Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bobo-Dioulasso (Fides Service)- St John parish in Kwentou in the archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso has celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The parish was opened in 1967 when Fr. Emmanuel de Montjoye came to an agreement with the the chief of the village of Kwentou who offered a piece of land for a Catholic mission. Fr. de Montjoye went to Kwentou in seach of a site for a well to serve for a school he had been asked to build by the chief of another village in the area.
Fr. de Montjoye had built a friendship with the village chief who was ready to welcome missionaries to his territory. In 1980 Archbisop Anselme T.Sanon asked Fr Joanny to start a new parish. Fr Joanny was assisted by a team of White Father missionaries: Fr. Claude de Baillencourt, Fr. Honoré Habarneau and Fr. Jacques Marie Compognon.
Some years later the parish was handed over to local clergy with parish priest Fr Anselme D. Sanon and other priests.
Since it was opened the parish has been served by 16 priests with the help of a community of Sisters of Mary Mother of Consolation who arrived in 1983. Their ministry fostered a number of vocations in the parish.
Today Kwentou parish has four local priests and two young Brothers. There are 31 lay catehcists active in 25 Basic Church Communities. There are also 22 lay readers who are of great help to the clergy and help prepare Sunday Mass.
At the beginning of every new pastoral year the parish organises a retreat for catechists to help them in their activity. The theme this year is “After 25 years, catechists and readers, rejoice, live and help others to live the Word and the Eucharist”.
In these 25 years two more parishes have sprung up around St John’s, St Anthony’s and St Lawrence of Yegueresso. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2005 righe 31 parole 376)
