Malabo – The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Central Africa, scheduled for April 21-23, is eagerly anticipated. Pope John Paul II visited Equatorial Guinea in 1982 and met with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, marking the beginning of a new era in Church-state relations.
For the occasion, Fides gathered the testimony of Sister Giusy Becchera, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians , who works in the Archdiocese of Malabo. “The Church is missionary and the people are very grateful for the role of missionaries in our country,” reports Sister Giusy, emphasizing the strong synergy between mission and the Government. “The state collaborates with the bishops of the Episcopal Conference to promote key areas such as education and health and to strengthen social cohesion. Numerous associations, in particular the Association of Catholic Schools, actively collaborate and contribute to the success of educational activities. This type of cooperation makes the Church’s mission a vibrant part of the community.”
It is genuine cooperation based on agreements with the Holy See that regulate collaboration in the areas of education, healthcare, and social cohesion,” Sister Giusy emphasizes.
Retracing a bit of history, the nun affirms the vitality of the local Church, which despite the closure of churches from 1968 to 1979, remained present and active through its priests and laity. “Here, about 80-87% of the population is Catholic,” explains Sister Giusy. “Since the first proclamation of the Gospel in this country, the catechist has been considered the priest’s ‘right hand.’ Today, they are ‘leaders,’ meaning they are responsible for the various groups in the parishes. Therefore, the role of lay people is very important and present in our Church.
In the region, the presence of the Claretian Fathers remains significant. They are considered the first preachers of the Gospel in the country since their arrival in 1883. Although other missionary orders had been active in the region before them, they had to leave due to epidemics. The Claretian Missionaries overcame these obstacles, remained in the country, and are still active today.”
“As FMA, we are currently present with two communities in Malabo and one in Mongomo,” the nun continued. “In both places, we have a kindergarten and a primary school, a vocational training center, an oratory, and in Malabo, also a secondary school.” “Our commitment extends beyond the school,” she affirmed. “It reaches out in the suburbs, to disadvantaged families and young people without opportunities, to provide them with an education that imparts not only knowledge but also dignity, independence, and future prospects. Every skill that grows in the lives of young people is a seed that grows not only in their lives but also in their families and in society. For this reason, many alumni are actively involved in Equatorial Guinean society and support us in realizing Don Bosco’s dream: we need ‘Good Christians and honest citizens.’ “In our activities, we are always supported by our staff and group leaders, whom we have trained over the years according to the charism of the Salesians of Don Bosco,” the missionary concludes. “We also collaborate with various groups within the Salesian Order, who assist us in our diverse activities to promote the charism of our founder.”
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Equatorial Guinea belong to the province of Maria Domenica Mazzarello, which also includes Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and Chad. They are dedicated to education, formation, and youth work, following the charism of Saint John Bosco and Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello.
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