Catechists “paying the heaviest price” amid Christian Persecution in Burkina Faso: Official of Training Centre

In the December 11 report, ACN notes that in many countries in the Sahel, Catechists play a central role at the heart of the Church, particularly in areas, where the presence of the Clergy is limited.   

Since the beginning of terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso in 2015, the mission of Catechists has become “even more essential”, the Pontifical charity foundation reports, and adds, “While many Priests have been displaced, parish life is maintained in many places only thanks to the commitment of Catechists.”

In the report, Fr. Ouedraogo tells ACN that it is Catechists who take over from the Priests in the villages and displacement camps. “It is they who preside at Sunday celebrations in the priests’ absence, who take care of catechesis, who encourage the population to pray the rosary and even the office, and who are present at the bedsides of the sick. Where we are, we can’t do without the Catechists,” the Catholic Priest is quoted as saying. 

ACN notes that a Catechist’s formation in Burkina Faso is like that of a Seminarian, and explains, “Common prayer life is like that of a seminary: Mass, lauds, sext, vespers, compline, rosary, adoration…sometimes the wives of future catechists undergo the same training as their husbands and are later given the task of leading the Christian community neighbouring their husbands.”

Asked about the reasons that would push a person to become a Catechist in Burkina Faso today, despite the risk to his life, Fr. Ouedraogo tells ACN, “These are people prepared to offer their lives right to the end for Christ.” 

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Catechists “paying the heaviest price” amid Christian Persecution in Burkina Faso: Official of Training Centre

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He says that the Catechists’ selflessness is shown in the fact that they are not paid and must rely entirely on divine providence. 

The Burkinabe Catholic Priest emphasises that the Catechist in the West African nation is so devoted to his service to the Christian community that he does not have time to cultivate land and therefore has no stable income to feed his family. 

“If the community can support the Catechist, it does, but very often it is the other way around: especially in difficult times, he is the one people often ask to help other Christians,” Fr. Ouedraogo has told ACN.