Recorde-se que anteriormente publicamos uma carta do Cardeal Tagle, Prefeito da Congregação para a Evangelização dos Povos, onde sugeria dioceses em territórios de missão que o pudessem fazer, que renunciasse a subsídios em favor daqueles que mais precisam.
Dom Pascal N’koué, Arcebispo de Parakou e Administrador Apostólico da Diocese de Djougou (Norte do Benin), bem como alguns de seus colaboradores, reagiram corajosamente a esta carta em termos práticos.
O bispo Pascal N’koué, arcebispo de Parakou, disse: “Não fiquei surpreso com esta carta do cardeal Tagle simplesmente porque o alerta havia sido emitido há vários anos. De vez em quando, éramos lembrados de que havia o risco de interrupção dos subsídios ”. Recebeu a carta do Responsável das Pontifícias Obras Missionárias (OPM) sobre os subsídios.
Para ele, “desta vez é um sinal sério”. “Roma sempre tentou nos acompanhar. Mas olhando para a situação atual, ele disse: “Realmente, agora, vocês mesmos, vejam; Eu não posso mais” “. Aos olhos do prelado, diante dessa situação, “não vale a pena ficar aí choramingando, mas sim uma ocasião para uma maior consciência da necessidade do autocuidado”. Esta consciência, Dom N’koué disse que se candidatou a incutir na diocese de Parakou a vários níveis desde 2011, ano da sua instalação nesta diocese do norte do Benin.
Já para o ano pastoral 2018-2019, que coincidiu também com a abertura do jubileu dos 75 anos diocesanos, o tema escolhido foi: “Autofinanciamento para a nossa missão evangelizadora: jogue fora as muletas e ande”. Para sua autonomia no comando, a diocese de Parakou optou, entre outras coisas, pelo estabelecimento e adensamento de unidades de produção. “Em 2014 foi criada a tipografia Santa Ana, em 2018, o restaurante das santas Marthe et Marie, em 2020, uma padaria e pastelaria, etc.”, explicou o padre Yaceinth Kochoni, ecónomo da diocese.
Além disso, na maioria das paróquias da diocese de Parakou, mesmo nas áreas urbanas, existem pequenas unidades de produção agrícola (horta e / ou pecuária). “Isso tem sido de grande ajuda para eles durante o período recente de fechamentos de igrejas devido à pandemia do Coronavirus”, observa ele. Além disso, “a diocese – explicou o Padre Kochoni – criou em 2019 em Ténourou, um centro pastoral denominado Africae munus onde já reflorestamos mais de 30 hectares de terra”.
“Em vista, uma extensão do projeto a 600 hectares com o apoio da Caritas diocesana”, acrescentou o Pe. Maxime Hennou, Diretor diocesano da Caritas. Padre Hennou acredita que “é possível transformar uma diocese inteira em uma cooperativa”. É, de fato, uma economia circular com a qual a equipe do bispo N’koué sonha. “Nossa diocese tem 30.000 cristãos de diferentes localidades, culturas, origens e experiências. Quando você imagina que tudo isso pode se unir para produzir e entregar bens de consumo e serviços ”, analisa com entusiasmo o padre Hennou.
A diocese de Parakou é a única no Benin a ter dois seminários diocesanos, um propedêutico e um seminário maior. “Para o nosso arcebispo, a formação dos seminaristas se baseia em três pilares: a cabeça (dimensão intelectual), as mãos (iniciação ao trabalho manual) e o coração (interioridade com Deus)” explica Pe. Dieudonné Ahyité, reitor do Seminário Dom Chopard Lallier que é o seminário propedêutico da diocese de Parakou. Segundo ele, a produção agrícola interna da instituição composta por inhame, feijão bóer, mandioca, milheto, etc. cobre cerca de 40% das suas necessidades, neste caso as relativas à alimentação dos seminaristas.
«O meu sonho é formar uma nova geração de sacerdotes Laudato Si, felizes por comunicar-se com a natureza, orgulhosos de serem africanos e missionários com o coração cheio de chamas», explica o arcebispo de Parakou. Como resultado, acrescentou, “os futuros padres tornar-se-ão camponeses com camponeses, criadores com criadores, pedreiros com pedreiros, etc., o que não exclui que tenham uma boa formação intelectual, filosófica e teológica”. O Arcebispo Ignatius Kaigama, enquanto felicita este bispo visionário, encoraja outros bispos africanos a seguirem este ousado passo.
the Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, based in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin captured Bishop Pascal N’koué, Archbishop of Parakou and Apostolic Administrator of Djougou. This news media was pleased with the effort of this bishop member of RECOWA-CERAO in uplifting his diocese. Recall that the President of RECOWA-CERAO, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and his presidential council have continued to on the dioceses in West Africa to rise up to self-help. In this regard, the Archbishop of Parakou seems to have taken the lead.
Remember that earlier on, we have published a letter from Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples where he suggested dioceses in mission territories that can do so to forgo subsidies in favor of those among them who need it most.
Bishop Pascal N’koué, Archbishop of Parakou and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Djougou (North Benin) as well as some of his collaborators have boldly reacted to this letter in practical terms.
Bishop Pascal N’koué, Archbishop of Parakou, had said, “I was not surprised by this letter from Cardinal Tagle simply because the alert had been issued several years ago. From time to time, we were reminded that there was a risk of there being an interruption of subsidies.” He expressed his receipt of the letter from the person in charge of the Pontifical Mission Societies (OPM) on subsidies.
For him, “this time it is a serious signal.” “Rome has always tried to accompany us. But looking at the current situation, he said: “Really, now, yourselves, look; I cannot anymore” “. In the eyes of the prelate, faced with this situation, “it is not worth standing there whining, but rather an occasion for a greater awareness of the need for self-care”. This awareness, Bishop N’koué said he has applied to instill in the diocese of Parakou on various levels since 2011, the year of his installation in this diocese in northern Benin.
Already, for the pastoral year 2018-2019 which also coincided with the opening of the jubilee of the 75 years of the diocese, the chosen theme was: “Self-financing for our mission of evangelization: throw down your crutches and walk”. For its autonomy in charge, the diocese of Parakou has opted for, among other things, the establishment and densification of production units. “In 2014, the Saint Anne printing house was created, in 2018, the restaurant of saints Marthe et Marie, in 2020, a bakery and pastry shop, etc. », Explained Father Yaceinth Kochoni, bursar of the diocese.
In addition, in most parishes of the diocese of Parakou, even in urban areas, there are small units of agricultural production (garden and/or livestock). “This has been of great help to them during the recent period of church closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” he notes. In addition, “the diocese – explained Father Kochoni again – set up in 2019 in Ténourou, a pastoral center called Africae munus where we have already reforested more than 30 hectares of land”.
“In view, an extension of the project to 600 hectares with the support of the diocesan Caritas”, added Father Maxime Hennou, diocesan director of Caritas. Father Hennou believes that “it is possible to turn an entire diocese into a cooperative”. It is, in fact, a circular economy that Bishop N’koué’s team dreams of. “Our diocese has 30,000 Christians from different localities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. When you imagine that all of these can come together to produce and deliver consumer and service goods “, enthusiastic analysis, Father Hennou.
The diocese of Parakou is the only one in Benin to have two diocesan Seminaries, a propaedeutic, and a Major Seminary. “For our Archbishop, the formation of Seminarians is based on three pillars: the head (intellectual dimension), the hands (initiation into manual work) and the heart (interiority with God)” explains Father Dieudonné Ahyité, rector of Bishop Chopard Lallier Seminary which is the propaedeutic Seminary of the diocese of Parakou. According to him, the institution’s internal agricultural production made up of yams, pigeon peas, cassava, millet, etc. covers about 40% of its needs, those relating to food for Seminarians in this case.
“My dream is to train a new generation of Laudato Si priests, happy to communicate with nature, proud to be Africans and missionaries with hearts full of flame,” explains the Archbishop of Parakou. As a result, he added, “future priests will become peasants with peasants, breeders with breeders, masons with masons, etc. this does not exclude that they have a good intellectual, philosophical and theological training “. The President of RECOWA-CERAO, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, while congratulating this visionary bishop, encourages other African bishops to follow this bold footstep.
Le Correspondant de RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, basé à Cotonou, la capitale du Bénin, a capturé Mgr Pascal N’koué, Archevêque de Parakou et Administrateur Apostolique de Djougou. Ce média d’information s’est félicité de l’effort de cet évêque membre du RECOWA-CERAO pour élever son diocèse. Rappelons que le Président du RECOWA-CERAO, Mgr Ignatius Kaigama, et son conseil présidentiel ont continué à se lever sur les diocèses en Afrique de l’Ouest pour s’auto-aider. À cet égard, l’archevêque de Parakou semble avoir pris les devants.
Souvenez-vous que précédemment, nous avons publié une lettre du Cardinal Tagle, Préfet de la Congrégation pour l’Évangélisation des Peuples où il suggérait des diocèses dans les territoires missionnaires qui peuvent le faire pour renoncer aux subventions en faveur de ceux d’entre eux qui en ont le plus besoin.
Mgr Pascal N’koué, archevêque de Parakou et administrateur apostolique du diocèse de Djougou (Nord Bénin) ainsi que certains de ses collaborateurs ont hardiment réagi à cette lettre en termes pratiques.
Mgr Pascal N’koué, archevêque de Parakou, avait déclaré: «Je n’ai pas été surpris par cette lettre du cardinal Tagle simplement parce que l’alerte avait été lancée il y a plusieurs années. De temps en temps, on nous a rappelé qu’il y avait un risque d’interruption des subventions. » Il a exprimé sa réception de la lettre du responsable des Œuvres Pontificales Missionnaires (OPM) sur les subventions.
Pour lui, “cette fois c’est un signal sérieux”. «Rome a toujours essayé de nous accompagner. Mais en regardant la situation actuelle, il a dit: «Vraiment, maintenant, vous-mêmes, regardez; Je ne peux plus” “. Aux yeux du prélat, face à cette situation, “cela ne vaut pas la peine de pleurnicher, mais plutôt une occasion pour une plus grande prise de conscience de la nécessité de prendre soin de soi”. Cette prise de conscience, Mgr N’koué a déclaré avoir demandé à l’instiller dans le diocèse de Parakou à différents niveaux depuis 2011, année de son installation dans ce diocèse du nord du Bénin.
Déjà, pour l’année pastorale 2018-2019 qui coïncidait également avec l’ouverture du jubilé des 75 ans du diocèse, le thème choisi était: «Autofinancement de notre mission d’évangélisation: jetez vos béquilles et marchez». Pour son autonomie en charge, le diocèse de Parakou a opté pour, entre autres, la mise en place et la densification d’unités de production. «En 2014, l’imprimerie Sainte Anne a été créée, en 2018, le restaurant des saints Marthe et Marie, en 2020, une boulangerie-pâtisserie, etc.», a expliqué le père Yaceinth Kochoni, économe du diocèse.
De plus, dans la plupart des paroisses du diocèse de Parakou, même en milieu urbain, il existe de petites unités de production agricole (jardin et / ou élevage). «Cela leur a été d’une grande aide au cours de la récente période de fermetures d’églises en raison de la pandémie de coronavirus», note-t-il. Par ailleurs, “le diocèse – a encore expliqué le père Kochoni – a créé en 2019 à Ténourou, un centre pastoral appelé Africae munus où nous avons déjà reboisé plus de 30 hectares de terres”.
«En vue, une extension du projet à 600 hectares avec le soutien de la Caritas diocésaine», a ajouté le Père Maxime Hennou, directeur diocésain de Caritas. Le Père Hennou estime qu ‘”il est possible de transformer tout un diocèse en coopérative”. C’est en fait une économie circulaire dont rêve l’équipe de Mgr N’koué. «Notre diocèse compte 30 000 chrétiens de différentes localités, cultures, origines et expériences. Quand on imagine que tout cela peut se réunir pour produire et livrer des biens de consommation et des services », analyse enthousiaste, le père Hennou.
Le diocèse de Parakou est le seul au Bénin à avoir deux séminaires diocésains, un propédeutique et un grand séminaire. «Pour notre Archevêque, la formation des séminaristes repose sur trois piliers: la tête (dimension intellectuelle), les mains (initiation au travail manuel) et le cœur (intériorité avec Dieu)» explique le Père Dieudonné Ahyité, recteur du Séminaire Mgr Chopard Lallier qui est le Séminaire propédeutique du diocèse de Parakou. Selon lui, la production agricole interne de l’institution constituée d’ignames, de pois cajan, de manioc, de mil, etc. couvre environ 40% de ses besoins, ceux relatifs à l’alimentation des séminaristes dans ce cas.
«Mon rêve est de former une nouvelle génération de prêtres Laudato Si, heureux de communiquer avec la nature, fiers d’être Africains et missionnaires au cœur enflammé», explique l’archevêque de Parakou. En conséquence, a-t-il ajouté, «les futurs prêtres deviendront des paysans avec des paysans, des éleveurs avec des éleveurs, des maçons avec des maçons, etc. cela n’exclut pas qu’ils aient une bonne formation intellectuelle, philosophique et théologique». Le Président du RECOWA-CERA, L’archevêque Ignatius Kaigama, tout en félicitant cet évêque visionnaire, encourage les autres évêques africains à suivre ce pas audacieux.
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