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June 26 in Ivory Coast
June 30, 2011
Love one another, lend one another a hand, forgive each other
The following is a letter received from Ivory Coast, a country recently involved in harsh internal fighting. On June 23 a Mass of Saint Josemaria Escriva was celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation in the capital, Yamoussoukro.
“Thank you for publicizing the Mass here. It went extremely well. It was celebrated by Msgr Francisco Sanchez, regional vicar of Opus Dei in Ivory Coast, in the presence of the Bishop of Yamoussoukro, Msgr. Marcellin Yao Louadio. Concelebrants included Fr. Célestin K., Vicar General of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro, Fr. Jacques Kouassi, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Visitation, and Fr. Hervé Djézou, Parish Priest of St Augustine’s Cathedral, Yamoussoukro.
The church was full to overflowing, with a congregation of over 500 faithful. These included many pupils from several different schools in the city, such as the Lycée Scientifique and the Lycée Mamie Adjoua, and also students at the Houphouet-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute, whose ‘St Theresa Choir’ sang the Mass.
In his homily, Msgr. Sanchez said that he had asked himself, ‘What would Saint Josemaria say if he were here today?’ And he thought of Saint Josemaria’s words: ‘I would fall on my knees, without putting on any act – but this is what my heart dictates – and ask you, for the love of God, to love one another, to help one another, to lend one another a hand, to know how to forgive one another. Reject all pride, be compassionate, show charity; help each other with prayer and sincere friendship’ (The Forge, 451).
These words, set within the message of the universal call to holiness spread by Saint Josemaria, find a special echo, necessarily, in the hearts of Ivorians, after the crisis the country has endured over the past months. They incite us to ask Our Blessed Lady – as Msgr. Sanchez advised – to teach us to live up to our faith generously, so as to be witnesses of Christ’s Love in the middle of the world.
At the end of Mass the faithful had the opportunity to venerate a relic of St Josemaria.
I’m sending you photos of the Mass in separate e-mails.
Thank you again for your prayers.
Fr. Abdoulaye Sissoko”
The following is a letter received from Ivory Coast, a country recently involved in harsh internal fighting. On June 23 a Mass of Saint Josemaria Escriva was celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation in the capital, Yamoussoukro.
“Thank you for publicizing the Mass here. It went extremely well. It was celebrated by Msgr Francisco Sanchez, regional vicar of Opus Dei in Ivory Coast, in the presence of the Bishop of Yamoussoukro, Msgr. Marcellin Yao Louadio. Concelebrants included Fr. Célestin K., Vicar General of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro, Fr. Jacques Kouassi, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Visitation, and Fr. Hervé Djézou, Parish Priest of St Augustine’s Cathedral, Yamoussoukro.
Mass celebrated in honour of St Josemaria on June 23 in the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation, Yamoussoukro.
The church was full to overflowing, with a congregation of over 500 faithful. These included many pupils from several different schools in the city, such as the Lycée Scientifique and the Lycée Mamie Adjoua, and also students at the Houphouet-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute, whose ‘St Theresa Choir’ sang the Mass.
In his homily, Msgr. Sanchez said that he had asked himself, ‘What would Saint Josemaria say if he were here today?’ And he thought of Saint Josemaria’s words: ‘I would fall on my knees, without putting on any act – but this is what my heart dictates – and ask you, for the love of God, to love one another, to help one another, to lend one another a hand, to know how to forgive one another. Reject all pride, be compassionate, show charity; help each other with prayer and sincere friendship’ (The Forge, 451).
These words, set within the message of the universal call to holiness spread by Saint Josemaria, find a special echo, necessarily, in the hearts of Ivorians, after the crisis the country has endured over the past months. They incite us to ask Our Blessed Lady – as Msgr. Sanchez advised – to teach us to live up to our faith generously, so as to be witnesses of Christ’s Love in the middle of the world.
More than 500 faithful attended the Mass.
At the end of Mass the faithful had the opportunity to venerate a relic of St Josemaria.
I’m sending you photos of the Mass in separate e-mails.
Thank you again for your prayers.
Fr. Abdoulaye Sissoko”
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- Interview With "There Be Dragons" Movie Director - St. Josemaría Escrivá, Civil War and Forgiveness
- Saint Josemaria has stayed with us
- Feast-day of Saint Josemaria, June 26, 2011
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