Catholic Tradition in Africa, #10 - Society of St. Pius X

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$(N\2601 March 2012 English) - Society of St. Pius X$

– Fr Huber (2011-) – Fr Balou Yalou (2011-) – Br Bernard Marie de Flüe (2002-09) – Br Grégoire (2002-) Br Félix Marie (2005-) – Br Antoine (2005-) – Br Paul Marie (2005-11) – Br Augustin Marie (2009-10) � Fr Groche ( 1985-2008) – Fr L Duverger (1986-89) – Fr Stehlin (1986-94) – Fr de Tanoüarn (1989-91) – Fr Carlile (1991-2000) – Fr Pa Duverger (1993-2011) Fr Zaby (1994) – Fr Moore (1995) – Fr de la Motte (1995-96) – Fr Simonot (1996) – Fr Trauner (1996-99 & 2001-11) – Fr Bellunato (1996-99) – Fr Bie Bibang Archbishops Lefebvre and N’Dong, 1985 25 Years of Gabon - Photo Album A C tholic TR DITION frica in 6 7 The Sisters in Four Place The house in 1986 Bishop Tissier de Mallerais blesses Four Place’s Calvary The 25 years celebration Eucharistic Crusade camp Choir Saint Cecilia Corpus Christi Procession in Four Place � The Eucharistic Crusade End of year party at the Juvénat The Sisters and the girls of the Company of the Immaculate Archbishop Lefebvre visiting the Mission, 1990 Archibishops Lefebvre and N'Dong in an aeroplane to Franceville, 1985 Retreat in Mebba with Father Nicolas Procession in the streets of Libreville Bishop Fellay’s visit Clausonne (2007-10) – Fr Demornex (2007-08) – Fr Brunet de Courssou (2008-11) – Fr Buchet (2008-11) – Fr Storez (2008-10) – Fr Esposito (2010) Fr Pinaud (2010-11) – Fr de Lassus (2010-) – Fr Bochkoltz (2010-11) – Fr Obih (2010-) – Fr Legrier (2011-) – Fr Peron (2011-) – Fr Rantoandro (2011-) AT IT N R E T A R F E A C I R F A - IS CH RI SA ST CER US O DOTALIS SA MNIA I NC N N OM TI PI S IBU I D E C IM I D IS T R I C T U S - (1998-2005) – Fr Y André (1999-2005) – Fr Panecatl (2000-03) – Fr Rioult (2001-08) – Fr Bély (2003-09) Fr J-B Frament (2005-07) – Fr Salvador (2005-06) – Fr Longuelet (2005-) – Fr Bergez (2006-07) – Fr de
2012 - No 10 8 tholic TR DITION frica in A C OTALIS SA CERD SA I P NCT TIS TA E II D NI CI ER MI AT DI S FR T E R A I C C T I R U F S A - S - IBU CH OMN RIS OMNIA IN TUS beautiful and solid mission, so that it can be a model for the other countries.” But, all the same, don't forget that from Gabon we have occasionally visited Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and even Senegal! Personally, I have been to all the countries of Western Africa. In Gabon the SSPX Mission at Four-Place is in a village about 150 km from Libreville. There had never been a Catholic church in this village. Priests had not been there for over 30 years. The Archbishop of Libreville had never set foot in the village. So the Catholics, feeling handicapped and abandoned, came to see us one day to ask us: “come take care of us,” – which we did. Fr. Damian Carlile took care of this apostolate in the wilderness, beginning under the metal roof of a poor little hut on the side of the road where he had to stop preaching whenever a logging truck passed by. The faithful flocked in ever greater numbers to this shack where we said Mass. Then one day, the Priest from the neighbouring village came, and the Archbishop of Libreville as well, to discredit and speak against us! The faithful were moved. They believed the Archbishop. The local priest promised them the moon and the stars and said that he would take care of them every Sunday, etc. So the faithful told us: “Ok, the local priest is going to come, so don't bother coming anymore.” That lasted four or five Sundays . . . and then they were again abandoned. After six months of waiting, a new delegation of the faithful from Four Place, scandalised and unhappy, came to see us, saying: “Father, forgive us. You must come back. The Archbishop spoke to us against you. We've been tricked. He and the local priest lied to us.” I, in turn, sent a delegation from our mission to see if they were serious, and, indeed, the village chief welcomed them very well. They came back saying, “Father, it is true! And they will give you some land, so you can go.” So I went back, and there was the whole village waiting to greet me. They gave me land on which there were only ruins, and on which we built the church that is there today – St. Patrick's Church, because the day we had the meeting was March 17th. Now we have been there for over 12 years. The village has about 700 habitants and covers about 7 km2. It is very scattered. The villagers are banana planters, and since there is very little land, they are obliged to spread out farther and farther for their plantations. So much so, that the priest who takes care of this chapel (on top of every Sunday) now goes The Chapel fully packed for Sunday High Mass every three weeks and spends four days in the presbytery “St. James's House” at Four-Place, which we built in the village. From there, he also celebrates Mass and teaches catechism up to about 30 km away in the forest area of Rembwé. I could also mention the vocations that Gabon has already given to Tradition: four priests in the Society of St Pius X; three brothers, four nuns (two Society sisters, one “Si si No no” sister in Italy, and one at the “Le Rafflay” in France. That makes 11 vocations! And it's not over. . . more young people are getting ready to enter! TCA: Father, after 23 years as a missionary in Gabon, you have just made a quick visit to Libreville. What message would you give to the Gabonese today? Fr. Groche: First, to thank God, because the Gabonese have been blessed these past 25 years that we have been there. Eight priests are always at their service: four at the mission and four at the school, as well as three brothers and five sisters! And the school, the “Juvénat du Sacré Coeur”, Sacred Heart School, for primary and lower secondary school (which unfortunately goes only to ninth grade) has for 18 years been directed by a real master, Fr. Patrick Duverger, who, with the help of his colleagues, has truly given everything he had to the task. It is a heavy cross to lead a school, and especially in an equatorial climate like Gabon! After 25 years, I think that the Gabonese can give thanks to God for all He has done for them. What God has not yet done in Cameroon, what He has not yet done in the Ivory Coast, what He has not yet done in Senegal, He has done in Libreville! It is as if it were a repetition of what happened back in the day when the first Holy Ghost missionaries arrived in these lands. Fr. Libermann sent the first missionaries to this area and Fr. Bessieux arrived in Libreville. Afterwards, from Libreville, the missionaries left for Cameroon, Congo, and the other countries. They even went through Libreville to go to Kenya in the east of Africa: for Kenya was evangelised by the French Holy Ghost Fathers while it was still an English colony. Libreville was, so to speak, the crossroads of central and western Africa. The same thing could happen again with future Traditional Catholic works, as will soon be the case in Nigeria and Cameroon, God willing. Indeed, this 25th anniversary should be one of true and profound thanksgiving for the Fr Patrick Groche’s farewell Blessing
Page 1 and 2: In this issue: Editorial p 2 Gabon
Page 3 and 4: virtues! Our gratitude extends also
Page 5: Building of the School them before
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Catholic Tradition in Africa, #10 - Society of St. Pius X

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