The closing of the Tercentenary of the birth in
Heaven of Saint John-Baptist De La Salle in the District of the Gulf of Benin
took place in two parts and three elements: a day of reflection, a thanksgiving
Mass and an agape.
On Saturday, November 16th 2019, in the
premises of the Christ the Redeemer Centre “Brother Home”, a conference
was held on the contribution of the Christian schools to the formation of the
citizen and the values to be promoted in the catholic schools. The two
conferences were given by Mrs. QUASHIE Maryse, Lecturer in Educational Sciences
at the University of Lomé and Father Pierre-Marie Chanel AFFOGNON, National
Director of Catholic Education of Togo. Brothers Rodrigue TOEPPEN and Valère
ADONSOU, with Brother Romain SODEY as introducer, successively assured
moderation. These two conferences were interspersed with an exhibition of the
Lasallian bibliography and iconography and that of other congregations. After
lunch and a brief moment of respite, the participants had a grateful testimony
of a group of former students from the different schools of the Brothers. The
panel that followed was moderated by Professor GOEH-AKUE Michel from the
Department of History of the University of Lomé. The panellists, Mr. NAO
Christophe, Mr. DIKA Théophile, Br. Benoît MAPAYENE and Sister Louise de Jésus
ASSIVON, dealt with the condition of the Christian teacher.
During the general debate, which closed the
day, the various interventions made a diagnosis of the condition of the
teaching profession in front of an audience of academics and practitioners from
the world of education who made concrete proposals for the valorisation of
their conditions.
The second day, Sunday 17th
November, took place in the parish of Notre-Dame Sous la Croix of Agbalepedogan,
the solemn closing mass of the jubilee, a mass animated by the choir “Les
Séraphins de La Salle” made up of former students of the College of
Togoville. The Eucharist was presided over by the Very Reverend Father Jean
Innocent Bertin AGBOBLY-ATAYI, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lomé. For
the celebrant as well as for Brother Paulin DEGBE, Visitor of the District,
Saint John- Baptist de La Salle remains “a reference point in the history
of education”, an innovator in the human and religious formation of poor children
and young people. John-Baptist De La Salle, Patron Saint of educators, affirmed
very pertinently: “God wants all men to come to the knowledge of the
truth, and he cannot want this without giving children teachers who contribute
to the execution of this plan”.
After this celebration, the guests, made up of
priests, religious men and women, delegations of professors from the schools of
Togo and Benin, former students, Young Lasallians, Signum Fidei and
parishioners, took part in the feast at the Provincial House which was given a
new look for the occasion and aroused the admiration of all.
Apart from those who had fallen ill due to the
fatigue, the other Lasallians gathered the next day to get the place cleaned
and reorganized.
Brother Pierre-Claver MENSAH
Provincialate, Lomé
