Agenzia Fides

Bamako (Agenzia Fides) - The major Seminary "Saint Augustine" of Samaya, in Bamako (Mali), closed yesterday, June 21, the academic year 2010-2011. As Don Edmond Dembele, Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Mali reports to Fides, nine seminarians were ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of Bamako on Sunday, June 19. The celebration was presided by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Tiama, Bishop of Sikasso and President of the Episcopal Conference of Mali. The 9 deacons are from Kankan, Nzérékoré and Conakry (Republic of Guinea), San and Mopti, (in Mali). Mgr. Tiama in his homily stressed the importance of the diaconate, and urged the new deacons to be at the full service of their communities. The major Seminary, which serves both the Church in Guinea and in Mali, has a new Rector, appointed by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples: Fr. Ahmadou Kizito Togo, a priest of the diocese of Mopti, ordained in 1993, who goes back to Mali after obtaining his Ph.D. in Church History in Rome. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/06/2011)