"He who preaches with love, preaches effectively.”
St. Francis de Sales
Benin - French West Africa
In Benin-French West Africa, Oblate ministries nurture the whole person.
Key Missions
Oblates Formation
Who is Served: Youth aspirants, postulants, novices, and scholastics
People Served: 8 postulants and 5 novices in Parakou; 18 scholastics in Abidjan
Why It Exists: To form young men for religious life and future Oblate ministries
Student Chaplaincy
Who is Served: Students aged 18-30
People Served: 1,450 young men and women
Why It Exists: To provide faith-based education and spiritual formation to university students
School Pastoral Care (Parakou)
Who is Served: Children and their families in the southwestern suburbs of Parakou
People Served: 843 children and their families
Why It Exists: To implement Salesian spirituality and educational support for children and adolescents
Boarding House for Boys
Who is Served: Rural schoolboys
People Served: 19 boys this academic year
Why it Exists: To offer safe, quality education and protection from violence and extremism
Sport & Health: Salesian Marathon of Parakou
Who is Served: Children, youth, adults, and the wider community
People Reached: Over 2 million people regionally
Why It Exists: To promote health, unity, interreligious dialogue, and Salesian values through sport
The Salesian Marathon of Parakou, one of the region’s unique missions, encapsulates the importance of movement and faith for well-being.
“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.” - Fr. Guillaume A. Kambounon, OSFS, Regional Superior
Parish Ministries (Parakou & Djougou)
Who is Served: Urban and rural parish communities
People Served: 5,000 people in Parakou; 2,000 people in Alfa-kpara (Djougou)
Why It Exists: To provide pastoral care, sacraments, and faith formation in growing communities
Salesianum Project
Who is Served: Young university students
People Served: 23,000 students
Why It Exists: To develop a major student center for youth formation in Benin’s first university city
Diocesan Ceremonial Service
Who is Served: Diocesan community of Parakou
Why It Exists: To support the local Church through liturgical service
Diocesan Communications
Who is Served: Diocesan community of Parakou
Why It Exists: To enhance Church communication through Salesian-inspired outreach
