solidarity IVORY COAST 2008
This year the General Council of the Congregation wanted to draw attention to a Betharram reality which has already entered the history of Africa: Ivory Coast where we are celebrating 50 years of presence this year.
The Betharram mission continues to spread. One can recognise the merits of those Religious who, in 1959 came from France to work in the diocese of Katiola, in the north of the country. Ever since that first foundation at Ferkessedougou, the Betharramites have sought to serve the Church in Ivory Coast. Today, as well as their fidelity to the diocese of Katiola (Dabakala), they are also engaged in the diocese of Yopougon, at Adiapodoume (parish and formation house), and for the last year they conduct a parish at Yamoussoukro.
In line with the dynamism of the national Church, there is an upsurge of Religious Life in Ivory Coast: witness our 8 native priests and about twenty young Africans in formation with us. The same vitality is to be found among the Betharramite laity; through the Fraternity Ne Me (Here I Am, in the local language), they are looking for answers to their thirst for knowledge of the charism and their desire for spiritual formation.
With the help of this monthly meeting, during 2009, I invite you to enter more fully into the life of Betharram in Ivory Coast: communities, formation, pastoral action, social projects. In this way we shall try to take an interest in our Brothers out there, to have affection for them and pray for them.
Bruno Ierullo,SCJ
general councelor in charge of Missions
Betharram has been in Ivory Coast since 1959. For the past 50 years our brothers have been devoting themselves totally to helping other to be happy according to the wishes of our Founder St Michael Garicoits.
The Province France has greatly contributed to maintaining our Brothers mission in this part of Africa. Today, with the new restructuring of the Congregation in regions and vicariates, this sharing must be ever greater; the whole Congregation is committed so that the missionary activities of our brothers may be even more meaningful. The Congregation needs to find new sponsors who will willingly accept to provide materiel and financial help.
Besides the formation for religious life of the young candidates which demands a considerable financial investment, three positive projects are being presented to us:
- At Dabakala, the community has given a hostel for the use of the pupils and which houses 36 students. The buildings are in serious need of refurbishment: cost: 5.500.
- In St Bernards Parish at Adiapodoume, the community would like to open a reading room and library. At home, the pupils dont always have electricity because it is a working class area; they are therefore at a disadvantage for their personal work. Cost: 8.300.
- The community at Adiapodoume have a project to open a garage and a training centre for motor mechanics. The aim is to procure benefits for the training centre and to give a solid formation to the apprentices who are often exploited and furnish cheap labour in the garages already in existence. Cost: 140 000. The putting into service is planned for over 4 years.
To prove the seriousness of this project, a Religious Priest is being trained at Yamoussoukro in a National Institute. In July he will be a Superior Technician in Motor Mechanics; his formation is at the expense of the congregation.
These new projects are in addition to those already in place and which are continuing to be implemented.
- The agricultural college Tshanfeto, opened in 2000, under the direction of a religious priest, agricultural-engineer whose formation was assured by the Province France. The 9th year students are actually in formation.
- The agricultural plantations of rubber trees. At present 18 hectares are in production, and this investment will allow a further extension to 30 hectares.
- The creation of a plantation of jatropha (a bio-carburant plant) on an 18 hectares plot near Dabakala. Our brothers have a double objective in all these activities or projects.
Human and professional formation of the young men in a country who greatly needs outstanding farmers and a better qualified work force; this is integrated into the Faith formation. They believe that the link between salvation in Jesus Christ and the promotion of the individual is indispensable.
Self-sufficiency, both materiel and financial, of the Betharramite communities. The religious know that soliciting help is necessary to achieve this, but they are embarrassed by it right now.
The whole Congregation, together with all our friends, wants to bring encouragement, support and help to the Ivory Coast vicariate which this year is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the presence of Betharram.
FOR YOUR DONATIONS
Sacred Heart Mission Centre,
St Josephs Murcott Road, Whitnash
Leamington Spa. CV31 2JJ
United Kingdom
SOLIDARITY 2009 A portrait for a project (1)
Arsene is luckier than most of his mates who are crowded into rooms in town. He lives at the campus a students hostel run by the Betharramite Fathers, behind the presbytery. For 1500 CFA a month (1) 36 youngsters have a roof, a bed, cooking and washing facilities, plus a study hall with electric light which avoids them having to do their revision in the street to take advantage of public lighting. Every morning Arsene is up at the crack of dawn to fetch water from the village pump, get washed and have a quick breakfast of rice, left over from the evening before to be in school for 7h00; the classes consist of 70 to 80 pupils. In the middle of the afternoon he returns to the campus, does his prep, does his washing and prepares the fire for the evening meal. He also has remedial lessons every day given by some one in the community and a voluntary helper from the parish. Wednesday is holiday. Arsene lends a hand, runs errands, sweeps up at the presbytery, and meets up with his mates to clean the play ground. Arsene has two great joys in his life on the campus: accompanying one of the Fathers by car when he goes to the village, serving Mass on Sunday in the parish. He has his dreams, the dreams of every youngster which he keeps to himself and a great smile to greet life. Meanwhile life could be better. The campus was built 30 years ago. The bathrooms need to be redone involving the demolition of the old central building where the toilets and showers are housed (no running water), their reconstruction at some distance from the dwelling houses, leaving only a shelter for the kitchen. Out there, the Betharramites havent the necessary means to do all this: they need 5500 to execute the work. For Arsene and the others they need us. Jean-Luc Morin,SCJ |
His name is Arsene. He is 16 years of age but you would give his three years less. His family lives at Boniere, 35km away. Since there is only one college for the whole department, he is doing his 5th year at the Lycee at Dabakala. A school with 2139 pupils for 10 qualified teachers (compared with 40 before the upheaval of 2003).FOR YOUR DONATIONS: Sacred Heart Mission Centre St Josephs Murcott Road, Whitnash, Leamington Spa. CV31 2JJ - U. K.
SOLIDARITY 2009 a portrait for a project (2)
Serge Braga was born 31 years ago on the banks of the Lagoon, opposite Abidjan. In 2007, after eight years of priestly studies, the young religious got down to his profession studies once more. He has been a priest for a year, but Fr Serge knows the pressure of exams; with his generation he is the bearer of the hopes, the sufferings and challenges of an Ivory Coast which has difficulty in getting out of the crisis. But what is he doing here? Fr Serge is not chaplain to the INP. And yet in the midst of this disorientated youth he is witness to other values. He is not there simply to get a diploma in Superior Technology. And yet he is working hard to keep up with the rhythm, and to be fully capable for his new mission: to direct the training centre for motor mechanics which Betharram intends to open in Adiapodoume. Its a far cry from the great colleges and traditional networks, yet this initiative is in direct line of the educational traditions of the Congregation: respond to the needs of the moment, educate the individual, and be of service to their dignity. A good formation will not be a luxury in a sector where apprentices are often exploited. Not to mention the financial contribution that such a workshop could bring to the religious community. The cost of such a project is around 140.000 spread over 4 years. To launch the project, Fr Serge and his future mechanics are only waiting for a helping hand: ours! Jean-Luc Morin,SCJ |
Yamoussoukro, Institut National Polytechnique: something unusual in Africa, is a grouping of High Schools and Superior Institutes. The ultra-modern outlines of the south wing stand out against the sky of the rising sun. Fr Serge leaves his room at the University, and strides towards the lecture hall where he is going to say Mass. Who are his parishioners? Students like himself, only a bit younger. Every morning a little community gathers for Mass. Nothing like the congregations on Saturday night (from 400 500 young people fill the gym or the amphi), except the essential: the Real Presence which offers itself and which renews everything.FOR YOUR DONATIONS: Sacred Heart Mission Centre St Josephs Murcott Road, Whitnash, Leamington Spa. CV31 2JJ - U. K.
SOLIDARITY 2009 A portrait for a project (3)
Every day Melanie walks along the streets of her quarter on her way to school in an over crowded classroom. In spite of their very difficult living conditions, Melanie is a good worker; at 9 years of age she is in CE2 ( second year elementary class). But as they have no electricity at home it is impossible to study in the evening, for night falls quickly in those latitudes! With the result that last year she didnt move up to the next class. This year a young out of work is helping her with her revision for a fee. Melanie goes to her evening classes several kilometres away from her home, twice a week. On her way Melanie day dreams: when she grows up she will be a doctor to look after people and improve their quality of life. Meanwhile, Melanie doesnt look well. She isnt ill but her body speaks volumes; it tells the trouble her mother has to make ends meets and to take care of her. Melanie is one of many children in that situation. For want of electricity they are handicapped in their schooling. Yet, they only want one thing something quite simple but very necessary: be able to study in the best conditions so as to succeed and build their future. For them, Saint Bernard Parish has the project of building a reading centre complete with library and study hall so that they can work in the evening and not sink more and more into poverty. The cost of this project is estimated at 8.000. Can we have a try? Can we give this opportunity to Melanie and her friends? Hyacinthe Ali,SCJ |
Kouassi Aya Melanie is the only daughter of a single mother, Pale Therese. They both live in a run down quarter next door to the parish looked after by the Betharramite Fathers where they are very actively involved, Melanie as altar server and Therese with the Legion of Mary.FOR YOUR DONATIONS: Sacred Heart Mission Centre St Josephs Murcott Road, Whitnash, Leamington Spa. CV31 2JJ - U. K.
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