AFRICA/LIBERIA - Fire at the headquarters of the Catholic Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference: "I ask all of you to pray for us", says the National Director of the country's Pontifical Societies

Saturday, 23 October 2021

DCN

Monrovia (Agenzia Fides) - On Tuesday, October 19, around 10.30 in the morning, a fire broke out in the National Catholic Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference of Liberia (CABICOL).
This is how the General Secretary, Father Dennis Cephas Nimene, informed Fides of the news. "The fire originated from the ceiling of my room. Fortunately, we were all working in our offices", writes Fr. Dennis. There were many attempts by the office staff to contain the flames, but they were in vain and we had to wait for the arrival of the firefighters (LNFS), an hour later", explains the priest who is also the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Liberia. The headquarters of the National Direction of the PMS is also located inside the burned building.
"It was not possible to recover anything - says Fr. Dennis. Documents (files, reports, etc.) were destroyed by the flames including all my personal belongings, such as my books, clothes, etc. We are now awaiting the investigation that was opened by the National Fire Brigade to determine the cause of the fire", highlights the Secretary of the Bishops who is now staying with the Brothers of San Juan de Dios of the Catholic Hospital and who shares an office with Caritas Liberia.
"The day after the fire - says the Secretary of the Bishops - Msgr. Dagoberto Campos Salas, Apostolic Nuncio in Liberia and Archbishop of Forontoniana, Archbishop Emeritus Msgr. Lewis Zeigler and the diocesan administrator, Gabriel Blamoh Jubwe, came to the scene to ascertain the cause of the damage and show their closeness to all the staff of the Secretariat. We have received many phone calls to express solidarity, including the bishop of Gbarnga, Msgr. Anthony Fallah Borwah and the bishop of Cape Palmas, Msgr. Andrew Jagaye Karnley". The PMS Director concluded by urging everyone to pray for this tragedy. (DCN/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 23/10/2021)

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