News & Resources

Gabon
Jornal Ação Missionária 991 - Julho
Gabão: rumo a novos caminhos Os principais compromissos da Missão Espiritana no Gabão.
June 30, 2026
pt
Spiritan Education Forum June 2021
Olkokola Vocational Training Centre, Arusha, Tanzania The Province of Madagascar in the streets of Antananarivo IN GABON — A Home for the Homeless: C.E.M.I
June 1, 2021
enfrpt
Central African Province
The first meeting of the Gabon region of PAC. It has 46 members. The meeting takes place at the Foyer de Charité with 39 Spiritans present and they elect Jean-Marie…
November 9, 1999
enfrpt
Province of Central Africa
First Chapter of the new Province at Libreville in Gabon. Père Ferdinand Azegue is elected Provincial.
June 20, 1999
frenpt
Gabon
The 50th anniversary of the foundation of Collège Bessieux. The ceremony is presided over by Mgr. Basile Mvé Engone, Archbishop of Libreville, and the Prime Minister, Jean-François N'toutoume Emane. Both…
June 17, 1999
frenpt
Central African Foundation
An enlarged council meets at Libreville to discuss the transition of the circumscription to provincial status.
December 27, 1997
frenpt
Central African Foundation
Start of the first Chapter of the Foundation. The headquarters is fixed at Libreville.
March 27, 1993
frenpt
F.A.C.
Inauguration of the Seminaire Brottier at Libreville.
February 28, 1988
frenpt
Gabon
The Spiritan seminary "Daniel Brottier" opens beside the Collège Bessieux at Libreville.
October 19, 1986
frenpt
Central African Foundation
The Foyer for the First Cycle opens in Bangui with P. Frans Wijnen as director. The District give the house of Saint-Charles to the FAC and Bishop Ndayen gives a…
October 8, 1984
enfrpt
Gabon
Opening of first Chapter of the District of Gabon.
March 3, 1982
frenpt
Gabon
An organisation for encouraging vocations is set up for the whole country. The team moves around Gabon and establishes camps at Sindara during the long school holidays.
October 31, 1979
frenpt
Gabon
Frère Michel Pierre is shot at Dibwangui by a former worker of the mission who felt that his interests with the Social Security had not been adequately pursued.
September 2, 1977
frenpt
Gabon
The Episcopal Conference decides to set up a mobile team for on-going formation of priests, sisters and laity in the four dioceses of the country.
April 10, 1975
frenpt
Gabon
Inauguration of Maison Libermann as the residence of the Principal Superior in Gabon. During his time as Superior General, Mgr. Lefebvre urges all Districts to have a house that belongs…
June 15, 1969
frenpt
Gabon
The death of Mgr. André Raponda at Sainte Marie. Born in 1871 at Libreville, he is the first Gabonese priest to be ordained in 1899.
December 11, 1968
frenpt
Gabon
The first children evacuated from the war in Nigeria arrive in Gabon. They are the first of many to be received during the course of the war.
September 12, 1968
frenpt
Gabon
Mgr. Ndong, the first bishop from Gabon, is ordained by Mgr. Marcel Lefebvre, the Apostolic Delegate, at Libreville.
July 2, 1961
frenpt
Gabon
The creation of the diocese of Mouila. Libreville becomes an Archdiocese.
December 11, 1958
frenpt
Gabon
Opening of Collège Bessieux at Libreville, thanks to the initiative of Mgr. Adam and his Vicar General, Père Louis Ledit. Five years later, the Seminary of St. John moves into…
October 5, 1948
enfrpt
Gabon
The Apostolic Vicariat of Gabon now becomes the Apostolic Vicariat of Libreville. On July 7th, Père Jean-Jerome Adam is appointed the Vicar and is ordained at Colmar on December 9th.
July 8, 1947
frenpt
Gabon
Three Spiritan sisters die of yellow fever at Mayumba.
May 7, 1941
frenpt
Gabon
Père René Lefebvre, the elder brother of Marcel, starts many social works in the country, especially for young people. The national football stadium of Libreville is named after him.
April 26, 1934
frenpt
Gabon
At Donguila, three girls take the habit in the new congregation of the Sisters of Mary: Marie Philomène Fatou Berre, Catherine Toubanga Diouf and Anna Raspe.
March 30, 1921
frenpt
Gabon
Ordination of Frs. Gustave Bâtonnier, Jean Obame and Jean-Baptiste Adiwa.
May 4, 1919
frenpt
Gabon
The Protestant pastor and doctor, Albert Schweitzer, arrives with his wife Hélène at Lam-baréné. He opens his hospital which is organised in such a way that the sick will not…
April 18, 1913
frenpt
Gabon
Mgr. Adam ordains the first priest from Gabon at Saint Pierre de Libreville, André Raponda Walker. On July 30th, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of…
July 21, 1899
frenpt
Gabon
Père Alexandre Le Roy is appointed Vicar Apostolic of Gabon. Ordained at Coutances in France on October 9th he arrives in Gabon on 26.03.1893.
June 3, 1892
frenpt
Gabon
Profession of the first religious sisters from Gabon, in the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Castres.
May 15, 1890
frenpt
Gabon
The death of King Denis, baptised on his death-bed by his son, Félix Adendé.
May 10, 1876
frenpt
Gabon
The death of Mgr. Bessieux. He holds his crucifix in his right hand as he is dying.
April 30, 1876
frenpt
Gabon
Armand Bambara from Gabon receives the tonsure at St. Joseph de Ngazobil (Senegal). He continues with his theological studies but dies at Libreville (Gabon) on June 30th, 1883.
May 6, 1874
frenpt
Gabon
The birth at Libreville of Ignace Raponda Walker, the first priest from Gabon (ordained 21.07.1899) and a great expert on the history and culture of his people.
June 19, 1871
frenpt
Gabon
Bishop Bessieux blesses the church of Sainte Marie. The school has 120 children divided into two categories: students (80) and apprentices. The school run by the sisters has 70 children.
August 5, 1864
fren
Gabon
The school at St. Marie now has between 73 and 80 students. Six have begun to study Latin with Mgr. Bessieux, when he is not cutting, clearing the ground, planting…
February 23, 1861
frenpt
C.S.Sp.
A decree of Père Schwindenhammer, the Superior General, separates the missions of Gabon and Senegambia. Gabon becomes a Vice-Province, depending directly on the Mother House.
October 28, 1859
enfrpt
Gabon
Frère Grégoire dies at sea on the way home to France for medical treatment. A native of Bordeaux, he was in the first group of Libermann's missionaries to the west…
April 20, 1857
frenpt
Gabon
Having arrived on 01.03.1854, Père Duparquet begins Latin classes for several students. The only one to persevere is Guillaume Dorsay who becomes a Spiritan scholastic in France and dies at…
March 8, 1856
frenpt
Deux Guinées
Mgr. Bessieux lives for two years at Dakar, from which he administers both the Vicariats of the Deux Guinées (Gabon) and Senegambia (Dakar) after Mgr. Kob's, his coadjutor, has returned…
May 21, 1852
frenpt
Gabon
Sister Constance, of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Castres (pioneers of the mission of Gabon), is drowned off the Santa Clara headland while returning from Libreville.
December 31, 1850
frenpt
Gabon
Libermann writes to Bessieux that he is not against the creation of a new congregation to provide personnel for Gabon but he feels the time is not yet opportune.
January 21, 1850
frenpt
Gabon
Mgr. Bessieux arrives in Gabon as the first bishop. Just 3 years later, a letter from Pope Pius IX will establish the Holy Heart of Mary as the principal Patron…
October 1, 1849
enfrpt
Gabon
The frigate "Pénélope" seizes the slave-ship "Eliza" with 46 slaves on board from Congo and Loango. They are put ashore in Gabon, close to the French Fort d'Aumale: as a…
July 1, 1849
frenpt
Libermann, to the Communities of Dakar & Gabon, 19.11.1847. NDIX, 324-332
Being on the spot you see the dangers and difficulties; with your good will and your sincere desire to be God's servants and true apostles, you cannot fail to advance.…
November 19, 1847
frenpt
Gabon
Libermann writes to Bessieux: "Now that we have been given better news about the healthiness of the climate in Gabon, we have decided to send you more men as soon…
September 1, 1845
frenpt
Gabon
The opening of the first catholic school in Gabon at the mission of Sainte Marie. Mgr. Bessieux gives lessons in French and religious instruction.
January 23, 1845
frenpt
Gabon
Bishop Barron arrives in Gabon to decide on the location of the new mission. Exactly five years later, the first Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Castres arrive: in 1852,…
August 8, 1844
frenpt
Gabon
Erection of the Vicariat Apostolic of the Deux Guinées. It consists of all the territory between Senegal and the Orange river, apart from the area under the jurisdiction of the…
October 3, 1842
frenpt