Koffi Edem Amaglo is a priest from Togo.
"I was born in Togo and lived in Togo until my arrival in Rome (my first stay in Europe by the way) to continue my theological studies.
I am my mother's fifth child. My father has more children; he lives in polygamy. Very early in my childhood, together with my mother and my brothers and sisters, I learned to be interested in the Church and the Christian faith. I began catechism assiduously in elementary school and obtained my sacraments of Christian initiation at the same time as my Certificate of First Grade Studies (CEPD) in 1997, at the age of 12.
I had to deal with family conflicts and political social problems very early in my country, Togo (in particular, the national strike from 1990 to 1992). All this has deeply marked my life and my future career.
Feeling attracted inwardly by the works of God and the Church, and never ceasing to ruminate in me this word of Christ who cried out to me with vivacity: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Mt 9:32-38), I entered the St. Pius X Minor Seminary of Agoè-Nyivé on November 6, 1997, when I was 12 years old.
From that year 1997, I began a course of formation and discernment in the priesthood until I obtained the Baccalaureate in 2004 at the Minor Seminary. With the consent of my bishop, I continued my formation by doing a year at the propaedeutic seminary of Saint Paul in Notsè (2004-2005).
Then, I studied Philosophy (2005-2008) and Theology (2009-20013) at the St. John Paul II Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Lomé. Between the philosophy and theology courses, in 2008-2009, I did a canonical internship at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lomé, in my diocese, and after the last year at the Seminary, I was ordained deacon.
By the grace of God, I was ordained a priest on December 21, 2013 in Lomé. I immediately began my priestly ministry which is currently in its seventh year.
First, I served as Formator (2013-2014) at St. Pius X Minor Seminary, where I myself had been a seminarian before. Then, I carried out my priestly ministry as Vicar at Christ Risorto Parish in Hédzranawoé from 2014-2020 until my arrival here in Rome.
While ministering as a parochial vicar, I also collaborated with the Diocesan Council for Justice and Peace in Lomé.
While living the parish ministry, I had to accompany many Christian and also non-Christian faithful who faced problems related to social injustice, family conflicts that threatened the dignity of persons and the experience of life: children, women, etc. In addition, the general atmosphere of the socio-political situation of our country, with the post-electoral violence, unemployment with its problems, etc., all this must have caught my attention.
I realized that the formation I received in this area in the Seminary needed to be strengthened in order to be able to better help face all these challenges linked to the good of people and the development of their life and Christian witness.
It is in this sense that through a providential encounter, I was able to follow with the Episcopal Council for Justice and Peace of my diocese, a formation as a paralegal and, since then, I had to collaborate, under the control of my bishop, with this Council. We were able to establish parish Justice and Peace councils in all the parishes of the diocese with the range of specific activities of this Council desired by the Holy See under the control of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Being the mission of the Justice and Peace Council in particular the mastery of the social doctrine of the Church and the issues addressed as well as the problems managed that require further specialization in these issues, it was necessary for me to be trained in moral theology to move forward. It was in this vision of my bishop that the project of my studies was made.
Divine Providence wanted my benefactors of CARF to accept to help us in this project and here I am, staying at the Altomonte Priestly College in Rome and studying Moral Theology (Licentiate) since October 2020 at the University of the Holy Cross.
The study project, motivated mainly by the service of the Justice and Peace Council after my studies, foresees that I will be called to put the skills acquired at the service of this key sector of pastoral work in my diocese.
It should be noted that the Council works in conjunction with several civil society associations committed to the promotion and defense of human rights and as indicated in the concepts of its program, it will try to work for the promotion of justice and peace, for social cohesion in the logic of the social doctrine of the Church under the control of my bishop. Clearly, I will be at the disposal of my bishop according to his pastoral vision.
I would like to express to my benefactors all my gratitude and that of my diocese for their generous help in making this study project a permanent reality. My commitment is total to achieve the goals of my formation with the prayer that this will help me to grow internally and also the people of God. I do not forget you in my celebrations of the Holy Mass and in my prayers, especially in this period of the covid19 pandemic with all its consequences. May divine benevolence continue its work in the life of each one of you.
