What Kind of House Can You Build for Me? Biro, Benin
Christmas Mass Outdoors, Couple with Fr. Stanislaw Desczcz, C.M., Pastor (2017)
King David longed to build a ‘house’ for the Lord in Jerusa- lem. God in- quired of David, “What kind of house can you build for me?” As the spiritual leaders of the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Biro, Benin, the missioners posed the question about God’s dwelling since their arrival. They were in a unique position to respond to God’s desire to dwell among his people. It took years of preparation to answer the question of an actual building for God’s dwelling. They first confirmed the presence of God in the people themselves by love, instruction, care for the poor, primary education, and worship. Eventually the missioners responded to growing num- bers of faithful by construct- ing a new parish church. The Parish of Saint John the Bap- tist in Biro, Benin, was estab- lished in 2002 and is part of the Diocese of N’Dali. The N’Dali. The addition of the Vincentian priests relieved a serious shortage of priests, restoring priestly ministry at the Parish of Saint Jean Bap- tiste, which contains 16 village communities. In a short span of five years, the number of members is projected to double to 650.
Raising the Supports for the Roof
The parish used a small chapel for its liturgical, pastoral, and social service activities. On Christmas and Easter however, due to space limitations the priest and faithful had to gather under the hot sun to in Biro, Benin, the missioners posed the question about God’s dwelling since their arrival. They were in a unique position to respond to God’s desire to dwell among his people. It took years of preparation to answer the question of an actual building for God’s dwelling. They first confirmed the presence of God in the people themselves by love, instruction, care for the poor, primary education, and worship.
Superior General visits the Construction sight, Nov. 2018. From left: Fr. Paul Jakób, Fr. Jacob Hiler, Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, Fr. Stanislas Deszcz
Eventually the missioners responded to growing num- bers of faithful by construct- ing a new parish church. The Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Biro, Benin, was established in 2002 and is part of the Diocese of N’Dali. The celebrate the Mass and Sacraments. Things needed to change for the parish to continue to fully participate in worship as one com- munity, under one roof.
With the help of the VSO and other donors, the parish completed a 650-person ‘house’ for God in Biro–a milestone for this vibrant Catholic Community. On September 27th, the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, the
First Mass in New Church, Solemnity of St. Vincent de Paul
pastor, Fr. Stanislaw Deszcz, C.M. led the faithful in the first Mass in the new parish church. In the worshipping Assembly, both priests and the faithful confirmed God’s re- quest to dwell among his people of Biro, Benin.
Equipment for Computer Training Center, Mbandaka, Congo
Computer center, furniture and laptops
In the city of Mbandaka, Congo, the Vincentian missioners work with a pop- ulation where few have access to basic technology, for example, a computer and internet. In fact, 90% of the local population is technologically illiterate. The Congolese Vincentians understand that access to computers and training in technology is a practical means to help lift people out of poverty. With the assistance of the VSO and our donors, the missioners rehabbed an existing parish building, and created a computer training center with furnishings, laptops, and wireless routers. The center offers technical training in computer use and programs.
The project aims to create future computer trainers from among those who presently seek training at the center. The hope is that the center will also increase the com- puter literacy of the community and provide the youth skills for future employment. The income generation model for the center assures the sustainability of the project for years to come. For ex- ample, users of the center are charged a modest fee for computer access and training. Also, the local Vincentian treasurer works with the management team to monitor the project and assure its proper functioning.
Bus for COVIAM Theologate, Enugu, Nigeria
The dream of a common Vincentian Theologate in Africa goes back 25 years to when the Vincentian provincial superiors who formed COVIAM (Conference of Visitors of Africa and Madagas- car), mostly Europeans, gathered for their first continental meeting. They discussed the chal- lenge of formation for the growing number of Vincentian missionary candidates. Years later, various levels of local for- mation, such as, postulancy, internal seminary, and philoso- phy were in place. The provin- cial superiors, however, also needed advanced theological and Vincentian formation.
30 passenger Toyota Coaster Bus for COVIAM Theologate
In 2015, COVIAM members committed formators and re- sources to train men at St. Vin- cent de Paul Theologate of the Province of Nigeria, located at Enugu. Today the COVIAM Common Theologate serves: Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Burundi. Thirty-nine seminarians were enrolled in 2018. This VSO project also addressed the need for a large and reliable bus for the Theologate. With the help of the VSO and our donors, the Province of Nige- ria purchased a new 30 passen- ger Toyota Coaster Bus. The seminarians now have reliable transportation to classes and activities at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Vincentian ordina- tions, community events and Sunday ministry. The project allows a visionary formation program to deliver excellent formation with modern efficiency.
