For us Jesuit historians of Africa, and especially if you are familiar with the Province of Central Africa (ACE), the month of November is an opportunity to remember one of the greatest in the historical discipline that the African Assistancy of the Society of Jesus has known: Léon de Saint Moulin, SJ (1932-2019). In this issue of Newsletter from an Institute that is ultimately yours, Fr. Anicet N’teba, SJ, allows us to rediscover together the life-mission of this great Jesuit. We are grateful to Fr. N’teba, who also presents his latest book on The Jesuit Rectors of the Saint Pierre Canisius Faculty of Philosophy (Kimwenza), our Alma Mater.
In this issue, you will also find the announcement of the Historical Institute’s three forthcoming publications for the month of November. On the one hand, Fr. Joseph Afulo, SJ, continues his series on Higher Education in Africa. In a continent where higher education’s needs are enormous, and reforms urgent, Fr. Afulo, in his next two books, offers an authoritative Jesuit voice for the reform of university education in Africa. After his Challenges Facing Higher Education in East Africa (2022), which was reprinted by the Jesuit Historical Institute, the new publications, published by JHIA, succinctly describe Purpose and General Principles of Higher Education, and, secondly, an application in the East African context: Principles, Policies, and Practices and Trends of Higher Education Policies in East Africa.
Our third publication is Father Joachim Zoundi, SJ’s L’avènement du Christ comme théologie politique. The fruit of years of theological research and teaching, this book aims to provide a theological response to the political crises affecting Africa today. Fr. Zoundi’s exploitation of Jesuit sources and Ignatian spirituality, of which he is expert, opens up an interesting perspective for the Institute’s publications. For, in addition to the “typically” Jesuit and Ignatian works that deal directly with the themes of the history of the Society, Ignatian pedagogy, the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus and the General Congregations, the Historical Institute, through Fr. Zoundi’s publication intends to send a message to other Jesuits engaged in the intellectual apostolate. Its editions are open to those who, whatever their field of expertise, strive in their research to find a link, a Jesuit and Ignatian perspective or interpretation. This contributes to a better dissemination and contextualization of the Ignatian and Jesuit heritage.
Congratulations to the two authors, to all those who contributed to editing these books, and to the team at the Jesuit Historical Institute, especially Denis Munyua and Geoffrey Obatsa, for the technical production of these works.
We hope that many of you will help us to pursue similar efforts. For there is hardly an area of academic and scientific specialization that does not have a Jesuit contribution worthy of exploration. Those in our universities who teach should therefore find pleasure in finding a Jesuit perspective to their discipline. They will understand themselves better, be more productive and original in their research, and be more effective, ad extra, for the good of souls. Always!
Happy Feast of All Saints, and commemorations of our deceased!
Jean Luc Enyegue, SJ
Director-JHIA
