LIFE AND FORMATION OF PRIESTS

by

Mrs. Jeanne Diop-Yansunnu

 

(SUMMARY)

 

Permit me to give thanks to God, and to thank the Holy Father for the honour which was given to me to participate in this Special Assembly. The title of my intervention refers to life and the formation of priests. All, the baptized are called upon to preach the Good News and to give witness of Christ everywhere.

The signs in Africa are very important. In fact, all that happens to someone is a sign! Failure, sickness, etc. But in each is revealed the call of God. The African recognizes the hand of God in all that happens to him... God remains for all the source of life.

For a second evangelization, the accent must be placed on the education of which are in fact the main agents of inculturation. This theme must be an integral part of the education of the clergy in the Seminaries: religious life rooted in the African culture is more than necessary...

We hope that the houses for the formation of priests are inserted into the local community instead of being large impersonal Institutions. This would allow them to live in contact with reality.

In their formation, one must keep in mind the importance of the Mass Media, sociology, politics. Unity with the laity is of utmost importance. We must learn to be the Servants o society, and not masters or chiefs.

So that a priest may be a man of his people, one must look back at the sources of African tradition. One can lead a priestly life and remain a man of his people through deep research of rites, while remaining purely authentic and in helping others to live the values and the riches of Africa.

Africa’s future is in the fraternal communion and in the consciousness of the grandeur of their mission by all the baptized.

 

 

Original text in French