Page 34 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

nent education of priests, Msgr. Placide gave a confer- What is faith? The faith in God that I think is ex-
ence entitled “Social Credit, an efficient way to fight pressed by Providence; this I have. I have said: I will
poverty.” He had to bring the light to those who did undertake things because I believe in Providence. And
not know Social Credit in our country, or the Pilgrims this is faith in God which expresses itself in faith in
of Saint Michael and Mr. Louis Even. And he had to Providence.
bring on a new way of looking at things. This took Faith in myself: when I speak, when I set out to
place last February. So it is still fresh in our minds. work, I do not hesitate. I begin by having faith in my-
I personally believe and hope that with your help self. I say to myself: “I will act, but it is in the name of
we will see our diocese relieved of poverty thanks to God that I do so.”
the implementation of the Social Credit principles, And thirdly, faith in others: others whom I meet, to-
which you so rightly call “Economic Democracy.” It wards whom I move. And among these other people,
will not be easy, but we will seek together how we can there is the Virgin Mary: faith in the Virgin who holds
organize ourselves to spread this idea. The main goal us by the hand, who carries and protects us. Faith in
is not to act rapidly but first to understand thoroughly others who are there as collaborators with whom we
what it entails. With local input we may obtain better can go further.
results. We receive the intuition and then we make it
part of our own culture, as Mr. Francois de Siebenthal What more could I hope for, more important,
said, we must take it a step further with this idea. more precious than this, to carry through the work the
Lord gives me in my vocation. And you, as apostles,
I have given some thought and I have shared with as apostles of Jesus Christ, I wish to tell you that the
the directors my wish to have a priest to whom I have deeds you have to accomplish might at times exact a
entrusted a great responsibility in our finances, though lot from you. But do not give up for when we speak of
he is not an economist, but I would like him to create faith we speak also of Satan who is at hand doing his
money with the people. This is what I want done. I work. He is there, he fights you. He is there to disor-
would like him to come and listen to our side and to ganize you. He is there to inspire in you a distaste for
see how things are done. His name is Joseph. I believe your work. But stand fast! The Lord Jesus said: “Fear
he will come. not; take heart! I have conquered the world.” And the
The work you do is that of apostles. I greatly ap- Lord will overcome, you are but His instruments. You
preciated your testimonies of yesterday. (The the “Mi- are but the tools He uses.
chael” staff who go door to door to solicit subscriptions Most Rev. Bernard Emmanuel Kasanda
to “Michael”.) The ladies who stood before us and who
told us in simple words about their work. It is worthy of On May 15, 2010, five members of the “Mi-
admiration. More so since you carry within you what I chael” staff met in Rome with Cardinal Peter
would call two hats. Under your white beret, you have Turkson, Prefect of the Justice and Peace Pontifical
two hats hidden. You have first, a social theory that is Council. From left to right: Lucie Parenteau, Marcelle
true and which must transform society but you also Caya, Therese Tardif, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Marcel
have on the other hand, faith. The faith which gives Lefebvre, Alain Pilote.
you the strength to carry out your work.
In faith, many things can be achieved.
You have gone through moments of un-
certainty in the work you had to accom-
plish. You have headed into the unknown
not knowing what awaited you. You have
left and, as Mr. Migneault would say,
found yourself with a ripped necktie, at-
tacked by dogs. You have lived through
moments, through situations that had to
be dealt with; armed with faith, the faith
in God.
And in this we are one in our faith as
apostles of Jesus. I believe this and I have
repeated it during my trip here, to all who
would listen: in the structures I am giving
my diocese, in their organization, I rely
upon three important realities that make
up the pillars of a single dimension, of a
single reality: faith in God, faith in myself
and faith in others.

34 2009 session www.michaeljournal.org