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What is your family background?

Untitled-1Fr. Raphaël Rakotonceliarimanana, M.S.I was born in Antanifotsy, south of Antsirabe, Madagascar in December of 1936. Like all Malagasy at that time, my parents were small farmers, busy harvesting rice, raising some chickens and oxen. My father was also the carpenter by trade and occasionally worked as a taxi-driver in the bush. My mother was always busy raising all of us.

My family consists of four boys and four girls. My older sister and I are the only remaining children. Of course, beyond our immediate family, I have many nephews and nieces!

We have our large family gathering in September of this year, for the famadihana celebration. We have it every seven years. This is a typical Malagasy family festivity in which we honor our dead by dressing their remains with a new shroud.

What are your educational and vocational experiences?

My education began in a local Catholic elementary school. At that time Madasgascar was still colonized. From our old books, we learned that our ancestors were Gauls, since our colonists were French! I doubt that our contemporary generation have learned the same thing as I did.


Fr. Paul Jean Menez, M.S., a native Breton from northwestern France, who arrived in Madagascar to minister in our parish, did not follow the usual Malagasy language courses. Instead he preferred to do his language learning "on the job". Of course, on our part, we wanted to learn French! So it is through him that we first experienced the La Salette Missionaries. With my other friends we’d accompany him on his parish visits to families and patients. It is in these very circumstances that one day he asked me: "Would you, too, like to become a La Salette priest?" I simply responded, "Why not?"

What was your journey in La Salette formation and spirituality?

I entered the Diocesan Minor Seminary, then the La Salette Novitiate and Scholasticate. I followed the traditional curriculum and did three years of undergraduate studies with Jesuit professors in Madagascar.

Untitled-2Members of his familyThen I was sent in 1961 to our seminary in Francheville, in eastern France, a suburb of Lyon and attended classes with the Dominicans at Tourette. I was ordained a deacon by Bishop Claude Rolland, the visiting La Salette Bishop of Antsirabe. I was ordained a priest on August 14, 1965 in my own hometown in Madagascar.

I have worked in the small diocesan seminary of Antsirabe where in 1972 we had to live through our own version of the "May 68" protests. The “May 68” protests in France are considered to this day a cultural, social and moral turning point in the history of that country. I pursued my mission in Antsirabe for another two years.

In 1973, I became Vicar Provincial of the new Vice Province of Madagascar, independent of France. In 1982 I was elected the first Provincial Superior of the new Province of Madagascar and served for three terms. Until 1989 I worked in the Diocese of Ihosy. Then I was appointed Superior of the house of training in Antsahasoa.

How have you served in the Madagascar Church?

Untitled-3During his ministry in MadagascarWhen I was in Madagascar, the bishop had assigned me a pastoral sector which included 17 Christian communities. I was collaborating especially with catechists in charge of these communities. Indeed, they ensured the formation of Christians, all preparation for the sacraments and they led the Sunday meetings.

I would gather with them once a month for their training and ongoing education. We set up teams of young people to work locally with these catechists, especially with the children and young people who met independently of the adults.

In what other ministries have you served?

At the General Chapter of 1994 I was elected to the General Administration for a term of six years during which I served with Fr. Isidro Perin, M.S., and continued with him through his second term. Then I was elected Superior of the international Community on the Holy Mountain, assisted the "Association of Pilgrims of La Salette” and continued as the Treasurer of the Sanctuary for thirteen years.

How has the La Salette message touched you and your ministry?

Untitled-4Fr. Raphaël meets an aging Pope John Paul IIAt the Shrine on the Holy Mountain we were immersed in the heart of the message of the Gospel! Our daily ministry immersed us in prayer, worship, and the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Whenever I detected in the daily Scripture some connection with Mary’s message, I would try to make connections by revealing its gospel roots. These were the values of our ministry, echoing the words and actions of Mary at La Salette.

All in all, I will never forget the compassionate tears of Our Weeping Mother, because they truly reveal the tears of God!

 

 

(Reprinted with permission from Les Anales, July-Aug, 2014, pgs. 22-23)

 

Untitled-5La Salette Motherhouse in Antsirabe, Madagascar