On 2 February the celebrations began for the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the ‘Juvénat St Camille’ Camillian Seminary. Many activities and projects animated the community during these days of celebration.

The activities ended on Saturday 15 February 2020 with a solemn celebration. The Holy Mass was presided over by Prosper Kontiebo, the Bishop of Tenkodogo, together with Msgr. Joseph SAMA, the Bishop of Nouna; Msgr. Modeste KAMBOU, the Bishop of Gaoua; and Msgr. Théophile NARE, the Bishop of Kaya.

The Holy Mass witnessed the presence of numerous concelebrating priests, men and women religious, major Superiors and delegates of institutions.

Two representatives of the Camillian religious family were present: Father Laurent ZOUNGRANA, the Vicar General of the Order, and Father Gaétan KABORE, the Provincial Superior of the Province of Burkina Faso

     The Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Ouagadougou, Father Alfred OUEDRAOGO, took part in this great celebration as the representative of His Eminence Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo.

After the entrance procession, Father Théodore DIANDA, the Superior of the community, welcomed the guests and the whole assembly. Father Eric NARE then spoke and he described the importance of this golden jubilee. Father Elie BOUDA, the director of the Juvénat, outlined the history of the seminary from its foundation to today.

Father Justin NANA gave a brief talk on the current state of the Juvénat and the objectives of the golden jubilee. Accompanied by the splendid songs of the seminarians, helped for the occasion by former students who play musical instruments, the celebration took place in a very pleasant and fervent atmosphere. Archbishop Prosper KONTIEBO in his homily thanked God for the gift of young people in the Church and in Burkina Faso. He also emphasised the need for the principal beneficiaries, who are the Christian faithful, to invest in the sustainability of this work. He congratulated the former students of the seminary for their witness of life in their areas of activity, provided through example. He encouraged them to persevere to bear ever greater witness to the Camillian charism of the love and mercy of God in the world.

Special thanks went to all the former seminarians who mobilised for this great celebration together with members of the faithful, teachers and religious. Their joy emerged though spectacular dances. Adults and children expressed their happiness in dancing and song.

   At the end of the celebration, some workers and friends spoke to those present and they were:

– Antoine TIENDREBEOGO, a former student at the seminary, moved the assembly with his testimony.

– Mr. Jean Henri ZOUNGRANA, the President of the Organisation Committee for the Golden Jubilee.

– Mr. Olivier KAMBOU, the President of the Association of Former Students of the St. Camillus Seminary (AJC) assured Archbishop Prosper KONTIEBO of the readiness of the AJC to be bearers of the Camillian charism and Camillian values.

– Father Théodore DIANDA, the Superior of the Juvénat St Camille, in his speech announced a project to create a kind of association called ‘The Friends of the Juvénat Saint Camille’ to enable voluntary workers to be involved, as was the case with the committee for the organisation of the jubilee, by supporting the Juvénat in its mission and goals. This association should be led by former seminarians.

– Father Laurent ZOUNGRANA, the Vicar General of the Order, ended the list of speakers. For him this jubilee was especially personal because he had been one of the first seminarians to begin the priestly pathway in 1970.

PHOTOGALLERY