AFRICA/TOGO - "Equalization and the health of the priest": General Assembly of the Fraternity of Diocesan Priests of Togo

Saturday, 15 January 2022

Kara (Agenzia Fides) - "The question of equalization and the health of priests is not the exclusive competence of the Bishops" declared Mgr Nicodème Barrigah-Benissan, Archbishop of Lomé and Apostolic Administrator of Atakpamé, on the occasion of the LI General Assembly of the Fraternity of Diocesan Priests of Togo (FPDT).
Father Moise Dadja, diocesan priest, director of Sainte Thérèse radio in Sokodé, explained to Agenzia Fides that due to the health crisis of Covid-19, only 210 priests out of the 1108 incardinated in the 7 dioceses of Togo were able to participate.
"Started on Monday January 10, 2022 with the arrival of the participants and the welcoming ceremonies, the actual work began on the morning of January 11 with the opening mass presided over by the Archbishop of Lomé, during which 113 other priests were welcomed into the FPDT".
The conference held by Msgr. Barrigah on the theme: 'Equalization and the health of the priest' gave rise to fruitful exchanges between the participants.
In turn, Msgr. Jacques Longa, bishop of Kara, presented the message sent for the occasion by the Togolese bishops, mainly focused on the presentation of the Pastoral Guide to the ministry and life of priests in Togo. According to Msgr. Longa, "it is a reference document that the Episcopal Conference of Togo offers to the priests of our particular Church, according to the Magisterium of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The objective is to help each priest to live his ministry as a means of sanctification, and to lead the people of the faithful to follow our model, Jesus Christ".
The Bishops' notes also address the problem of the green health pass, which the government wants to make compulsory to enter churches, and the imprisonment of journalists for "insulting the authorities", defamation and incitement to hatred.
The meeting was held from January 10 to 13, 2022 at the Benedict XVI Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Philosophy in Tchitchao in the Diocese of Kara. The next meeting is scheduled for January 2023 in the diocese of Aného. (MD/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 15/1/2022)


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