In this issue:

Editorial p. 2Namibia p. 3Cameroon p. 5Ghana p. 6How to help us p. 8The Society in Africa p. 8

2014 - N°14Suggested price: R 25 - KSH 180

Zim US$ 2 - £ 4 - US$ 6

TR DITIONinfricaAC tholic

Quarterly bulletin of the District of Africa of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X

Splendid view of theNamibian desert

NamibiaCameroonGhana

Publisher: Father Loïc Duverger.This bulletin is offered free of charge. The price above is a suggested donation and we invite you to help us publish it by purchasing it. Once read, please do not throw it away. If you do not keep it, please pass it around.

2

Editorialby Rev. Fr. Loïc DuvergerDistrict Superior

This issue of Tradition in Africa is dedicated to three countries that my confreres visit regularly: Ghana, Cameroon and Namibia. The next issue will present three other countries in Africa: Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Throughout Africa the faithful are questioning the liturgical changes taking place and also the doctrinal changes invading the Catholic Church. The liturgical changes are noticed first, because they are most visible and obvious: the dropping of Latin, the introduction of secular music and musical instruments in religious ceremonies, communion in the hand, altar girls… Holy Mass has become a simple gathering with endless sermons or speeches which often lack any spiritual meanings. Little by little religious piety is diminished and abandoned: parish recitation of the rosary, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, processions … all vanish one by one and the respect of the Blessed Sacrament shrinks accordingly. Therefore personal piety fades and the Catholics abandon regular attendance at Holy Mass and finally stop practicing their faith altogether.False doctrines are entering into the C h u r c h , p r i n c i p a l l y t h r o u g h ecumenism with Protestant sects and other false religions. In 2013, a Gabonese journalist, reporting on an ecumenical ceremony, where the Catholic bishop was present, noted that there was no longer any difference between the Protestants and Catholics, except in their way to worship. Some people are delighted with statistics that show the ever increasing number of Catholics in Africa. They count, and are rightly happy in seeing, the large number of newly baptised Catholics each year. However, nobody counts the millions of Catholics each year who join one of the thousands of Protestant sects - and lose their faith. It is true that across Africa you can find many large and beautiful Catholic Churches that can hold thousands of people. But even more numerous are the Protestant temples that proliferate everywhere: simple huts in the villages, unstable wooden buildings in poor neighbourhoods, huge brick churches in richer areas - and each one with its own pastor with his own brand of Protestant preaching. When we visit our faithful, anxious to preserve their faith from the liturgical revolution and these new doctrines, we have the impression of going back to the 1970s in Europe where a growing opposition to the Second Vatican Council had just started. They have the same desire to keep Catholic traditions, which sanctified their forefathers; the same desire to have true Catholic priests, dressed as Catholic priests, preaching true Catholic doctrine; the same thirst for a good Catholic Mass – the 'real one' where the priest speaks in Latin! When older people assist at our Masses for the first time, the silence is deafening. A few try to cling to the responses to the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. But at the first “Dominus Vobiscum” their memories rush back and an “et cum Spiritu Tuo” bursts forth. The Kyriale (Number 8, obviously) starts strongly and the Gloria returns quickly to their mind. The most beautiful moment is the singing of the Salve Regina at the end of the Mass. Without doubt it was still sung in their hearts, but now you hear it with strength and wonderful devotion. The younger generation remain silent and unfortunately know nothing. They wonder and discover, in pure amazement, this great treasure that was hidden from them for so long. They are the ones who we visit whenever we can. Obviously, over time and with the warnings of the local priests and bishops, some of them will wither away. But a small group remain faithful, convinced and determined to do whatever is necessary so as to keep the Catholic Tradition. They must learn the real reasons of our combat: true Catholic doctrine; they need to be strengthened against modern errors; and they need the Sacraments, which will preserve them in their daily struggle. We try to visit them regularly, but it is not always possible, because of the lack of time, lack of priests and lack of money for these apostolic trips which are always expensive. I recommend these people and these countries to your prayers and your generosity, and in return I assure you all of my prayers and the prayers of my confreres calling upon the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary to intercede for you all. e

Dear Friends and Benefactors, Father Duverger in Cameroon, with Maman Pauline and Mrs Tigmo

They have the same desire to keep Catholic Tradition; the same desire to have genuine Catholic priests, dressed as Catholic priests, preaching true Catholic doctrine; the same thirst for the Catholic Mass – the 'real one'...

3

Twice as large as California, Namibia is a country of only two millions inhabitants. The deserts of Namib and Kalahari, the cities of the Central plateau, the Bushveld and the mountains of the Great Escarpment are Namibia's very distinct landscapes. Not less different is the history of this country. First colonized by

thPrussia at the end of the 19 century, Namibia became a South African protectorate after the Great War, until it became completely independent in 1990. This explains why, apart from the native languages (Otjihero, Setswana, Silozi, Oshiwambo, etc.), the people speak German, Afrikaans or English indiscriminately.

The first missionaries who arrived in the then-called South-West Africa were unfortunately not Catholics. In 1842, the German Lutherans from the Rhenish Missionary Society entered the country. The Catholic missionaries of the English Salesian Oblates arrived in Namibia only in 1896, soon followed by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and by the Holy Ghost Fathers. Windhoek city became an Apostolic Vicariate in 1926. In 1970, Namibia had 1220 Catholic priests, which was insufficient for the needs of the souls exposed to the powerful Lutheran Churches. Today, the whole country has only 81 priests. This says a little about the sad situation of the Catholic Church in Namibia.

The Namibian SSPX faithful are of German origin. For some of these families, their grandparents came to Namibia in the early 1900s to run some of the numerous two hundred and fifty square mile farms. Some others came after the Second World War, after they had suffered from the Nazi regime, fleeing away from communism in the GDR.In the early 1980s, they received the visit of Fathers Leslie and Ranger, South African traditional Catholic priests. In November 1988, Bishop Williamson made a first episcopal visit to the SSPX faithful in Windhoek. Then the SSPX priests in South Africa, especially Fr. Reinhartz, visited Namibia on a regular basis.

In 1991, one of the faithful, Mrs Roswitha Günther, managed to acquire one of the oldest Catholic

NamibiaBy Rev. Fr. Nicolas Bély

Fr Daniels, with the breviary, anywhere, anytime !

Father Nicolas Bély, born in Paris in 1979, was ordained priest in Ecône in June 2007. After ten fruitful years of apostolate in Gabon, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, Fr. Bély is now the bursar for the District of Africa. He is regurlarly called on for the SSPX apostolate in the is lands (Réunion, Mauri t ius and Madagascar) as well as Namibia.

Churches in Namibia: St Bonifatius Church in Omaruru, built in 1907. She then passed the property on to the SSPX in 1992. In August, Fr Reinhartz and Brother Vinzenz came to do a bit of carpentry work and to set benches and pews in the church. In April 1993, Brother Vinzenz supervised the very nice painting inside the church, representing the Good Shepherd.

Since then, Fathers Wall, Daniels, Esposito, Thomas, and Bedel have been coming from South Africa to say Mass in Omaruru every 2-3 months. A few other priests have been coming from Germany and Switzerland. A children camp is organised every year since 1995.The faithful are unfortunately very few and very scattered about the country. There are basically three families, each of them staying at about 250 Km from Omaruru and about 400 Km from each other. It is a real challenge to have them all together! However, they are very devoted and very supportive of the SSPX in Namibia, and their gathering every two months in Omaruru is always for them a source of great spiritual refreshment. e

Namib Desert

If the Catholic missionaries settled in Namibia only at the thend of the 19 Century, the little Catholic History of this

country is in some way slightly older. Indeed, in 1893 the Corvette Captain Gottlieb Becker made an interesting discovery. He found the stone Cross erected in 1486 on the Namibian coast by the Portuguese sailor Diogo Cão, to mark the southernmost point ever reached by a European in Africa at this date. This place is nowadays called Cape Cross (Kreuzkap in German). The Namibian coast was very hostile, and has still today the name “Skeleton Coast” because of the numerous shipwrecks and skeletons of the survivors who had unfortunately nowhere to go. It is said to be hostile because this ocean coast is actually just a very large desert; 930 mi. long and 93 mi. wide, the Namib Desert looks like a long strip along the Atlantic Ocean. This desert is not homogenous and offers a variety of landscapes very much appreciated by the tourists. Particularly noteworthy in the South, the rust-red sand makes a harmonious set of dunes. Some of them reach 980 ft. high, taller by 230 ft. than the Sand Dunes of San Luis Valley (CO. USA). The flora is more or less rare according the different environments, but we find among others, the admirable living fossil, the Welwitschia mirabilis that is said to be able to live for over 2000 years. The endemic animal of those territories is the Gemsbok, Namibian Oryx, well adapted to the area. e

The great murals made by Brother Vincent, give to our church its unique character.

H. Ex. Bp Fellay with the newly confirmedBishop Fellay ’s linguistic skills are particularly appreciated by our German-speaking parishioners.

4

CameroonBy Rev. Fr. Christophe Legrier

Cameroon. Former Balmayo Mission, presently Cathedral Church

Cameroon is a relatively large country with a population of 18 million people. Its current borders give it access to the

Atlantic Ocean, and its direct neighbours are Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo, to the south; the Central African Republic and Chad, to the east; and Nigeria, to the west. As you move north the country becomes narrower with its narrowest and northernmost point touching Lake Chad. The capital, Yaoundé, is situated in the southern part of the country, 200 km from the ocean and the costal city of Douala.

In Cameroon, the apostolate of the Society of Saint Pius X is still very limited, but definitely promising. Limited, because the priests cannot for the moment take up residence; promising, because many Catholics – including the younger generation – are truly attached to Catholic Tradition.At Yaoundé, the Society has a small chapel and an apartment, built inside a private compound. Mrs Pauline Materia, the owner of the property, lives onsite. It is thanks to her that we have this chapel. Relentlessly she has called upon the priests of the Society so that Cameroon will rekindle its Catholic Faith, with the liturgy and the Sacraments as the Catholic Church gave to her many years ago. At Douala, Mrs Tigmo looks after the priests and sets up a chapel in her house for our visits.

The first visits were organised from Libreville by Father Groche and in 2008, Fr Patrick Duverger was put in charge of the apostolate. Today a priest regularly visits the faithful (on average every two-months) leaving Libreville on a Thursday or Friday and returning the following

Father Patrick Duverger celebrates Holy Mass in Yaoundé, at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel.

Republic of CameroonMotto: Peace, Work & FatherlandCapital City: YaoundéOfficial languages: French/EnglishArea: 183,569 sq miIndependence: 01/01/1960

5Typical sight along African roads... Our priests have to travel at their own risks !

SSPX Mission chapel in Cameroon

Monday. Mass is celebrated on Sunday at Yaoundé in Our Lady of Fatima Chapel. A choir, hired for the occasion, sings the Gregorian chant. The conference which follows the Mass is used principally to explain to the faithful the positions of the Society of Saint Pius X, its work and its aims. Between 20 and 30 people assist regularly at the Mass.The apostolate is difficult for many reasons. Firstly, due to the lack of priests! Secondly, it is difficult for us to be recognised as Catholic. The country has numerous schismatic and heretical sects. It is very easy for us to be lumped together with them simply because the Catholic Hierarchy, who on the whole accept the modernist ideas and trends, have great difficulty understanding a community of priests wanting to hold to Catholic Tradition, despite Rome’s directives to do the opposite.Despite these problems several signs point towards a fruitful apostolate. Firstly, through the various contacts made with the local clergy. Secondly, in seeing that some of the faithful come to us regularly, not to forget the graces of the

Sacraments administered and the different vocations which are starting to take form.We confide this apostolate to your prayers, convinced that our venerable founder, A r c h b i s h o p M a r c e l Lefebvre, who came to Yaounde several times as Apostolic Delegate, will intercede for us. e

Cathedral Church of Yaoundé

6

Ghana is a West African country whose capital, Accra, lies on the atlantic coast. Ghana was evangelized in 1880 by the Society of African Missions (SMA) under the leadership of Frs. Eugene Morat and Augustine Moreau.

The first contact of the faithful in Ghana with the Society began in March 2005. Mr. and Mrs Lucas Abito had travelled all the way from Accra to Umuaka-Nigeria (a journey of about 1,400 kilometres) in order to assist at the Latin Mass in Umuaka. They were then a part of the Marian Awareness Apostolate, an apostolate championed by Mr. Patrick Oke to promote the Tridentine Mass and traditional Catholic devotions. Later that year I travelled to Ghana to visit the faithful and offer the traditional Sacraments. At that time there were about 70 faithful. I was impressed by their hunger for the traditional faith and Sacraments in spite of being bombarded in their local parishes with a liberalised Catholicism, almost emptied of its power to sanctify. These visits continued at intervals until 2008 when an unfortunate split occurred. The leader of the Marian Awareness Apostolate, Mr. Patrick Oke, expressed his discomfort with the position of the Society. Of the original members in Ghana, 40% went with him and we were left with about 40 persons. In subsequent years they showed themselves to be determined in their desire to live by Catholic Tradition and to receive ministrations from the priests of the Society. In 2009, Fr. Benoît Martin visited the faithful in Ghana to encourage them to remain faithful to Catholic Tradition. The first wedding took place in October 2010. It was the wedding of Mr. Joseph Igbeyi of Nigeria and Miss Mariadolores Abito, daughter of Mr and Mrs Lucas Abito. Mr. Lucas Abito has remained the coordinator of the faithful in Ghana. Together with his wife, he has a fruitful apostolate among their circle of acquaintance, which has brought our way many Catholic faithful seeking Tradition. The progress of modernism is more accelerated in Ghana than it is in Nigeria. Their version of inculturation, as well as the emphasis on the Mass as a celebration of the Resurrection, has turned Masses in Ghana into a circus, a jamboree and a dance festival, filled with all imaginable musical instruments, native colours, communion in the hand of standing communicants, and has produced a largely liberal clergy. At the moment, we have about 45 faithful in Ghana. In 2011, the Second Assistant Superior General, Fr. Marc Nély, and the District Superior of Africa, Fr. Loïc Duverger paid an encouraging visit to the faithful in Ghana. Since the apostolate in Ghana began, we have had 15 baptisms among our faithful. Today, with the priory in Enugu, we can visit Ghana twice in a year. Mass is celebrated in a conference room of a hotel in the outskirts of Accra each time we go to Ghana. e

Fr. Gregory Obih, Nigerian, ordained as an Augustinian priest 1999, has joined the SSPX in 2007. He presently assists Fr Pierre-Yves Chrissement at Saint Michael Priory in Eunugu, Nigeria.

A little moment in prayer for Father Obih at the Oratory of Our Lady of Fatima in Accra

Rev. Fr. Alain Nély, with Fr. Gregory, receives new members in the Third Order of the Society

GhanaBy Rev. Fr. Gregory Obih

7The Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Nély in Accra

GabonKenya

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Zambia

Tanzania

Ouganda

Namibia

Madagasc

ar

Cameroun

Ghana Nigeria

Burundiè

Réunionè

Maurit

iusè

How to help us:

In American Dollars (US $), by cheque, payable to: «Society of Saint Pius X» sent to: SSPX African Missions, Regina Coeli House, 11485 N. Farley Rd, USA - Platte City MO 64079, USA

(Tax receipt sent on request for US residents)

In British Pounds (GBP), by cheque payable to: «Society of Saint Pius X» sent to: SSPX African Missions, St George's House 125 Arthur Road, GB - Wimbledon Park SW19 7DR, Great Britain

In Australian Dollars (AUD), by cheque payable to: «Society of Saint Pius X» sent to: SSPX African Missions 280 West Botany St AUS – Rockdale NSW 2216, Australia

Other currencies: Please contact: SSPX District of Africa, P.O. Box 14881, ZA - Bredell 1623, South Africa fsspx.africa.sec@gmail.com

If you wish your donation to be used for a particular house or work, please specify in an accompanying note. If not, we will use your gift for the Missionary work most in need at the time.

May God bless you for your generosity!

The Priestly Society ofSaint Pius X in Africa

District House Our Lady Queen of Africa HouseP.O. Box 14881Bredell 1623South AfricaTel: (+27) 11 396 1807Fax: (+27) 866 970 120fsspx.africa.sec@gmail.com

For information:

SOUTH AFRICAJohannesburgOur Lady of Sorrows Priory11 Amelia St. Roodepoort 1724P.O. Box 878 - Roodepoort 1725Tel: (+27) 11 763 1050 - Fax: (+27) 86 672 8789olsorrows@mweb.co.zaDurbanOur Lady of the Holy Rosary Priory12 Gum Tree Ave., off Berea Rd.Bulwer - Durban 4001P.O. Box 52009 - Berea Road - Durban 4007Tel & Fax: (+27) 31 201 6642olhrpriory@gmail.com

GABONLibrevilleMission Saint-Pie XQuartier La Peyrie - B. P. 3870 - LibrevilleTel: (+241) 76 60 18 - Fax: (+241) 74 62 15mspxgabon@yahoo.frJuvénat du Sacré-CœurQuartier Rio - B.P. 2149 - LibrevilleTel: (+241) 72 18 66juvenatsacrecoeur@yahoo.fr

KENYANairobiHoly Cross Church & Priory9 & 11 Amboseli Rd. - LavingtonP.O. Box 852 - 00502 KarenTel: (+254) 20 38 62 214holy.cross.priory@gmail.comMissionnary Sisters of Jesus and Mary:Our Lady of the Angels House19 Link Rd. - KarenTel: (+254) 20 38 83 230ourladyofangelsnoviciat@gmail.com

NIGERIAEnuguSt. Michael’s Priory15 Umukwa Street - Independence LayoutEnuguTel: (+234) 8092368418 - (+234) 8077621254sspxnigeria@gmail.com

ZIMBABWEHarareSt. Joseph’s Priory9 Jean Lane - Strathaven, HarareTel & Fax: (+263) 4 339 440sspxzim@gmail.com

List of Houses:

SANCTA MARIAREGINA AFRICÆ

ORA PRO NOBIS ETCONVERTE AFRICAM

Country hosting Priory(ies)

Visited from Kenya

Visited from Gabon

Visited from South Africa

Visited from Zimbabwe

Visited from Nigeria