The Portuguese-speaking country of São Tomé and Príncipe is the second smallest nation in Africa. It consists of two principal islands and lies just off the West Coast of Africa.
Most of the population of this crisis-ridden nation, whose economy is overwhelmingly dependent on tourism and agriculture, are living in poverty. Since almost everything has to be imported, prices are very high.
Around 70% of its population of approximately 220,000 people are aged 30 or under, and offering them a prospect of hope for the future is a challenge. It is difficult even to give them access to a good education and appropriate medical care, and equally difficult to provide adequate employment and sound living conditions.
The Catholic Church is striving to give the people hope. Since the country is so small, there is only a single diocese. And while the majority of the population are Catholics, the sects and Pentecostal communities are continuing to spread. Bishop Manuel António Mendes dos Santos, who has since retired, previously explained it to us like this: „It is hardly surprising, given the magic/animistic culture that is characteristic of the general population. The young people especially are easily swayed by the Adventists, who offer a Bible-based community, while others are drawn to religions that claim to drive out evil spirits and promise happiness and success in life.“
Before he retired, Bishop Manuel invited various religious communities to his country to help in the work of evangelisation. Among these was the young Brazilian congregation, the „Missionaries of Merciful Consolation“ („Missionárias da Consolação Misericordiosa“). This community is now working in the Holy Trinity Parish, based in the town of Trindade. The parish serves a vast area which includes several rural communities, scattered over what were formerly cocoa and coffee farms. The sisters have come to help in the various areas of the missionary apostolate, above all in catechesis, youth work and the family apostolate. But they are also trained in the social communications media, and so the idea is for them to work as well via the diocesan radio station ‚Rádio Jubilar‘ and via the Internet. Bishop Dos Santos had high hopes for this initiative and wrote, „I believe theirs will be a very important instrument of the new evangelisation of this people, who are entrusted to our pastoral care.“
The sisters needed a place to stay, of course, and were offered a house that had been formerly used by the Claretine Fathers. However, it was in urgent need of renovation, and neither they nor the bishop had the necessary resources. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to provide 18,000 Euros to cover the cost of the most important work. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your contributions!
