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Support for the Training of Seminarians in the Republic of Congo Success Stories Again and again we
hear the welcome news that the number of priests in Africa is rising. And this
happy news comes even as the number of Catholic faithful also continues to rise.
But the rising number of Catholics also means that even though the number of
priests has grown, there is still a shortage of priests. This is certainly the
case in the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo Brazzaville. One example is the Diocese of Impfondo in the north-east of the country. In this new diocese established in 2000, there are just 11 diocesan priests and five priests belonging to the religious orders, serving 80,200 Catholics. Hence it is a matter for rejoicing for Bishop Jean Gardin that there are eight young men from his diocese currently training for the priesthood. The cost of their training is a heavy burden for his diocese and so, this year once again he turned in confident trust to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Nor did we disappoint him, helping him once again with $7,700. Bishop Gardin is profoundly grateful to our generous benefactors for their regular support for the future priests of his diocese. He wrote to ACN: "We thank God and assure you of our prayers. May God bless your charity and the benefactors who help so that the faith in Jesus, the Savior of the world, can be spread." |
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Keeping the Faith Alive
