Indian Fathers Eusebio Gomes, left, and Vincent Lobo, right, from the Society of the Missionaries of Saint Francis Xavier stand with parishioners in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott on Oct. 23. (Photo supplied)
Two missionary priests from Goa-based Indian religious congregation have traveled to Mauritania in Africa, achieving a historic first for their 130-year-old congregation.
Fathers Eusebio Gomes and Vincent Lobo from the Society of the Missionaries of Saint Francis Xavier — also known as the Pilar Society — landed in the Islamic republic's capital, Nouakchott on Oct. 23.
Before leaving for Africa, Father Gomes was the editor of the Pilar Society weekly, Vavraddeancho Ixtt ("workers’ friend") and served as a missionary in northern India and Nepal.
Father Lobo, who ordained as a priest in May, comes from Mangalore. Before arriving in Mauritania the duo stayed in Paris for three-months to learn French, one of several languages spoken in the west African nation.
The priests will be based in Kaedi, a city in southern Mauritania, from January 2017. Until then, they will stay at the Catholic Mission in Nouakchott to continue to improve their French and study the local culture and customs, Pilar Society officials told ucanews.com.
In 2010, the Vatican’s Congregation for Evangelization of the Peoples appealed to the Pilar Society to take up a missio sui iuris ("independent mission") to more fully participate in the universal mission of the Church.
Pope Benedict XVI the same year also granted self-governing "pontifical status" to the indigenous Pilar Society, 123 years after it was established in the former Portuguese colony.
The opportunity to fulfil their request came when Bishop Martin Happe of Noaukchott visited the Pilar Society headquarters in Goa and invited them to open a mission in his diocese.
Bishop Happe’s parishioners are all migrants because Mauritania is a Muslim country and has no Christians of its own. Weekly masses are celebrated in French and English.
There are several other Catholic missions serving in the diocese. Caritas is accepted by the country as a development partner and is the face of the church in Mauritania.
Mission centers and parishes run libraries for school and college students. Members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Apparition from France, Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and Daughters of Immaculate Heart of Mary serve in civil hospitals, kindergartens and help people with disabilities.
Father Lobo said he could not decline the request to go to Africa. "I am determined to cross the boundaries for the sake of serving the Lord. I am happy to be here, as it is my first appointment, and above all in a foreign land."
The Pilar Society was established on the hill of the same name in 1887 in Goa. At that time Goa was a Portuguese colony and served as the base for Portuguese missionaries in Asia.
The society aims to introduce Jesus to all people, and sharing his teachings considered as good news for wholesome human and social life. It engages in works of social uplift and integral development of people through its educational institutions, social welfare activities such as orphanages, health centers and dispensaries in rural areas.
Besides operating in various parts of India, it has missions and parishes in Nepal, the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Italy.
The Pilar Society currently has 463 members, 324 of them priests and 10 brothers, while the rest are scholastics under formation.
