“Draw strength from prayer”: Catholic Bishop to Theology Students of Missionary Institute in Ivory Coast

Abidjan, 26 September, 2024 / 9:34 PM

Bishop Jean-Jacques Koffi Oi Koffi of the Catholic Diocese of  San Pedro in Ivory Coast has urged students of the Catholic Missionary Institute of Abidjan (ICMA) to draw strength from prayer and commitment to their mission.

In his homily during the opening of the academic year at ICMA, Bishop Koffi emphasized the need for the Catholic Church to enhance its efforts in evangelization and the formation of consciences while tackling the pressing societal and cultural challenges that the nation faces. 

“Do not be discouraged by the obstacles in your mission. Draw strength from prayer and the sacraments as you continue to work for the Kingdom of God,” the Ivorian Catholic Bishop said Thursday, September 26.

He added, “It is essential for both formators and students to harness their inner strength and character, unlocking their potential for a pastoral mission that embraces participation, communion, and active engagement.”

He encouraged Priests, Religious Men and Women, and laypeople trained at ICMA to become “active witnesses of faith, especially in rural and marginalized communities.”

Bishop Koffi noted that ICMA plays an important role in training future missionaries and religious leaders who are promoting Christian and human values.

“Let us cultivate solidarity, subsidiarity, transparency, and intellectual honesty in a spirit of synodality,” he said, and added, “In the face of internal divisions and social tensions, the Church must exemplify cohesion.”

Bishop Koffi urged the students to rise above ethnic and political divides to focus on their shared mission of proclaiming the Gospel.

“Unity in diversity is the richness of the Church,” the Local ordinary of San Pedro who doubles as Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gagnoa

Bishop Koffi also highlighted the significance of an “outward-looking Church” that remains true to the missionary spirit of Christ. 

Founded in October 2004, ICMA is a collaborative initiative of the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr.), the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M. Cap.), and the Society of African Missions (SMA). ICMA has served primarily as a theological training institution.

In its two decades of existence, the institute has trained over 1,150 individuals, equipping them for meaningful roles within both the Church and society.

Justin Assalé contributed to the writing of this story