West African Province (WAP)
The West African Foundation became the Province of West Africa on October 2nd, 2001. The first superior of the new Province is Fr. John Kwofie C.S.Sp.
The first Chapter of the new Province will take place in Ghana during the month of November 2001..

History
The beginning of West African Foundation was in 1979 during the meeting of the West African Superiors (Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Makurdi, Kwara-Benue, Nigeria) in Dakar, Senegal. The founding Districts were Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Makurdi and Kwara-Benue. Later Senegal joined FAC and Kwara-Benue opted to collaborate with the Province of Nigeria. The first novitiate was opened in 1980 in Bwiam, The Gambia. The first priestly ordinations took place in 1988.

Link to African Spiritans

The Foundation developed under the collegial responsibility of the founding District Superiors with special responsibility given to those of The Gambia and Senegal. In 1982 one of the Superiors was named the Director of WAF. In 1983 there was a new Director who formed an executive council with the Superiors of Senegal and The Gambia. In 1988 a Superior of WAF was named and in 1992 he became a Major Superior with an independent Council separate and distinct from the Superiors of the District. It held its first Chapter in Ejisu in 1995.

Statistics
Members by origin: 116 (43 priests, 1 finally professed Brother, 72 junior professed)
From other circumscriptions: 6 (5 Irish, 1 Swiss).

Spiritans in these countries. They have also been intended to help promote missionary awareness in the local churches where the Districts are working in Education and Parish work especially in areas of first evangelisation in northern Ghana.

Mission
a) Within the Foundation

The Foundation works in close collaboration with the founding Districts and most of the first appointments have been made within these Districts. These appointments were made with a view to helping to build a solid home base which will assure the identity and rootedness of WAF as well as the continued presence of the Spiritans in these countries. They have also been intended to help promote missionary awareness in the local churches where the Districts are working.
Parish work especially in areas of first evangelisation in northern Ghana.

 

b) Outside the Foundation

Malawi (3 confreres) since 1992: two are in parish ministry and one vocations' ministry and formation work as Director of Postulants
Senegal (1) since 1997: in refugee ministry
Paraguay (2) from 1998.

 

 

 

 

Vision of the Future
Consolidate the ground work for the passage of the Foundation to the status of a Province;
Establish a solid home base in each of the countries of the Foundation;
See the possibilities of undertaking new mission projects outside the Foundation and founding Districts in collaboration with other circumscriptions;
Train people to staff the houses of formation and for involvement in education;
Build a Spiritan house in Accra for the administration and for welcoming members.

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