Priestly vocations are growing in Burkina Faso despite Islamic terrorism

ACI Prensa staff, December 27, 2024 / 3:20 p.m

Despite the constant terrorist attacks suffered by Burkina Faso’s Catholics from Islamic fundamentalists, vocations to the priesthood have increased in recent years, especially in dioceses located in “danger zones”.

Almost 40% of the seminarians come from these localities, which are the most affected by terrorism and violence.

According to the pontifical foundation Help for the Church in need (ACN), right at St. At the Peter and Paul Seminary alone, the number of candidates for the priesthood increased from 254 in the academic year 2019-2020 to 281 in 2024-2025.

Terrorist violence began to wreak havoc in the African country in 2019. Father Guy Moukassa Sanon, rector of the seminary, explained that during the holidays not all students can return home. This would mean “danger of death”, so they are welcomed by diocesan centres, host families or simply invited by their colleagues to spend the holidays in safer areas.

The rector recalled a third-year philosophy seminarian who ignored warnings and took a route forbidden by terrorists to visit his father. It never arrived and was never found. His family is convinced he was murdered. “Other seminarians had narrow escapes,” Moukassa added.

Despite the tragic cases, the rector emphasized that it was the diligent work of vocations that had a profound impact on the growth of candidates for the priesthood. He emphasized that the simplicity of life in Burkina Faso is ideal for young people to seriously consider consecrating their lives to the service of God and His Church.

Burkina Faso is not secularized like Europe, so it is easier to inspire vocations than in a materialistic context, Moukassa said. The increase in vocations has led the seminary to house 22 seminarians outside the main residences and to send another 11 to a seminary in Mali, the rector added.

Stating that the local Church is doing everything in its power to provide seminarians with high-quality training, Moukassa shared that “it is essential that future priests can give authentic witness to their faith.”

Finally, he emphasized the great value of training future priests to be apostles of fraternity and unity, especially in a context like that of Burkina Faso, where before the terrorist attacks, the minority Catholic community had no problem with the population Muslim majority.

“Many seminarians have Muslim parents, and while that may initially cause disappointment, at the end of the day it was not a problem. However, today if you are not careful, social cohesion can be threatened”, the rector noted.

“That is why it is crucial to train future priests who promote communion, because the Church, in the service of society, must work for unity,” he explained.

“Often, we appreciate something only when we have lost it. Here, if you ask someone what they want (for Christmas), they say peace. May the grace of the baby Jesus reach all hearts,” concluded Moukassa.

This story was published for the first time by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news partner. It was translated and adapted by CNA.

Andrés Henríquez is a Venezuelan writer specializing in religion and politics, with over five years of experience in bilingual media. He is a member of the Regnum Christi Federation.