AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - At Adwa first new Catholic church to be opened in 450 years

Wednesday, 13 July 2005

Adwa (Fides Service)- The first Catholic church to be built in Adwa, Ethiopia in 450 years was opened recently. At the end of June the Salesians had the joy of blessing a church dedicated to Mary Auxiliatrix built as a result of a relationship of respect and trust which budded during the serious food shortage in 1985 when the Saleisans came to the aid of the local people. After that experience the senior members of the community begged the Bishop of Adigrat to arrange for a Salesian community to come to the area.
In 1993 Salesian Fathers and the Sisters of Mary Auxiliatrix came and their hard work to build schools and professional training centres and provide local young people with education and professional training cemented the relationship of trust between the people of Adwa and the congregation of Don Bosco. The foundation stone for the church, the fruit of assistance to the poorest people in this area, was laid in 2002..
On 23 June this lovely Church opened its doors to almost a thousand people including representatives of Orthodox clergy and faithful, present in great numbers in this region, all the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia and the papal Nuncio. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/7/2005 righe 21 parole 263)


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