The Redemptorist Community established in Lome Archdiocese is a partnership project of the Vice-Province of Nigeria and Vice-Province of Afrique de l’Ouest. In the spirit of the 25th General Chapter’s restructuring goals in the Redemptorist Congregation, the above two Vice-provinces contracted a mission in Lome Archdiocese focused on building a national shrine to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The Shrine will be situated in Deme, on land that will be donated to the Congregation by the Confraternity of Mother of Perpetual Help, Archdiocese of Lome. This Confraternity has existed in the Archdiocese for over 70 years.
The mission began in late September,2023 with the following pioneering confreres:
Fr Patrice Nyanda, C.S.sR. as Superior (Burkina Faso)
Fr Cyprian Eugene Mbamara, C.S.sR. as Bursar (Nigeria)
Fr Firmin Afanou, C.S.sR. (Togo)
Fr James Vembe, C.S.sR. (Nigeria).
However, because of accommodation issues, Fr James Vembe C.S.sR. was assigned to live temporarily in one of the Redemptorist Communities in Côte D’Ivoire, until the community house is prepared at the shrine in Lome.
Our Hopes and Goals are focused on building:
- Infrastructure suitable for a National Shrine.
- Community residence for ten confreres.
- Large Church to accommodate up to 2,000 worshippers.
- Offices.
- Accommodation facilities for pilgrims.
- Grotto.
Furthermore, we have plans to develop the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in dioceses throughout Togo. Our dream is to develop a national body that works with local confraternities together to promote devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
The assigned Redemptorist missionaries are currently:
1. Learning local languages while some confreres need to learn French.
2. Ministering in a parish called Noepe which is close to the proposed Shrine.
3. Completing the process of acquiring the land for the Shrine from the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
4. Accompanying pastorally the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help existing in Lome Archdiocese.
To date the biggest challenges faced by the Redemptorist missionaries include:
- Cultural and language difficulties.
- Shortage of funds to help the mission goals develop.
- A Skills deficit in the area of fundraising.
- Completing the land acquisition process.
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lome has been quite instrumental in helping the Redemptorists since our arrival.
Fr. Cyprian Eugene Mbamara, CSsR
Community of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Noepe
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