International Catholic Charity Donates Towards Formation of Novices in CAR

“It was only the silence that was somewhat unusual,” adds Fr. Federico.

Normally, the monastery is a place to which thousands of people turn in their need, and is at the same time an important spiritual centre for the Catholic faithful.

“There are usually countless children and young people constantly running around, for whom the extensive monastery grounds are a perfect playground,” ACN leadership reports.

Founded in 1971 by four Carmelite Fathers from Italy who arrived in CAR some 50 years ago, the Religious Order has grown to receive more and more local African men who undergo formation in one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.

In the work of formation, the Friars in CAR work closely together with their Carmelite brothers in neighbouring Cameroon.

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Currently, there are 38 young men in formation, 23 of them in CAR and 15 in Cameroon.

The young men spend the various stages of their training in different Centres, living in the local Carmelite monastery and forming part of the community there.

They follow their Philosophy and Theology studies at the University of Bangui, the capital of CAR, and Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé.

ACN leadership notes that the formation of the 38 young Carmelites is a massive challenge for the Religious Order.

“Padre Federico puts all his trust in Divine Providence and in the excellent collaboration between all the teaching staff, who are responsible for the spiritual, human and intellectual formation of the young men in their care,” officials of the organization that supports the Church in difficult countries say in the January 5 report.

They add in reference to the Carmelite Novices, “So that they can continue their studies without interruption, ACN has promised a contribution of 25,000 Euros towards the cost.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.