Ivory Coast

The Viatorians in Africa recently celebrated their fiftieth anniversary in the Ivory Coast, located on the west coast of Africa. Beginning with three French Viatorians, the community has grown to twenty-six religious, twenty-one of whom are native Africans. Together with associates and lay collaborators, the Viatorians conduct three coeducational schools with a combined enrollment of almost 2,000 students, a parish, and a youth center.

Their faith and dedication is very strong and has sustained them through the recent turmoil. The community continues to be vibrant and this has motivated young people to be Viatorians.

Five young men are novices and seven are in university studies. The community expects that at least ten novices will enter next year.

The faith and the enthusiasm of the community is very strong. However, the poverty stemming from the civil war is making the education cost prohibitive. It is for this reason that the African Viatorians have appealed for help from the international community.