News & Resources

Senegal
Enlarged Council of the Province of North-West Africa (PANO)
Nineteen Spiritan delegates met from June 14 to 17, 2026 at the Foyer de Charité in Cap des Biches, near Dakar (Senegal), to hold the Enlarged Provincial Council of the…
June 29, 2026
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Address of Pope Leo XIV to a delegation of leaders and representatives...
Your Excellencies, Dear brothers and sisters, Peace be with you! I am delighted to welcome you, who represent the Muslim brotherhoods and communities of Senegal, alongside the representatives of the…
May 9, 2026
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Une Annonciation sous le sceau de la fraternité
Le Sénégal est une terre de dialogue et sa diversité converge vers une universalité de la fraternité. Dans un contexte de pluralisme religieux, la diversité ne doit pas être facteur…
April 1, 2026
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Pope Francis' Address to Al Hadji Thierno Amadou Ba, General Khalif in...
GREETING OF THE HOLY FATHER to the Delegation of Representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood of Senegal (22 February 2025)
February 22, 2025
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The Current Perspective of Interreligious Dialogue in Senegal: Dialogue Proportionate to the...
Spiritan Horizons Volume 17 Issue 17 Article 15 Fall 2021 The Current Perspective of Interreligious Dialogue in Senegal: Dialogue Proportionate to the Interlocutors Jean-Claude Angoula C.S.Sp
October 15, 2021
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What Church for What Evangelization? Lumen Gentium in Senegal Armel Duteil C.S.Sp
Spiritan Horizons Volume 10 | Issue 10 Article 12 Fall 2015 What Church for What Evangelization? Lumen Gentium in Senegal Armel Duteil C.S.Sp.
October 15, 2015
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C.S.Sp.
The 5th Enlarged General Council is held at Dakar in Senegal. There are 51 Spiritans present.
May 7, 1995
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W.A.F.
The Foundation has its first Director in March 1982; Fr Peter Newman (Irish Province) takes up the responsibility of Director from the Superiors of Senegal and the Gambia who have…
March 2, 1982
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West African Foundation
Six Superiors of West African circumscriptions establish the Foundation at Dakar Senegal: the Superiors of The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Makurdi and Kwara-Benue. Fr. John Hogan (Irish Province) is…
April 25, 1979
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Senegal
Mgr. Pierre Sagna is appointed the second bishop of Saint-Louis. He succeeds Mgr. Prosper Dodds.
December 19, 1974
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Senegal
Père Clément Cailleau becomes the first Prefect Apostolic of Tambacounda. Eastern Senegal is again confided to the Spiritans until it is made into a diocese in 1989.
August 2, 1970
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Guinée Bissau
The Spiritans in Dakar, Senegal, start a centre for the Mandjaque people who have come to the city. This eventually results in the founding of stations at Bajob (1979) and…
August 21, 1969
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Senegal
The French Province buys a house in Dakar (S.P.E.M.) for the pastoral "stage" of young priests coming from Chevilly. The experiment only lasts for three years, after which the house…
July 22, 1965
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Senegal
Dakar replaces Saint-Louis as the capital of Senegal.
March 27, 1958
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Senegal
Prefecture of Kaolack established and confided to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
January 21, 1957
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Senegal
The Apostolic Prefecture of Saint-Louis regains its autonomy under Mgr. Landreau on January 28th, 1955. The boundaries are re-drawn, but it retains jurisdiction over Mauritania. Gorée is attached again to…
November 18, 1955
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Senegal
Establishment of the hierarchy in French Africa. On September 14, 1955, Mgr. Levebvre becomes the first Archbishop of Dakar. Henceforth, the local Church is responsible for the mission; the Congregation…
February 13, 1955
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Senegal
The Senior Seminary (Libermann) is transferred from Popenguine to Sebikhotane; the students are from various diocese in Senegal and a few from Guinée Conakry.
November 1, 1951
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Senegal
Mgr. Georges Guibert becomes the auxiliary of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre at Dakar. Since October 23, 1948, the latter had also been Apostolic Delegate for French Africa.
February 19, 1950
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Senegal
Mgr. Marcel Lefebvre is appointed Vicar Apostolic of Dakar. He invites many congregations to join in the work: White Fathers, Marists, Sacred Heart of Issoudun, Maronites, Presentation Sisters, Carmelites etc.…
June 12, 1947
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Senegal
The "Afrique", after leaving Bordeaux on January 9 with 599 persons on board, is ship-wrecked off the coast of the Ile de Ré in France, with the loss of Mgr.…
January 12, 1920
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Senegal
As soon as the war is over, Mgr. Jalabert contacts Père Daniel Brottier in Paris to re-launch the plan, first formulated in 1912, to build a cathedral for Dakar in…
May 7, 1919
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Senegal
Shipwreck of the "Saint-Joseph" between Ngazobil and Dakar, resulting in the death of Bishop Alphonse Kunnemann, Vicar Apostolic of Senegal (1901-1908).
March 20, 1908
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Senegal
Daniel Brottier arrives at Saint-Louis. He starts several new pastoral initiatives- work with young people, a youth band, conferences and cinema. He also starts the first francophone African newspaper in…
November 27, 1903
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Senegal
Mgr. Kunnemann ordains l'Abbé Sané Sonko in Saint-Louis, the 10th. priest from the seminary in Senegal.
March 29, 1902
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Senegal
Mgr. Kunemann is ordained bishop by Mgr. Le Roy on Pentecost Sunday. The Vicariat now has 35 Spiritans priests and 22 brothers, 6 Senegambian seculars, and 127 sisters from different…
May 26, 1901
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E.G.C. Dakar, 1995
At Dakar, we realised once more our personal weaknesses, the fragility of our communities and the difficulties of our mission- but we were in no way discouraged. We left strengthened…
February 10, 1900
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Senegambia
Père Picarda is appointed Vicar Apostolic of Senegambia. He arrives on November 14th and starts the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Deliverance at Popagine on December 29th, later to become…
July 19, 1887
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Senegal
Ordination of Père Simon Fall at Ngazobil by Mgr. Duboin. He is the first Spiritan from Senegal.
June 3, 1882
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U.S.A.
Despite dire warnings against accepting African-Americans as members of the Congregation, Fr. Strub courageously begins to admit some as postulant brothers in Arkansas. As a former missionary in Senegal, he…
March 26, 1879
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Senegal
Mgr. Kobès founds the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Joseph at Ngazobil. He is regarded as the real founder of the Church of Sénégambia.
March 3, 1865
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Senegambia
Bishop Kobès ordains Guillaume Jouga, the first Senegalese priest to be trained entirely in the country.
July 31, 1864
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Senegambia
The Vicariate of the Two Guineas is divided in two. Mgr. Kobès becomes the first bishop of Senegambia.
February 6, 1863
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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
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Senegal
Admiral Protet installs the first French troops at Dakar, more than 10 years after the arrival of the first missionaries in the Cap Vert peninsular.
April 13, 1857
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Deux Guinées
Jean Lacombe from Senegal is accepted as a novice by Mgr. Kobès at Dakar. He does his noviciate at Monsivry in France.
May 10, 1855
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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
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Senegal
The foundation of St. Joseph de Ngasobil, destined to become the bishop's house, the centre for workshops for the development of the area and, subsequently, a seminary. Mgr. Kobes welcomes…
January 7, 1850
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Senegal
Arrival at Gorée of Mgr. Bessieux (Vicar Apostolic of the Deux-Guinées) and his coadjutor, Mgr. Kobès. After a few weeks, Mgr. Bessieux moves on to Gabon.
March 15, 1849
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Senegal
The mission of Our Lady of Gambia is started.
January 18, 1849
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St-Coeur de Marie
Date of a letter from Libermann to Eliman, the King of Dakar, after the death of Mgr. Truffet. In it he says, "I have given my heart entirely to the…
January 26, 1848
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Libermann to the Community of Dakar, 19.11.1847. NDIX, p.325
God has built his work on his all-powerful will and his divine mercy. He gives it life through his grace and love, a foundation that I have no doubt will…
November 19, 1847
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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
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Libermann to the community of Dakar, November 1847. NDIX, p.330-331
Don't jump to conclusions and don't judge according to what you are used to in Europe. Forget about Europe, its customs, its ways of thinking; you have to make yourselves…
November 1, 1847
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Deux Guinées
Mgr. Truffet, the first Vicar Apostolic of the Deux Guinées, arrives at Goré (Senegal). He dies the same year at Dakar on November 23rd.
May 5, 1847
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Libermann, writing to the community at Dakar about the new house at...
There is a large building about 60 metres long, a beautiful church consecrated to St. Peter about 40 metres long, stables and several other buildings in the courtyard, a brewery,…
December 28, 1846
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Senegambia
Père Gravière, the new Prefect Apostolic, lands at Gorée. A junior seminary is opened, following the instructions of Père Libermann. (The first Prefect was Père Tisserant, shipwrecked on 07.12.1845).
June 18, 1846
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Senegal
The first Mass is celebrated on the pen-insular of Dakar. The Spiritans leave the honour of presiding to M. Arlabosse, Vice-Prefect of Saint-Louis and the homily is given by L\'abbé…
February 15, 1846
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