Burkina Faso: If the enemy was thinking of snuffing out Christianity its wasting its time

Bishop Théophile Naré, Bishop of Kaya

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

All over the world Christians gather for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve but in Burkino Faso they cannot take the risk. For the 10th year running, Christmas Masses in the sub-Saharan country will take place before nightfall.

Bishop Théophile Naré of Kaya, north-central Burkina Faso, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) "The celebrations will begin early to avoid having to move around at night."

Christians in Burkina Faso face severe persecution and displacement from jihadist violence from neighbouring Mali.

Speaking during a visit to ACN's international headquarters near Frankfurt, Germany, Bishop Naré said that, despite the people's fear, their faith is lively.

The bishop, who serves as apostolic administrator of Dori diocese as well as bishop of nearby Kaya diocese, quoted the second-century Christian theologian Tertullian who said: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."

The bishop reported that in Koumi, in the west of the country, the seminary is full, even though the country's priests are targeted by the terrorists.

He added: "The key word is resilience: persevering in prayer, hope and doing good. If the enemy was thinking of snuffing out Christianity, it's wasting its time: Christianity in Africa is spreading,"

He said proof of the growth of Christianity came last March when 2 million people gathered at the Marian sanctuary of Yagma for the 125th anniversary of Christian evangelisation in the country.

In response to the threat, security forces have helped at big religious festivals, collaborating with the Church and Scouts and Volunteers of the Defence of the Fatherland.

The bishop shared stories from the dioceses of Kaya, Dori and Ouahigouya, also in the north of the country, where he said there were many incidents where Christians had shown courage in the face of mortal danger.

He described how last August women in a parish in Pibaoré, central Burkina Faso, formed a human shield to protect their priest, who was targeted during Mass.

Bishop Naré said that "this heroic act was not picked up by the media, but it remains an important symbol of faith and solidarity."

Created shortly before the attack, at the height of the security and humanitarian crisis, the parish was short lived, as the population was forced to flee and its priest has since been living in Kaya.

In Dori diocese, only the parishes of Dori and Gorom remain open and the bishop can only reach communities if under military escort or by helicopter.

Thiou parish, in Ouahigouya, close to the Malian border, is closed.

Bishop Naré added: "Overall, violence is not on the rise, but the situation remains difficult in the villages, where the Christian communities have largely been displaced to the towns where there is more security"

In Kougoussi, within his diocese, the population has tripled in 10 years.

The bishop said the international community seems to ignore this crisis. He said: "Either it knows and it doesn't react, or it doesn't act because it doesn't know."

The dioceses lack the means to document the attacks to remind people of the urgency of international aid.

Bishop Naré said: "To my knowledge, there have been no recent kidnappings in the two dioceses under my responsibility, but several attacks have caused dozens of deaths. It is, however, difficult to get reliable statistics."

The Church tries to respond to essential needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. Bishop Naré added: "It's a question of survival; the needs are immense."

The camps are full and there is no room for new families and displaced people often come with physical injuries, illnesses and trauma and turn to the hospitals, the missions, the priests or directly to the bishop.

Getting displaced children into school, helping catechists and seminarians, and providing psychological support are likewise crucial.

A priest from Ouahigouya diocese, trained in Kenya thanks to ACN, is supporting victims of trauma and works on a rota with lay people.

Bishop Justin Kientega of Ouahigouya, also visiting ACN from Burkina Faso, said: "ACN takes into account all the dimensions of the human person. We can only congratulate the benefactors and encourage them to continue."

Thanks to Christophe Lafontaine