Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "I saw the urgency of the first evangelization with my own eyes and it is so true what John Paul II said in Redemptoris Missio: after 2000 years of Christianity the evangelizing mission is just beginning", says to Agenzia Fides Fr. Giuseppe Ghirelli, a priest from the diocese of Anagni-Alatri who works in southern Ethiopia.
"For me it was a discovery to find people who have never heard of Jesus" continues Fr. Joseph, who is 61 years old and has been a priest for 36 years. "Before going to Ethiopia I went to Ireland to improve my English. Most of the inhabitants of the region where I work are Oromo farmers. I have a catechist who works as interpreter at the moment, but I am learning their language".
"The region of Oromia, in the center-south, has about 30 million inhabitants. The Apostolic Prefecture of Robe is a part of this territory (with an area of 116 221 sq km) with just under 3 million people", explains Fr. Joseph. "We currently have five parishes, with four religious, two Italian priests plus one Ethiopian".
"Our pastoral approach provides, in addition to the first evangelization, human development, starting from education. Every parish has a school. We help many orphans and mothers. We have also initiated projects to improve agriculture. The Oromos are nomads. We try to help them develop a farming culture, teaching them to cultivate plants like Moringa, a strong plant that offers cheap food and white bean. So these people can diversify their traditional diet based on milk and cereals".
We ask Fr. Giuseppe what he feels like saying to a young priest who decides to follow his experience. "Jesus’ command is current and urgent. We cannot forget who has not been evangelized yet", concluded Fr. Joseph. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2014)
