Senegal
Population: 8.8 million
Life expectancy male/female: 48/50
Infant mortality rate: 67‰
Illiteracy: 62% Religions: Muslim 84%; Catholic 6%; Animists 7%
Independence: 20 June 1960 (from France)
GDP per capita: US$ 730

This is a country of 8 million inhabitants with a degree of economic dynamism and a relative social and political stability (apart from troubles connected with an independence movement in Casamance). The Church makes up about 5% of the population which is 90% Moslem. The secular clergy are fairly numerous relative to the number of Christians.

Link to Senegal Government

 

 

The Spiritans, who have been in the country for more than 33%150 years, have, amongst other engagements, a certain tradition of involvement in the media. In 1993, the new bishop of Ziguinchor asked us to increase our presence in his diocese.
The result has been a parish ministry and work with young people at Ziguinchor itself. A Spiritan fraternity was set up at Dakar following on the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Spiritans in Senegal.

As a result, a good number of lay people have come to know the Spiritans better and have acquired a taste for some elements of our Spiritan tradition.

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