Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
SMA
Ebimpé (Agenzia Fides) - "School, study, prayer, sport and work. These are some of the points on which the days in our Ebimpé Seminary revolve", said Fr. Leopoldo Molena, priest of the Society for African Missions in an update on the social and political situation of Ivory Coast, and in particular on the SMA seminary of which he is rector.
"As in the whole world, - reads the note sent to Fides - even in Ivory Coast the population has been affected by the Covid pandemic with the consequent repercussions on the cost of living and unemployment. Expenses for transport, for the education of children and for basic necessities have increased. The lockdown, the prolonged closure of meeting places, places of worship and entertainment have also weighed heavily on the social relations level".
"Our SMA seminarians this year are 39, 6 of whom are new. Ours is an international and inter-ethnic community: different languages, cultures and countries represent the challenge and the richness of our being together", explains the missionary.
In our SMA seminary in Ebimpé, about 25 km from the capital Abidjan, we gave ourselves as the theme for the new year: "Love and truth will meet, justice and peace will kiss". The return from vacation of the seminarians this year was a bit stormy due to painful and daring travels. The year began with two days of spiritual retreat, animated by one of our formators. Then there was a short training course on managing emotions, led by Sister Teresa Verger, a psychologist. The school of theology, in the ICMA, the Catholic Missionary Institute of Abidjan, began on September 13".
Father Molena also stops to talk about the political situation in the country. "The problem of reconciliation and peace still remains unsolved. It is a process that still moves slowly. The return to the country and to the political scene of former president Laurent Gbagbo (tried at the International Criminal Court, and acquitted of the charge of committing war crimes) was scary until yesterday, but after a clarifying meeting with the current head of state Alassane Ouattara, things seem to be moving towards a positive solution (see Fides, 20/10/2021). In addition to this process of reconciliation - underlines Fr. Molena - the Church has also contributed a lot with the strong and provocative messages of Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan". (LP/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 1/12/2021)
