebbe, Uganda)

8:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Visit to the Kangemi neighborhood in Nairobi. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (2 a.m.) Meeting with youths at Kasarani Stadium. Speech by pope.

11:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Kenya in the stadium’s VIP room.

3:10 p.m. (7:10 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

3:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m.) Departure from Nairobi for Entebbe, Uganda.

4:50 p.m. (8:50 a.m.) Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.

5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the president of Uganda in the State House in Entebbe.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with Ugandan authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the conference room of the State House. Speech by pope.

7:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m.) Visit to Munyonyo and meeting with catechists and teachers. Greeting by pope.

Saturday, Nov. 28 (Namugongo, Kampala)

8:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Visit to the Anglican martyrs’ shrine at Namugongo.

9:00 a.m. (1 a.m.) Visit to the Catholic martyrs’ shrine at Namugongo.

9:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m.) Mass for the martyrs of Uganda near the Catholic shrine. Homily by pope.

3:15 p.m. (7:15 a.m.) Meeting with young people at the Kololo airstrip in Kampala. Speech by pope.

5 p.m. (9 a.m.) Visit to the Nalukolongo House of Charity. Greeting by pope.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Uganda in the archbishop’s residence.

7 p.m. (11 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in Kampala’s cathedral. Speech by pope.

Sunday, Nov. 29 (Entebbe; Bangui, Central African Republic)

9 a.m. (1 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Entebbe airport.

9:15 a.m. (1:15 a.m.) Departure for Bangui.

10 a.m. (4 a.m.) Arrival at M’Poko International Airport in Bangui. Welcoming ceremony.

11 a.m. (5 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the country’s transitional president in the presidential palace.

11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m.) Meeting with leaders and with the diplomatic corps. Speech by pope.

12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m.) Visit to a refugee camp.

1 p.m. (7 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of the Central African Republic.

4 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with evangelical communities at the evangelical theological school in Bangui. Speech by pope.

5 p.m. (11 a.m.) Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths in the Bangui cathedral. Homily by pope.

7 p.m. (1 p.m.) Hearing the confessions of some young people and beginning a prayer vigil outside the cathedral. Speech by pope.

Monday, Nov. 30

8:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m.) Meeting with the Muslim community at the Koudoukou mosque in Bangui. Speech by pope.

9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.) Mass in the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium. Homily by pope.

12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at M’Poko International Airport.

12:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m.) Departure for Rome.

6:45 p.m. (12:45 p.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.

SCHOOL STAFF WORKS TOGETHER TO FEED HUNGRY IN AFRICA

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — More than 150 Santa Margarita Catholic High School faculty and staff members packaged more than 22,000 meals to send to Africa as part of a recent service retreat to help end hunger.

The retreat was a joint effort with the organization Stop Hunger Now and Catholic Relief Services.

Deacon Guillermo Torres, the Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Orange, spoke about the issue of hunger to the faculty and staff members following a morning Mass.

“Sometimes it’s hard to feel like we’re making a difference when we don’t get to physically see the people who will be affected by our service,” said Deacon Guillermo. “But I assure you the work you’re doing today is going to change someone’s life. Every time you collaborate in solidarity with the poor you are giving life.”

Participants assembled the food packages at several stations in the school’s gym, where the materials were distributed, weighed and loaded. The food was earmarked for Catholic Relief Services centers in Burkina Faso, one of the five poorest countries in the world. Gift cards and cash also were collected for distribution to the Loaves and Fishes homeless shelter in Santa Ana.

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