Exploring the Future of Mission in Africa: in Celebration of Maryknoll’s 100 Years in Mission.

Abstract

This book, edited by Laurenti Magesa and Michael Kirwen, documents the proceedings of “The future of Mission in Africa: 100th Anniversary Symposium 2011” that took place at Tangaza College in Nairobi, Kenya on 1st and 2nd April, 2011. The themes of symposium reflected a contemporary reading of the signs of the times in Africa including two paradigm shifts in mission? This book contains the complete record of the proceedings of this symposium, the messages given, the papers presented and the conclusions of the discussion groups over the two or so days of deliberations? Maryknoll Society was founded by Bishop Anthony Walsh, who was the director of the Society of the Propagation of the faith (SPS), from Boston, and Fr. Thomas Price, a diocesan priest from South Carolina. The two met in Montreal, Canada, and together began a project that led to the founding of the Maryknoll Society in 1911. The official name of the Society is “The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America.” The popular name “Maryknoll” comes from the knoll of land on the farm where they located the society, and since the society was dedicated to Mary, hence Mary’s knoll. The first missions of Maryknoll were in China, consisting of a group of men sent off in 1913. Over time, missions were opened in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and the Philippines. It was during the time of Second World War that Maryknoll turned its attention to Africa and Latin America.