Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Péporyakou (Agenzia Fides) - A new mission of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts opens today at Péporyakou, in the diocese of Natitingou in Benin. The first community has four members, from two different congregations, which makes it an inter-congregational: Sr Rita Santana dos Santos and Suor Rita De Cassia Pereira Santos, (Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart), Sr Rosa and Sr Ana (Sisters of Providence of Saint Paul). Two Salesian juniors: Sr Yacinthe Dusabimana and Sr Marie Josée Ingabire, about to depart for Benin, have been sent for a year of formation in a local congregation in Togo. The new mission is accompanied by the Vicar general Sr Ines De Giorgi the Congregation's delegate for missions. “This dream which is coming true - says Mother general, Sr Maria Longo - is a gift which comes directly from the canonisation of our founder, Saint Filippo Smaldone.
Our presence in Benin is a service of charity and solidarity and especially to help village school children and speech therapy for children with impaired hearing. In this first stage - the Mother general concludes - we will use a diocesan structure but we hope that the presence of the Daughters of Saint Filippo Smaldone will grow with time to meet the needs of the local Church". (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2007; righe 16, parole 225)
