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Bight of Benin District-In-Formation
The Bight of Benin District-in-formation covers the territory of Benin Republic, Niger, Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
Its 47 permanent members come from Benin (9 priests, 1 deacon), Central African Republic (7 priests), Nigeria (27 priests, 3 deacons). The 43 priests are working in 12 different African countries as well as Canada (parish), Italy (studies), Netherlands (parish) and the USA (studies).
Some of the ministries our priests are involved in include parish work (particularly in areas of Primary Evangelization), administering programmes for those suffering from HIV/Aids, ministering to marginalised groups in some countries, literacy programmes, searching for sources of clean water, developing relations with Islam, building and administering schools etc.
The 4 deacons will be ordained in June and July 2009. All four are going out of their own countries to other African countries.
In 2009 we will also ordain 7 more Deacons who will, please God, be ordained priests in 2010. They are completing their studies at one of the three Houses of Theology the SMA has in Africa - in Kenya, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
The District-in-formation also has 'seconded' members - 11 of them working fulltime in the Formation Houses, Fundraising or Administration of the unit.
The Superior, Basil Soyoye (from Nigeria) is assisted by Francis Barka-Nado (from the Central African Republic). The latter is also the Bursar for the District-in-formation. Their residence is the SMA House, GPO Box 1298, Ibadan, Nigeria.
The missionary priorities of the District-in-formation can be summed up as "a commitment to mission ad gentes and ad vitam, particularly in areas of Primary Evangelization".
Further information can be got from the District-in-formation Secretary at secretariat[nospam]smabbenin.org
Those interested in the life of an SMA missionary should contact the Vocations Director at smadirovocib[nospam]yahoo.co.uk
Those interested in helping us in our missionary work can contact Peter McCawille at smafvmla[nospam]yahoo.co.uk or Romanus Onyekuru SMA at romanusonyekuru[nospam]yahoo.fr