A Chapel for a New Parish in Chad
Wednesday, June 22, 2016

A small adoration chapel would be the heart of the new parish where Mass would be celebrated and in which the Blessed Sacrament will be perpetually exposed for adoration.

In Boutlbagar, a recently developed suburb of N‘Djamena, the capital of Chad, a new parish is now being established, named after Blessed (and soon-to-be Saint) Teresa of Calcutta.

Chad, in West Central Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world. Roughly 57% of the population is Muslim, and even when there is only a small number of houses, a mosque can also be found. The Catholic Church, by contrast, is relatively young in Chad. The first missionary arrived here only in 1929 and the first native priest was ordained in 1957, followed by the second 13 years later, in 1970. Today, Catholics account for only 8% of the population.

Father Jean Pierre Ningaina, the parish priest here, is happy to see so many of his parishioners joyful and attending Holy Mass. On Sundays, he sometimes has as many as 2,300 people! And even during the week many of his faithful also attend Mass.

Until now, they have had to celebrate Holy Mass outside, beneath a temporary shelter, and Father Jean Pierre is very conscious that a proper church is necessary. With such a structure, the faithful can pray and encounter God undisturbed and in a dignified setting. The priest is also deeply concerned about evangelization and he knows that Eucharistic adoration in particular plays a vital role in deepening the sense of faith.

Father Jean Pierre’s plan is first to build a small chapel in which Holy Mass will be celebrated on weekdays and in which the Blessed Sacrament will be perpetually exposed for adoration. This chapel will have space for 150 people. In the long term, he hopes to be able to build a much larger church – but this is a goal that is still a long way off. For now, the small adoration chapel would be the heart of the new parish. It is to build this that Father Jean Pierre has turned to ACN for help, and we have promised him $8,000.

Will you help us fulfill this promise so that Father Jean Pierre can build this chapel for daily Mass and adoration in Chad? We are sure he will remember you in his faithful prayers.

Progress: 7% Raised: $ 575     Goal: $ 8000

Code: 155-01-19

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