THE FAMILY INTERPELLATES THE CONSECRATE LIFE: THE ROLE AND MISSION OF CONSECRATED PERSONS IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE FAMILY

Oseni Ogunu

Abstract


Inspired by the historic events of the Year of Consecrated life and the  two Synods on Family, the author intends to explore some aspects of the mission and  contributions of consecrated life in one of the most vital, necessary and urgent  field of evangelization today: the family. It shows the importance of the relation between marriage and virginity, between family and consecrated life and how these can mutually influence each other. It indicates how the practice of evangelical counsels, celibacy, and virginity contribute to the family. As its title indicates, the article intends to highlight the functions  of and in what ways the consecrated life -  experienced as a consecration to mission and  lived as a witness to love of God and of neighbour - can contribute to and  further advance the family  and both can further contribute to the development of each other.

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* Oseni J. Osilama Ogunu, OMV, a member of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, is currently in the Formation Team and the Rector of Lanteri Oblate Seminary, Bodija-Ibadan. He is a lecturer in Moral Theology and in Bioethics at the Dominican Institute, Samonda-Ibadan (Nigeria). He is the Editor of The African Enchiridion, and the founding Editor of Abuja Journal of Philosophy and Theology, (APT). 1 Relatio Synodi [The Synod Report] of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014. 2 Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Message to Religious Men and Women of Africa (October 1976; published 3/6/1978), n.2. 3 1st African Synod, Propositions, 14. 4 Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium, n.11. 5 Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio (21/11/1981), n.52 6 Cf. Familiaris Consortio, n.55. 7 Cf. Familiaris Consortio, n.62. 8 Catechism of the Catholic Church (=CCC), n. 1656: it also quotes Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, n.11. 9 CCC, n. 1657: it also quotes Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, n.10; John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa, n.92. 10 Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Africae Munus, (19/11/2011), n.43 11 Cfr. Africae Munus, n.42 12 Episcopal Conference of Congo, “La Famille et la Formation au Sacerdoceâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.773,n.3, pg.1901, and at paragraph n. 4, it affirms: “On comprendera aisément la valeur incomparable d’une bonne famille chrétienne et d’un bon environment socio-culturel tant pour l’éclosion que pour la maturation de vocations prsbytérales solides.†13 Africae Munus, n.43 14 Africae Munus, n.44 15 Africae Munus, n.45 16 Africae Munus, n.46

Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn.914-915 18 Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn.917-918 19 Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome, “Formadores e Centros de Formacao: A Influencia das Familias Cristasâ€, in The African Enchiridion, (Edited by Oseni Ogunu), Editrice Missionaria Italiana[EMI], vol. III, Document 733, pg.1835; Episcopal Conference of Senegal, Mauritania and Cape Verde Island, “Le Contexte Socio-Culturel et l’Influence de la Familleâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, Doc.734, pp.1835-1836; Episcopal Conference of Ghana, “Role of the Families in the formation of Priestsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.735, pg.1836; Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso, “Niger, Familles et Mouvementsâ€, in The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.736, pg.1836; Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, “Family, Vocations and Formation for the Priesthoodâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.737, pg.1837; Episcopal Conference of Congo, “La Famille et la Formation au Sacerdoceâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.773,n.2, pg.1901. 20 Episcopal Conference of Tanzania, “Celibacy and Christian Familyâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.778, p.1905. 21 Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, “Family, Vocations and Formation for the Priesthoodâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.737, pg.1837 22 Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome, “Formadores e Centros de Formacao: A Influencia das Familias Cristasâ€, in The African Enchiridion, (Edited by Oseni Ogunu), vol. III, Document 733, pg.1835. 23 Episcopal Conference of Ghana, “Role of the Families in the formation of Priestsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.735, p.1836. 24 Inter-Territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of West Africa (ITEC), “Indispensable Role of the Family in the Initial Formation of Priestsâ€, in The African Enchiridion, vol. III, Document 739, pg.1839. 25 Episcopal Conference of Benin, “Les Formateurs et les Milieux Educatifs: Families et Mouvementsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol. III, Document 740, pg.1839. 26 Episcopal Conference of Senegal, Mauritania and Cape Verde Island, “Le Contexte Socio-Culturel et l’Influence de la Familleâ€, in The African Enchiridion, Vol.III, Doc.734, pp.1835-1836; Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso, “Niger, Familles et Mouvements†, In The African Enchiridion, Vol.III, Doc 736; Episcopal Conference of Congo, “Reflexion sur la Formation des Pretres: Orientations et Directives†(1989), in: The African Enchiridion, vol. III, Document 741, pg.1840; Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia, “Family and Priestly Vocationsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.742, p.1840; Episcopal Conference of Ghana, “Role of the Families in the formation of Priestsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.735, p.1836. 27Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso, “Niger, Familles et Mouvements†, In Op.cit., Vol.III, Doc 736. 28 Cfr. Episcopal Conference of Kenya, “Marriage, the Family and the Candidate to the Priesthoodâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.743, pg.1841; Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome, “Formadores e Centros de Formacao: A Influencia das Familias Cristasâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, Doc. 733; Episcopal Conference of Senegal, Mauritania and Cape Verde Island, “Le Contexte Socio-Culturel et l’Influence de la Familleâ€, in The African Enchiridion, Doc.734, pp.1835-1836; Episcopal Conference of Ghana, “Role of the Families in the formation of Priestsâ€, The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.735, pg.1836; Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso, “Niger, Familles et Mouvementsâ€, In: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.736, pg.1836; Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, “Family, Vocations and Formation for the Priesthoodâ€, in: The The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.737, pg.1837. 29 Joseph Nduhirubusa, “Vocation et la situation des Famillesâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.IV, Doc.1016, p.2748. 30 Episcopal Conference of Ghana, “Role of the Families in the formation of Priestsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.735, p.1836. 31 Episcopal Conference of Burundi, “L’Eglise du Burundi et sa mission évangelisatriceâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.809, p.2043, n. 1.1.4C.

Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia, “Family and Priestly Vocationsâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.742, p.1840. 33 Anselme Titianma Sanon, “Condition de la Femme et de la Religieuse Africainesâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol. IV, Doc.997, pg.2705. 34 Cfr. Anselme Titianma Sanon, “Condition de la Femme et de la Religieuse Africainesâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol. IV, Doc.997, pg.2705. 35 Episcopal Conference of Burundi, “L’Eglise du Burundi et sa mission évangelisatriceâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.809, p.2043, n. 1.1.4C. 36 First African Synod (1994), Message of the Synod, n.58, in: in: The African Enchiridion, vol.IV, Doc.995, p.2700. 37 First African Synod, Propostions, 16 38 Cfr. First African Synod, Propostions, 22 39 Congregation for the Religious and Secular Institutes and Congregation for Bishops, Directives for Mutual Relations between Bishops and Religious in the Church, Mutuae Relationes (14 May 1978) 40 First African Synod, Propostions, 22 41 The Africae Munus, n.69 42 The Africae Munus, n.70 43 Cf. 2nd African Synod, Propositions, 53 44 Cf. 2nd African Synod, Propositions, 52 45 The Africae Munus, n.72 46 2nd African Synod, Final Message, n.31; Benedict XVI, The Africae Munus, n.73 47 The Africae Munus, n.74 48 The Africae Munus, n.76 49 The Africae Munus, n.77 50 The Africae Munus, n.78 51 The Africae Munus, n.117 52 The Africae Munus, n.118 53 The Africae Munus, n.119 54 The Africae Munus, n.120 55 John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Vita Consecrata, n.76. 56 John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, n.77. 57 John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, n.79 58 Jean Baptiste Somé, “L’obéissance et le concept Africain de Famille,†in: The African Enchiridion, vol.IV, Doc.1014, p.2747-2748.

Basile Mvé Engone, “Le Defi de la Pauvreté Consacréeâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.IV, Doc.1015, p.2748. 60 Episcopal Conference of Tanzania, “Celibacy and the Family Catechesisâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.766, p.1895. 61 Episcopal Conference of Tanzania, “Celibacy and the Family Catechesisâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.766, p.1895. 62 Episcopal Conference of Tanzania, “Celibacy and the Family Catechesisâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol.III, Doc.766, p.1896. 63 Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, n.44 64 Francis Arinze, “Virginity and Marriage: Vocational Choices in purityâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol. II, Doc. 571, pg. 1291. 65 Cited in John Paul II, Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, n.16 66 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.29

John Paul II, Vita Consecrata,n.76. 68 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.28 69 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.29 70 Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Message to Religious Men and Women of Africa (October 1976; published 3/6/1978), n.2. 71 Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Message to Religious Men and Women of Africa (October 1976; published 3/6/1978), n.2; Cfr. Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Mutuae Relationes, 1978. 72 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.36. 73 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.32. 74 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.33. 75 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.34. 76 Synod Report ("Relatio Synodi") of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization†(5-19 October 2014), 18.10.2014, n.35. 77 Cfr. Chidi Denis Isizoh, Attitude of the Catholic Church towards Culture and African Traditional Religion. 78 John Paul II, Ecclesia in Africa, n.94. 79 Cfr. John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, nn.79-80 80 Chidi Denis Isizoh (Editor), Attitude of the Catholic Church Toward Culture and African Traditional Religion, pp.197-198 81 John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, n. 74 82 Vatican Council II, Perfectae Caritatis, 12 83 John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, n. 74 84 Catholic Bishops of Uganda, “With a new heart and a new spiritâ€, in: The African Enchiridion, vol. II, Doc. 639, n.83. 85 Cardinal Joseph Malula, “Directoire de la Pastorale du Marriage et la Famille,†in: The African Enchiridion, vol. II, Doc. 579, pg.1377, n.2. 86 XIV Ordinary General Assembly The Vocation And Mission Of The Family In The Church And Contemporary World. Lineamenta, Vatican City 2014. This Outline essentially repropose, intentionally, the Report of the 3rd Extraordinary Synod of Bishops. 87 Address Of His Holiness Pope Francis For The Conclusion Of The Third Extraordinary General Assembly Of The Synod Of Bishops. Synod Hall, Vatican City, Saturday, 18 October 2014 88 Address Of His Holiness Pope Francis For The Conclusion Of The Third Extraordinary General Assembly Of The Synod Of Bishops. Synod Hall, Vatican City, Saturday, 18 October 2014 89 At the national level, the interventions of the Conference of Major Superiors of Nigeria (men and women) through her Communiqués are voices that deserve being heard. See, else were in this volume, the article on “The Family in the Messages of the CMSN to Consecrated persons and the society†90 XIV Ordinary General Assembly the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World. Lineamenta, Vatican City (2014), n.10 91 XIV Ordinary General Assembly the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World. Lineamenta, Vatican City (2014), n.61


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