Enlarge a Parish Church in Benin
Monday, February 29, 2016

Will you give to help Father Pasero enlarge his parish church to meet the needs of the faithful in Benin?, where the church has now become so crowded, that on Sundays many of the faithful have to sit or stand outside.

The Parish of Saint Pierre in Kalalé is situated in the northeast of Benin, close to the frontier with Nigeria. The present parish church was built in 1990. Over the past 25 years, many children have been born in the parish, many of whom have themselves now founded their own families. There have also been many adults and young people who have asked for baptism. As a result, the church has now become far too small. On Sundays many of the faithful have to sit or stand outside the church during Holy Mass.

The church is also used as a place for religious instruction. Various groups, from those seeking baptism to the groups of children and young people, are given instruction in the Catholic Faith here. But some of these gatherings have to be held outside, since the church is simply too small. This is a very active parish community, where Holy Mass is celebrated every day and where the priests are daily available to hear confessions. On Friday evenings there is a regular Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration, and there are various prayer groups and catechetical sessions.

The priests also minister to the faithful in the outlying villages which belong to the parish but which are too far out for the people to be able to regularly get to the parish center. Normally, it is the priests who travel out to the villages, but on the great feast days – such as Christmas and Easter, for the Sacrament of Confirmation or for the patronal feast of the parish – many of the faithful come in from the outlying villages to the main church in Kalalé. At such times the church really is bursting at the seams!

Father Saturnino Pasero, the parish priest, would therefore like to extend his church so that it can accommodate more of the faithful. We are hoping to be able to help him with a contribution of $7,900.

Will you give to help Father Pasero enlarge his parish church to meet the needs of the faithful in Benin?

Progress: 0% Raised: $ 25     Goal: $ 7900

Code: 117-01-19

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