AFRICA/ALGERIA - Le Figuier Centre for Research and Encounter inaugurated at Tizi Ouzu capital of Algeria’s Berber region

Friday, 12 May 2006

Tizi Ouzu (Fides Service) - The inauguration of the new Le Figuier Catholic Centre for Research and Encounter at Tizi Ouzu capital of Algeria’s Cabilia Berbar region drew a good number of people. According to the bulletin of the archdiocese of Algiers La Semaine Religieuse d’Alger n. 4, the Centre was an idea of Missionary of Africa Father Christian Chessel killed on 27 December in 1994 at Tizi Ouzu with three confreres. The Centro is open to students and researchers and for the moment most of the books in the library are in English but a section on the Berber culture will soon be opened.
Special guests at the inauguration included Archbishop Henri Tessier, the French Ambassador, APC Tizi Ouzu president, the rector of Mouloud Mammeri University, the dean of the faculty of letters and many heads of departments, the representative of the Direction of Regional Affairs and other personalities. Over 200 people came to the inauguration ceremony and some had to stand outside. This participation demonstrated the local people’s interest for this type of initiative. A series of conferences given for the occasion included a talk by Archbishop Teissier on “Culture, faith and dialogue”. The section on Berber culture contains material collected in years of work by White Fathers and White Sisters and the entire library with many books of great value which Fr. Lanfry left to the Centre in his will. (R.F.) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2006 - righe 26, parole 281).


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