Antoine Tiabondou is a 40-year-old priest from Burkina Faso. After six years of priestly ministry, in 2014 his bishop sent him to Rome to obtain a degree in Social and Institutional Communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. He completed his studies in 2017.
Last year he returned to Holy Cross to pursue his doctorate because his bishop realized how important the work that can be done in his diocese is after having the opportunity to be trained at a university of excellence such as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
"Getting a scholarship at this time when COVID is hitting humanity hard, has been a real and tangible opportunity that God and the benefactors have given me to better serve the Church in my diocese," she says. Antonie tells us his testimony and how the influence of his father, a catechist, a very important ministry in his country, was decisive in his path to the priesthood.
"My name is Antoine Tiabondou, I am a priest from Burkina Faso and I was born in the city of Piela on June 11, 1981.
I am incardinated in the diocese of Fada N'gourma, a city located in the eastern part of Burkina Faso, 219 kilometers east of Ouagadougou, the capital. Fada N'gourma is an important city, as it is well known for the production of blankets and carpets, as well as honey production.
I was born into a happy Catholic family and we are 7 siblings. My father, who has passed away, was a catechist. In my country, being catechist is a very important ministryThe Church of Burkina Faso, an extraordinary ministry instituted in the Church of Burkina Faso since the beginning of evangelization.
With Mom, they received a four-year formation and were sent by the parish priest successively to various villages where Dad had to teach and prepare the catechumens for the reception of the sacraments of Christian initiation and marriage.
The figure of the catechist is important in this regard because ensures the permanence of the Church in remote places where the priest He rarely goes to visit the communities and offer them the sacraments. Every Sunday, the catechist gathers the community and, when there can be no Mass due to a lack of priests, he presides at the Sunday community prayer.
This celebration is composed of listening to the Word of God on Sunday, followed by a time of sharing, and a common prayer for the intentions of the community and the Church. Sometimes the catechist, who presides, distributes Communion to the faithful. After this celebration, he dispenses catechesis and visits the sick.
Ultimately, the catechist is in charge of the people of his community, It guides and encourages him for the proclamation of the Gospel and for the experience of faith while waiting for the priest.
It was in this context that I lived my childhood. And it was in these circumstances that I had the desire to become a priest from the age of five. I saw how much my people lacked and how much they wanted to have a priest always present? And my very desire to serve the people was born out of contact with a Redemptorist priest of French origin who often came to celebrate Sunday Mass for the village community.
I still keep in my heart a very vivid memory of him: I remember his simplicity, his closeness to Dad and his ease in dialoguing with young Christians, with traditional leaders and with believers of the Muslim religion, because in my country there is a bit of everything!"
Antoine Tiabondou is a priest from Burkina Faso incardinated in the diocese of Fada N'gourma, a city located in the eastern part of Burkina Faso. He grew up in a Catholic family and has seven siblings. At the age of five he thought of becoming a priest, seeing the work of his father as a catechist, an important mission in his country because it keeps the Church alive in remote places where the priest does not reach.
It was this same priest who had the pleasure of presenting my file to enter the minor seminary of St. Augustine of Baskouré, in the archdiocese of Koupéla, in September 1993, where I continued my formation for eight years until I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001.
After the minor seminary, I studied philosophy and theology for seven years, until his ordination to the priesthood on December 6, 2008, on the occasion of the celebration of the golden jubilee of his ordination of the creation of my original parish, Piela.
After six years of priestly ministry in the diocese, my bishop wanted to send me to Rome for three years of studies in Social and Institutional Communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross from 2014 to 2017, thanks to a study grant.
In fact, it has been a sacrifice for the diocese that I was abroad for training and formationFor, as I said before, there is a lack of priests. However, it is very necessary not only to have good and holy priests, but also that they be well trained for the task of evangelization, especially through the media, which are so important today.
Therefore, after obtaining the Licentiate Degree in June 2017, I returned to the diocese to deal primarily with Catholic schools and, among other things, Radio Taanba, a diocesan radio station.
As of September 2020, I am again on study mission for the PhD cycle, still at the same university.
The bishop decided to have him return to earn his doctorate because he realized how important the work that can be done in the diocese is after to have the opportunity to study at a university of excellence such as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
That is why, after obtaining another scholarship, I went back to Rome, although at a very delicate time like the pandemic.
In fact, getting a scholarship at this time when COVID is hitting humanity hard has been a real and tangible opportunity that God and the benefactors have given me. for better serve the Church in my diocese.
With God's grace, I will be able to encourage other young people like myself, following the example of my father and the Redemptorist priest who had such an influence on me, to consecrate their lives in the service of the Lord.
"My very desire to serve the people was born from my contact with a Redemptorist priest of French origin, who often came to celebrate Sunday Mass for the village community. I still have a vivid memory of him in my heart: I remember his simplicity, his closeness to my father and his ease of dialogue with young Christians, with traditional leaders and with believers of the Muslim religion, because in my country there are all kinds!", describes Antoine.
"I am happy to have the support of my benefactors, who I already know take care of me not only in the material way but also through their prayers.
The gift of faith, then, is the most important thing we have.. I always thank God for this wonderful gift.
I perceive my priesthood as a continuation of my father's witness to the faith in the heart of small, simple and poor village communities. For me, being a priest means loving Jesus, making him known, sharing the joy of knowing him with our brothers so that humanity may grow in dialogue, peace and fraternity.
I am also convinced that this very important specialization that I am doing in Social and Institutional Communication undoubtedly offers me tools to better communicate the faith in the Church and in the world, and in particular in my small country in Africa.
I reiterate to all my dear friends and benefactors of CARF - Centro Academico Romano Foundation, my gratitude for this scholarship of which I am a beneficiary.
The small and large gestures that are made in life make life itself, our own and that of others, flourish again.
Gratitude is life, life is gratitude. God bless you always.
Gerardo Ferrara
BA in History and Political Science, specializing in the Middle East.
Responsible for the student body
University of the Holy Cross in Rome
