Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh has urged Scots to donate to SCIAF to help Africa grow and to assist in the re-evangelisation of Europe.

Archbishop Cushley (right) has just returned from a trip to Malawi for the launch of SCIAF’s Wee Box Lenten appeal and has written about it exclusively for the SCO.

“The suggestion that Africa can Catechise Europe in the Catholic Faith should not be too shocking,” he said.

“Throughout the history of our continent, it has always been the way that one church plants the seed in a foreign land only to then be later re-evangelised by the very people they once converted.”

He urged Scottish Catholics to give generously to SCIAF this Lent to help this process.

“I’ve seen at first hand the vastly increased harvests that their agricultural projects in Africa can generate for impoverished women farmers,” he said.

“Even greater than that, though, your Lenten almsgiving—along with prayer and fasting—will help to plant the seed for the continued growth of the Church in Africa and the re-evangelisation of Europe too.”

Passion for the Faith

He said that he had found ‘the Catholics of Africa are very passionate about their Faith’ and ‘in contrast, we Catholics of Europe have, perhaps, sometimes become a bit tired amid an abundance of material plenty.’

“We are an old Church,” he reflected “My archdiocese dates from the 12th century. However, that should not necessitate fatigue as regards the things of God. A life spent in union with Jesus Christ keeps the soul ever youthful. That’s as true for nations and continents as it is for individuals. Africa is witness to that. We in Europe should take note.”

The archbishop said that even though he had spent just a week in Malawi, he had ‘happened upon two dynamic young African priests—Fr Matthew and Fr Israel—who had both supplied in parishes in Stirling within St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese. They are perhaps the first in a wave of African and Asian priests and sisters who will come to teach us about the faith we first taught them.’

SCIAF projects

The archbishop was travelling in Malawi with SCIAF Director Alistair Dutton to see projects that help poor farmers to grow more food, earn an income and adapt to the effects of climate change.

“I am extremely grateful to Archbishop Cushley for taking time to come to Malawi and see our life-changing work with poor farmers first hand. And to everyone who is supporting our Lent appeal,” Mr Dutton said. “Whether it’s giving a donation, putting on an event, or filling a Wee Box with small change, every penny will be doubled. That means that we can help many more people to free themselves from hunger and poverty.”

This year is SCIAF’s 50th anniversary and every pound given to the 2015 Wee Box appeal—that focuses on helping women farmers in Malawi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—will be doubled by the UK Government

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—Read the full version of this story, and the Archbishop’s comments in full, in the February 27 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.