AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Giving of its poverty the Church in Colombia sends missionaries to West Africa: three Eudist Missionaries will open a new mission in São Tome and Principe, faithful to their motto: “We were born in Ocana to be missionaries to the world”.

Tuesday, 9 March 2004

Rome (Fides Service) - On March 25 three Eudist missionaries, Father Manuel Jesus Arias Madariaga, former novice master, Father Ricardo Mendoza and lay missionary Ivan Lugo will set out from Colombia for mission “ad gentes” in the diocese of São Tome and Principe, on the island of São Tome and Principe of the coast of West Africa. In November they will be joined by two more religious. Mgr Humberto Lugo Arguelles, Founder and Superior General of the Missionary Institute of St John Eudes (whose members are known as “Eudists”), a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right whose members are priests and lay brothers, started 25 years ago in the diocese of Ocana, Colombia with the charism of mission ad gentes informed Fides.
“The decision to go to Africa was not planned” Mgr Humberto told Fides. “While on a visit to the forest of Putumayo in Colombia, I was given a copy of the Holy Family magazine in which Bishop Abilio Rodas de Sousa Ribas of Sao Tome e Principe asked for help for his diocese. I was interested and I immediately contacted the Bishop. In October I went to Africa with Father Efraín Mora, to see the situation and the needs”.
The diocese has a population of 165.000, one Bishop, 8 priests all in São Tome, 15 women Religious and 4 major seminarians studying in Angola. There is no religious community of men, except for three Claretian priests. “Principe Island with a population of 6.000 has had no resident priest for the past two years. A priest goes twice a year in Lent and at Christmas to administer the sacraments. The rest of the year pastoral work is carried out by three Portuguese nuns, Sisters of the Holy Family. And so the Sisters and the local Catholics are looking forward to the arrival of our missionaries”.
Seeing the need, Mgr Humberto decided to open a new mission in this land, faithful to the motto of the Institute he founded: “We were born in Ocaña to be missionaries to the world”. The new missionaries will work in S. Antonio parish where they will face an enormous task of first evangelisation, pastoral work, catechesis for children and young people, a renewal of sacramental life.
The Institute today has 20 priests 30 brothers with temporary vows and 120 members in formation. It is present in Colombia, Peru and Italy. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2004; righe 28 - parole 391)


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