A presbytery for a new parish
Sierra Leone’s recent history has been a painful one. Indeed, the consequences of the country’s bloody civil war can still be felt today. Between 1991 and 2002, half the population was uprooted and forced to flee, thousands of people were murdered, and to this day poverty, unemployment, and corruption are shaping everyday life in this West African nation, which is among the poorest in the world. And the situation has been further exacerbated by natural disasters, the Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2016, and more recently, like everywhere else in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Close to 70% of Sierra Leone’s population of around eight million is Muslim, while 20% or so still follows traditional African religions. Catholics represent only a small minority, yet the Church is widely respected throughout society for her many schools and her selfless help for all the people, regardless of their religious affiliation. But the Church herself is also poor and most of her priests live in poverty.
One of these is Father Emmanuel Francis Allie of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in the Lakka quarter of the capital, Freetown. He is uncomplaining, though he has every reason to complain, for he currently lives, works, and prays in an almost derelict house which is also subject to constant flooding. The roof leaks and when it rains, the ground becomes a lake. The state of the plumbing and electrical wiring is beyond repair and the rotting steps of the wooden stairs threaten to collapse at any moment. It is also very noisy there. “I can never find the silence that is so necessary for the spiritual life,” he tells us. And worst of all, there is no security: anyone can gain access to the grounds—a real danger, given the high crime rate in the area. Originally, this large multi-occupancy house was used to accommodate victims of the civil war, but it is now in such a run-down state that it is virtually unfit for human habitation.
The parishioners have been trying to help their priest, but they themselves are poor and have little to give, despite making sacrifices. And for him, building a parish church took priority over his own needs. They have exhausted what little means they had and the economic crisis has only aggravated the state of poverty for everyone. Meanwhile, the house continues to decay due to heavy rainfall and salt-laden sea air. To help put an end to this nightmare, ACN has promised $62,100 in order to build a new parish house.
