José Luis Mangué Mbá is a priest of the diocese of Bata (in Equatorial Guinea). During his stay in Madrid, he visited the headquarters of the CARF Foundation, The Bata World News Team interviewed him on the occasion of his visit to Bata, where he received a donation of liturgical objects for his parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bata. We took the opportunity to learn about the pastoral reality he is living.
The parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is located in the town of Bome, on the outskirts of the city of Bata. It also serves five other communities, each with its own chapel: Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Ambrose and St. James the Apostle.
The pastoral work is carried out by two priests: Father Jacinto Edú and Father José Luis Mangué.
Bome is a heterogeneous community: Ndowe natives, Fang immigrants, foreigners from other African countries, as well as Chinese and Lebanese people live together. It is also a second home area, with an influx of people living in the capital on weekends.
From the religious point of view, it is a cold community threatened by the presence of sects. «They are the lost sheep of Israel whom we must lead into the Lord's flock,» explains the priest.
With 30 years of priesthood, Fr. José Luis came to this parish years ago after having served in various capacities in his diocese: pastor of the cathedral and of St. Francis Xavier, diocesan youth delegate, professor at the major seminary and vicar of the clergy.
«The bishop's desire is to consolidate the presence of the Church, strengthen the faith of the people and open it up to the experiences of communities with a longer journey,» he says.
Currently, they have begun to reorganize catechesis at all levels. One of the main challenges is lay formation and adult catechesis.
The parish has significant material deficiencies. It has neither a sacristy nor adequate space for meetings, catechesis, singing rehearsals or celebrations. The church is not sufficiently equipped: it lacks a baptismal font, sacred vessels and other liturgical elements.
In this context, the donation from benefactors takes on special significance. «This donation of ornaments from the CARF Foundation means a lot to us,» he says. Thanks to it, they will be able to dignify worship and improve pastoral care.
It also highlights other aid received, such as a Stations of the Cross paid for by the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Boadilla del Monte and a tabernacle donated the previous year by the community of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
«In the name of my community and in my own name, I give you infinite thanks. May the Lord keep us united in his service and bless the works of our hands».
The CARF Foundation works to support the Church worldwide through the integral formation of seminarians and diocesan priests, religious men and women. Its work is focused on providing the necessary means for them to receive a solid theological, human and spiritual preparation, especially in centers such as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross or the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra.
In addition to academic training, the CARF Foundation promotes material aid for dioceses with fewer resources, such as the donation of vestments and liturgical objects. These initiatives help to improve the conditions in which worship is celebrated and facilitate pastoral work in communities with great difficulties.
Thanks to the collaboration of benefactors, this work has a direct impact on parishes around the world, such as the one in Bome, Equatorial Guinea, where the support received helps to strengthen Christian life and care for the faithful.
CARF Foundation data
In 2025, the CARF Foundation supported 1,960 seminarians and diocesan priests from 85 countries, The Church's universal character is reflected in its mission statement.
Download the CARF Foundation's annual report for fiscal year 2025.
The Foundation's work is sustained by a broad social base of approximately 5,200 donors, This guarantees its independence and continuity.
During this exercise, the following were obtained 10.47 million euros, of which more than 6.32 million were directly allocated to aid, 2.61 million could be allocated to the endowment fund last year. 2.61 million euros could be allocated to the endowment fund last year.
622,846 in study grants, without losing value, since the CARF Foundation is committed to the principles of socially responsible investment and good governance practices. The endowment fund is intended to provide constant and perpetual support for the integral formation of seminarians, priests and religious, beyond the negative cycles of the economy. To this end, certain donations are earmarked for investments in real estate, stocks, bonds and others, seeking to maintain the power of the initial capital.
The impact is global: since the establishment of the CARF Foundation, beneficiaries have come from the following countries 130 countries, Every year thousands of dioceses and religious orders request support for the formation of their future priests.
In addition to comprehensive academic, human and spiritual formation, the Foundation promotes material aid in areas with scarce resources, facilitating the support of worship and pastoral care in communities such as Bome, in Equatorial Guinea.
Christ's witnesses on earth
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