History
The Spiritans have worked in this country since 1864. They have been involved in education, parish ministry, pastoral centre, formation of priests and catechists and lay leaders.
The country has been devastated by a very bloody civil war since 1991 which has brought a lot of untold suffering for the people especially after the overthrow of a democratically elected government in May 1997. This has attracted economic sanctions and blockade from the rest of the world. The war has cost a lot of lives including that one of the Irish confreres, Felim McAllister. Almost one third of the population has been displaced as refugees.

Statistics
Although the number of Catholics is estimated to be 3% of the overall population of 4 million people, the catholic church has great influence and respect in the country. This has been brought about through the many catholic schools which were set up by the Spiritans many of which have now been destroyed by the civil war.
·

	The main source of personnel for the District has been Ireland. There have also been confreres from the English Province. The future hope of the District now lies on WAF. In the space of 9 years (1988-1997) the District has lost 33 confreres.
	In 1994 they were 26, 21 from Ireland, two from the English Province 3 from WAF.
	Presently they are 10 (5 Irish, 1 Bishop + 4 priests; 5 WAF, 4 priests + 1 scholar.).
	There has been steady growth of the local clergy (up to 40) in the last years. Most of the responsibility has gradually been handed over to them. This transfer can sometimes result in tension, but relations between them and the Spiritans are in general quite good.

 

Community life
Presently most of the confreres are living on their own. Because of the insecurity on the roads it has not always been possible to visit the confreres or hold group retreats and meetings. Like the rest of the people in the country, the confreres are going through difficult times as a result of the stress and pressure of the war situation.

Mission engagements
Confreres continue to do their ministry in very precarious circumstances. The ministry includes:

	relief work
	rehabilitation of child combatants
	parish work
	education - teaching /chaplaincy work in the Teachers Training College.

The Future
It is hoped that WAF will invest more personnel in the District in the future when things settle down. The following are the projections for the next years:
The main priority in pastoral work will be to help the people in post war reconstruction, resettlement and reconciliation programme. Attention will be given to the youth and those affected by the war.
The District would also like to be involved in retreat work, formation in the major seminary and pastoral centre.
Continued commitment to teaching and chaplaincy in the Training Colleges and secondary schools.
It would like to explore the possibility of a special Spiritan project in secondary education.
It will like to get another Spiritan parish in Kenema diocese, to serve as home base for the District and WAF.

Embassy of Sierra Leone
245 Oxford Street
1st and 3rd Floors
Oxford Circus House
London W1D 2LX
Tel: 004420 7287 9884
Fax: 004420 734 3822
E.Mail: info@SLHC_uk.org.uk

Back to Africa