AFRICA - Pastoral care based on the legacy of African Saints

INTERNET

Kara (Agenzia Fides) - In Africa today "it is necessary that African Saints occupy a fundamental place in programs of evangelization in general, and in particular of catechesis, so that they are better known by the Africans themselves, in order to continuously inspire their actions". This is what Ivorian theologian Fr. Donald Zagore, priest of the Society for African Missions wrote to Agenzia Fides, recalling the experience of the Holy Martyrs of Uganda, Saint Josephine Bakhita of Sudan, Blessed Marie Clementine Anuarite of former Zaire, Blessed Ghebre-Micheal of Ethiopia. "Africa is really present in Paradise. These African Saints are the tangible expression of the spiritual vitality of the African continent, but they are very often unknown and therefore cut off from the concrete life of the population", he notes. "Our Saints - he says - must have a concrete impact on the life of our people. Saints can and must play an important role in the renewal of the African continent. Their model of virtue, exemplarity, integrity and faith - the theologian concludes - remains a fundamental legacy to shape the conscience and action of our African Christians in all areas of life, especially in those socio-political contexts strongly marked by violence, hatred, division and corruption". (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 5/11/2019)