St. Mary's Justice and Peace Group, May 2001.

News from Titao in Burkina Faso.

We have had recent news from Fr Armand, the parish priest, who has written us a very lively letter describing the work done by himself and two curates. The parish includes 120 villages; on Sundays and Thursdays, the three priests visit a number of these to say Mass and to baptise babies. In 30 villages there are permanent catechists who lead prayers on Sundays and instruct converts.

During this month, three married couples trained in catechetics arrive in the parish. They need to be self-supporting by growing their own millet and acquiring a small number of livestock. A house has to be built for each couple and the following list of equipment needed illustrates the traditional manner of their farming.

• 1 x Handcart
• 1 x Plough
• 2 x Bicycles
• 1 x Donkey
• 1 x Wheelbarrow
• Cooking Utensils
• 4 x Sacks of Millet

Burkina Faso lies in a sub-Saharan region of West Africa. Only 10% of the land is suitable for cultivation and diminishing rainfall frequently results in a poor crop: "This year our parish is dealing with starvation because of drought." Writes Fr Armand.

Anyone who would like to join the envelope scheme, contributing £1 per month, should contact our parish Justice and Peace committee, telephone number 01423 547339.