Page 71 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

of hearts, for love. We also do family apostolate. all of it, so be very careful; and the Virgin Mary does
We pray for families, with families, we sometimes not need all this dirty money. Remain in prayer, and
go door to door. Sometimes we bring our statue of the Virgin Mary will find the necessary resources for
the Pilgrim Virgin, Queen of Peace, into families who you to take care of the poor.”
have problems and we pray for one week, two weeks, And see, my prayer was answered. I bless the
depending on the case. And we have had beautiful day when I first met Father Gustave, and Mr. Mar-
results. cel Lefebvre of the Pilgrims of Saint Michael because
sometimes I put my little skills and my time at the dis-
position of Catholic Diocesan works of which Father
Gustave Adou is in charge, one morning I found, on
his table, a leaflet by the Pilgrims of Saint Michael
speaking of the public debt and the poverty in the Af-
rican countries. Immediately I was interested. I read
the article, and I wanted to make contact with the
Pilgrims of Saint Michael. When Mr. Lefebvre came
to the Ivory Coast, I made every effort to meet him,
because I was preparing a pilgrimage to Montreal, to
Saint Joseph’s Oratory, where I was cured of a ser-
ious illness several years ago. The program for my
pilgrimage had therefore changed: all the pilgrims
would first come to Rougemont to attend the week
of study. Unfortunately, only one person among the
laity was able to obtain their visa. That is why I say
that all who are here were truly called to sow.
As well as being responsible for the Mary Queen
of Peace Community, in my parish in Abidjan, in
the Ivory Coast, I am responsible for all the Marian
groups. I am a member of the Parish Council, and I
put my time and my skills at the disposition of the
Church, and I give Catechism classes at the cathedral.
Since I left the Central Bank, I am joyful, I am happy,
and I lack nothing. I am happy with the little I have,
with the little the Lord gives me, and I am completely
happy.
What will be my contribution? First of all, when
I return to the Ivory Coast, I will give a report to my
pastor; I will make Social Credit known in my spiritual
group and in other groups in the parish.
Mary, Queen of Peace Secondly, it’s true, we demonize the bankers, we
My old colleagues laughed at me and told me: demonize the world of finance, but there are not only
“You want to take care of the poor! How will you do it little devils in this world. There are also people who
without resources?” You know, that world (of finance know what is happening, and who try to incite an
and banks), they have a thousand tricks in their bag awareness around themselves, but it is as if we were
to catch you. One of the directors of the big banks in chained, because there is also the “code of silence”:
the area called me and said: “You want to take care of when we leave this world (the Central Bank), you do
the poor, but with what resources? I, I will help you. I not have the right to speak of all you have seen, all
will give you a project — all is already prepared: you you have done, all you have learned, therefore we
will export rice from the sub-regions; we did a study are kept silent.
of the market, it will bring in billions”. But Jesus told us: “Do not be afraid!” Pope John
I almost let myself be caught by telling myself: Paul II told us: “Do not be afraid!” And since if have
“Here is money to help me take care of the poor and come to Rougemont, I feel free; I am not obliged to
to successfully carry through the Virgin’s work!” But, keep any non disclosures, and I will even go so far: it
as I had a spiritual director, I spoke to him of it and he is in this world, the world of finance, this world that
told me: “Be careful, you’ll fall into a trap. You cannot once was mine, that I will convey the message (of
leave the world of finance to launch yourself into an Social Credit), because I am no longer afraid!
operation that you did not study, and that is probably
hiding something. Perhaps there are drugs beneath Celine Marie Therese Akouete

www.michaeljournal.org 2012 session 71