Benin-French West Africa: Salesian Marathon of Parakou
In Benin-French West Africa, Oblate ministries nurture the whole person. The Salesian Marathon of Parakou, one of the region’s unique missions, encapsulates the importance of movement and faith for well-being.
This mission started after Fr. Guillaume A. Kambounon, OSFS, Regional Superior, observed that people in the region often ignore their physical health and overall well-being. So much focus is placed on academic achievement and spiritual connection; however, those may not be achievable when the physical is being ignored. As anyone who’s laced up their shoes for a run or felt the burn of a final sprint knows, physical discipline shapes mental clarity and can bring emotional peace. Being an athlete and enthusiast of soccer and running, Fr. Guillaume understands the importance of moving one’s body and wants to encourage those around him to do so. He knew that true well-being requires more than just sharp minds and strong faith; it needs movement and the joy of physical activity. Physical health isn’t just a luxury—it’s an opportunity to live a fuller life.
When people came to him for spiritual direction, he noticed that, for many, their real problems were rooted in the body. He recalled suggesting that if someone wanted to pray the rosary, they should do so while they were out for a walk. Much like how an early-morning jog clears your head, this simple union of prayer and motion breathed new life into the soul. This simple act connected the spirit with the body, just as St. Francis wrote, “Take care of your health that it may serve you to serve God” (LW II 10). Over time, those who once came to him burdened by sleepless nights and stress began to find relief, not just from prayer but from pairing it with movement. Seeing this transformation, he felt called to find a way to help support Christians and non-Christians to get their bodies moving to help connect their body and soul, so he took it outside. Because when your legs carry you forward, your heart and soul have to follow.
The Oblates chose to introduce running because of its inclusivity and openness. Unlike sports like basketball or soccer, which can only have limited spots to play at one time, running knows no boundaries. No teammates needed, no goals to score—just you, your breath, and an open road ahead. There is limitless availability for participation, no matter their pace or ability. So, at the beginning of each year, the streets of Parakou come alive with the sounds of pounding footsteps as the Salesian Marathon begins, a tradition now 18 years strong. To ground the event around the Salesian Spirituality, every runner to cross the finish line receives a medal with the Oblate of St. Francis de Sales logo and the guiding words, “We must do all by love, and nothing by force.” They welcome about 1,000 participants from 10 to 16 different nationalities, including students who came from Salesianum School in Delaware. As a further promotion, through their use of around eight radio and television stations, news of the marathon reaches over 2 million people, extending the spirit of the Oblates far beyond those running. Their continuous goal of the marathon is to bring people from all over the world together to engage in a shared experience of the Salesian spirit.
Whether or not it’s always acknowledged, Fr. Guillaume explained, moving our bodies and being active is very important for health and overall well-being. Physical health is directly tied to spirituality, so giving people access to connect the two is vital to support a community. Fr. Guillaume noted this type of activity did not exist in Benin until the Oblates created it. Fr. Guillaume said:
“We need more than ever before to bring our energy together, spiritual energy, psychological energy, human energy, and the financial and material resources to be able to bring Jesus' message across so that this world becomes a peaceful world. A place where differences are not a reason to fight…We can’t let race, gender, religion, nationality, or even distance allow us to divide one another.”
This is not just a race—it’s a movement. One towards healing, togetherness, and a shared humanity that runs deeper than blood or borders.
To keep this mission alive, as well as the other active missions in Benin-French West Africa, we need support. Fr. Guillaume simply stated: “We can't make it without you.”
Learn more about the Chablais Mission Fund and support this and other missions here.
If you have any questions, email us here.