AFRICA/BENIN - Archbishop Houngbedji: "Look at Blessed Pauline Jaricot as a model to imitate"

Friday, 17 June 2022 pontifical mission societies   missionary animation   prayer  

Porto Novo (Agenzia Fides) - Missionary conversion, prayer and charity: these are the elements that have contributed in the history of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) to the spread of the Gospel. This was underlined by Monsignor Roger Houngbedji of Cotonou, taking up the themes developed by Pope Francis in his letter addressed to the directors of the PMS for the General Assembly held last May in Lyon on the occasion of the mass to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith and in thanksgiving for the beatification of Pauline Jaricot.
The National Director of the PMS, Father Cosme Adjomale, about 20 priests and a large delegation of teachers were present at the celebration which was held at the Catechetical Center of Ouidah. In his homily, the Archbishop recalled how Blessed Jaricot left an indelible trace in her earthly history and invited those present to be inspired by her as a model of Christian life. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration during which 20 people were sent as missionaries, Father Cosme Adjomale recalled the importance of the Jubilee Year of the PMS and of the figure of Blessed Jaricot, then he is addressed the Archbishop by formulating two specific requests: "In the name of the PMS of Benin, we ask for the introduction in the manuals of catechesis of the missionary pastoral in its dimensions of spirituality, animation, missionary formation, and the inclusion in a "golden book" of the names of the brave catechists of our dioceses, to perpetuate their memory, or we could give their name to rooms dedicated to catechesis or to meetings, as is already done in some parishes". Finally, the National Director of the PMS of Benin launched an appeal to all the dioceses of the country to rediscover the missionary dimension in prayer, sacrifices and donations, and announced his intention to sensitize the community to the creation of groups of young missionaries, missionary families and even sick missionaries, who offer their sufferings for the mission. (EG/EG) (Agenzia Fides, 17/6/2022)


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