Bissau (Fides Service)-The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate open a new mission in Guinea Bissau at Farim on the border with Senegal. The mission is run by two priests, Father Celso Corbioli and Father Carlo Andolfi and Brother Bernard Kaling, a young Oblate from Senegal. The Fathers were welcomed by the parish priest Father Giovanni (PIME) who is retiring.
The first missionaries came to Farim in the 17th century. In 1650, Portuguese missionaries opened a number of mission centres for the Portuguese settlers. Mission ad gentes only began when PME missionaries arrived from Italy.
Farim Mission serves two towns, Mansaba 30 km to the south and Bigene 40 km to the west and a few villages. Until only a few years ago most baptised Catholics lived in towns whereas catechumens and pre-catechumens lived in villages. Most of the people in the three towns Farim, Mansaba and Bigene are Muslims. In the villages there are Muslims and Animists, and the latter are open to Christianity. On the whole the choice of religion depends on the ethnic group. For example the Mandinga people are almost 100 percent Muslim while the others Fula, Mandjacos, Balanta are open to Christianity. However the people live in harmony and there is no tension. Each group has its own language and all use Creole as a common language. Creole was born of a mixing of local tongues with Portuguese.
Relations with Muslims are good and many Christians and Muslims have built up friendships, but interreligious dialogue is difficult to start. Father Celso says the path to dialogue is one of love, patience and respect for others: “to love and to respect is to evangelise ” Father Celso said. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/3/2004, righe 27 parole 334)