From The Wanderer. Thursday January 5, 2012.

"Africans Make Up Half Of France's Foreign Priests"


"Citing a report in the French Catholic newspaper, La Croix, the U.K. Catholic Universe reported December 2 that there there are more than 600 Catholic priests from Africa serving in France's Catholic parishes, supported by more than 1500 African men and women religious.

"The report in part said France was now home to more than 600 parish priests from Africa, with a further 150 studying theology.

"The paper said 120 had come from the Democrtaic Republic of Congo alone, and dozens more from Benin, Congo - Brazzaville, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, while some 1500 African monks and nuns were also ministering in the country's 95 dioceses, many of which had attracted only a handful of vocations over the past decade..."

One priest, the 51 - year - old Fr. Joseph Longo commented "I've had no difficulty being accepted - although as an African, I'm surprised at the indifference towards religion in France, especially among the young. My own country was evangelized by French missionaries, and their work is bearing fruit as we now bring the faith back to France ."

Meanwhile, back in Africa ....

"La Croix added that 64 French priests and 1500 French monks and nuns were serving on long - term Church projects in Africa, along with 1,200 lay Catholic volunteers ..."

Way to go great and good people!

Both Africans and French.. . :)