Dominique from Ivory Coast: her great-aunt was the first black nun of the Great Lakes

Kan Dominique Armand Sangny is a 22-year-old seminarian from Ivory Coast. He belongs to the congregation "Work of Jesus the High Priest" which CARF supports with scholarships. He received a Christian education in a country where Catholics represent only 34% of the population. His maternal great-grandfather, Pèthè-Antoine, was the first in the Great Lakes region (Jacqueville, where he was born), to be baptized and it was he who brought the first missionaries there. His granddaughter, moreover, my great-aunt, Sister Georges-Marie, who died in 2017, was the first nun of color in the whole region. She tells of her vocation. 

My vocational path

"My name is Kan Dominique Armand Sangny. I am 22 years old and was born in Abidjan in Ivory Coast. I am the third in a family of four children (two brothers and one sister). My family is modest but we have always tried to practice Christian virtues in our lives. 

For me, it is a privilege to have received a Christian education, because Catholics represent only 34% of the population of Ivory Coast. Moreover, I am proud to say that my maternal great-grandfather, Pèthè-Antoine, was the first in the Great Lakes region (Jacqueville, where he was born), to be baptized and it was he who brought the first missionaries there. His granddaughter, in addition, my great-aunt Sister Georges-Marie, who died in 2017, was the first black nun in the entire region.

Grateful to his family

When I was a little boy, I used to say that I wanted to be a priest. My mother reminded me of this and wrote to me when I entered the seminary, "You, 'my champion forever,' (that's what she calls me): your eyes met our God and Lord ... and you understood by His Grace what He told you through His eyes ... He took you from your mother's womb and I am a witness to it ... Do you remember, at the age of 2, when you tried to imitate the priest ... and asked us to answer 'Amen' when you said 'Alleluia'?"

Therefore, I am very grateful to my family for supporting my vocational journey. My parents even allowed me to join a vocational group in my parish of which I have fond memories. It was thanks to this group that I was able to participate in a youth retreat. During this retreat, the novices of the Institute of the "Daughters of Mary Help of Christians". presented a play about Don Bosco.

I was very moved by the story of this saint, especially his great love for young people. Filled with admiration, I found in him my ideal, the kind of person I wanted to be. That is why I wanted to be a Salesian. I helped this group as a leader of the children's animation during the vacation activities and it was a great experience for me. My desire to become a priest grew even more in my heart.

The image of the priest 

At seventeen, however, I fell in love and wanted to get married. Itried to forget my priestly vocation. But I couldn't do it.

Undoubtedly, what helped me the most to maintain this vocational orientation towards the priesthood, especially because of the image of the priest, was an uncle, a priest who was committed and free at the same time. 

I wanted to know more about the type of training he received. Therefore, I asked him about the conditions of admission to his community, to which I belong today, the Clerical Association "Work of Jesus the High Priest".. After a first contact, I came to Rome for a time of discernment in the formation house of this congregation and I felt at home there, finding in its spirituality a Marian aspect that attracted me. At that time I was 20 years old.

Consecration to the Virgin 

After a few months, I saw that I could make a decision. So, in the spring of 2018, I officially made my consecration to the Blessed Virgin by which I expressed my commitment. It was my first step in this Association of Clerics.

Seminarian from Ivory Coast 

After a few months of preparatory training, in October 2019 I started my studies at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Santa Croce in Rome. All my classmates are already studying, thanks to our CARF benefactors, at this wonderful University.

I am in my first year of Philosophy, but I can already appreciate the quality of the courses and the good atmosphere that reigns there, even now with this emergency of the Coronavirus which forces us to follow the courses on the internet from home. But the teachers have been very helpful and always available.

I thank the Lord and the Virgin Mary for the kindness with which they guide my path. I thank the brothers and sisters of CARF and all those who support me on this journey: I count on everyone's prayers to be able to move forward and toI hope one day to reach the ministerial priesthood to which I know I am called.