A YOUNG MISSIONARY IN SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA

Fr. Patrick Santianez with community leaders at mongo Bedugu

From May 7 – May 19 I received an invitation to go to Sierra Leone, West Africa to lead our men their in a retreat. During that time I had a wonderful opportunity to visit some of our missions and the men who are working there. This post comes from my visit to Mongo Bedugu. – Fr. Carl Chudy, SX

Fr. Patrick Santanez, Xaverian Missionary from the Philippines is working in the far reaches of the northern district of Sierra Leone, West Africa, from the secluded village called Mongo Bendugu. It took us hours to reach this remote and lush area with stretches of cassava farms carved in cleared forested areas. I had come to Sierra Leone through an invitation to lead a retreat for all of the Xaverian Missionaries in the country and had an opportunity to visit this village and our men working there.

The mission of Mongo Bendugu is settled by the Koranko Tribe, traditional Muslims who migrated from the nearby borders of Guinea in the last century .In Mongo Fr. Patrick lives with our seminarian, Joeven Matugas, both from the Philippines and teaches in the local government school to be close to the youth, as well as the management of the parish and four outstations.

Fr. Patrick (left) with Joeven (right) with a group of children during a baptism

Changes for a Young Missionary Priest
As I spoke with Fr. Patrick under the shade of a cotton tree, he was still recovering a bit from a severe attack of malaria which led him to lose some weight with the feel of lingering weakness.  He spoke of the shift he has been dealing with in his image of what it means to be a priest from his native Philippines where the Church is large and activity is expansive. The work of priests in the Philippines is in a sense, never ending with sacramental assistance in parishes that literally have thousands of people. In Sierra Leone, a predominately Muslim country, the life of a priest is much less about sacraments and much more about building friendships, dialogue and the endless work in the battle of poverty. The change in culture and language also compound the seismic shifts that take place for the missionary.

The Work
In Mongo Bendugu the main parish is the gateway for eleven outstations, chapels and schools where other young Christian communities through cooperative work in the farms of cassava and ground nut, the work of the schools, catechesis and time spent together.  The main outstations they travel to and care for are in outlying villages: Combili (school and church), Sarakolan (school and church), Karawan (school) and other stations where work with youth, prayer groups, catechesis continues.

The Iman who kindled a friendship with our missionaries

Friendship with Muslims
From the village of Sarakolan the Imam or Muslim leader at the mosque approached our men in Mongo. It was his and our interest to build strong ties of friendship and dialogue with him and with the Muslim community. One day he approached our missionaries, holding a small coconut tree sapling, green and beautiful. He asked that this tree be planted in front of our house in Mongo as a symbol of the friendship between the Catholic and Muslim community. I came to that planted tree and uttered a small prayer of hope to the God who created not only that tree, but Christians and Muslims, all His children.

Fr. Patrick stopping for a meal in one of the villages.

Learning with Empty Bellies
Fr. Patrick teaches in the government school with the hope that he may grow close to the youth. He enjoys working with the students but finds many challenges as well. One day he related that after teaching throughout the hot day he often gets the clear impression that he is not being understood. He turns to one of the students and asks, “Did you understand what I was saying?” The student quickly responded, “I have nothing in my belly today. It is hard to understand anything.”

Becoming More Real
The realities and changes that occur in the first years of priesthood and missionary life, in a new country, culture and language that slowly becomes a new home, ebbs slowly into life.  Expectations in what is actually possible become slowly more realistic. Sharing the compassion of Christ in these unspoiled lands, nestled in the hospitality that is so much a part of the culture of Sierra Leone, is what helps him say : “I am tired many times but happy to be here.”

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