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The Cursillo Movement in Benin
Diocesan Leaders
The Cursillo Movement is currently located in two dioceses in Benin: the Archdiocese of Cotonou and the Diocese of Abomey.
The diocesan leaders are:
Florent DANSOU and Christiane TOKPASSI SODONON (left)
Spiritual Advisor:
The diocesan leaders are:
Jean-Olivier CHÉOU, founder of the CCM in the diocese, and Serge ANATO (left)
Spritual advisor:
Current Events
BENIN, West Africa, surrounded by Togo (West), Burkina Faso and Niger (North). Nigeria (East)
Cotonou
A School is in place under the leadership of Antoine Chikou, founder of the CM in Benin. Florent Dansou, diocesan leader, sees to the successful integration of new cursillistas to Group Reunions.
A Cursillo was held on August 2-5, 2012. (more info to come)
Abomey
Father Yves HOUNLIHO, who has been spiritual leader of Abomey and has also led spiritually Cursillo weekends in Cotonou from 2006 to 2009, is currently studying in Rome.
Upcoming cursillo: September 13-16, 2012.
Brief Statistics:
Upto now (August 2011), the Cursillo Movement is implemented in 2 dioceses of Benin, and 10 Cursillo weekends were given to a total of 169 candidates.
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Historical Account
The introduction of the Cursillo Movement in French Western Africa is due to Antoine Chikou, from Benin, who, having experienced the Cursillo Weekend while studying in Belgium, was eager to start the Movement in his country. The Belgium Cursillo Chairperson introduced him to Father Loyola Gagné, s.s.s., National Secretary of the Francophone Cursillo Movement of Canada who was also part of the "CEI-MCFC", a spectial committee put forth to help with the expansion of the Cursillo Movement in the Francophonie.
The CEI Committee immediately got involved. The First cursillo in French in Western Africa took place in the Archdiocese of Cotonou on december 4-7, 2003. (N.B. It is known as the first in Cotonou but to be more precise the exact location of this weekend happened to be outside of Cotonou, at Saint Paul de Honton Parish in the adjacent diocese of Lokossa, due to some last minute difficulty. However since its organization came from Cotonou, and the Lokossa diocese is part of the Archdiocese of Cotonou, it is rightly called the first of Cotonou)
Team members of this first cursillo were: Antoine Chikou (Benin) rector; Yves Méthot (Canada) vice rector; Jean-Pierre Gingras (Canada) assistant; Fr Germain Grenon msa (Canada) spiritual advisor; Fr Germain Kitcho (Benin) spiritual advisor assistant; Mimi Barette et Pierre Debatty (Belgium) rollists.
Among the candidates of this first cursillo, were 3 Congolese, 1 Cameroonian and 1 Togolese (the latter was later to participate actively in the implementation of the Cursillo Movement in his country).
Three years later, the Cursillo Movement had already spread to four other dioceses: the Diocese of Abomey in Benin, and three dioceses in the neighboring country Togo: Lomé, Atakpamé and Kpalimé.
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Photo Gallery
2003
Slideshow - French text - click on the image
PREMIER CURSILLO FRANCOPHONE EN AFRIQUE.
Au Bénin, du 4 au 6 décembre 2003.
2004
Slideshow - French text - click on the image
REPORTAGE SUR LE 2e CURSILLO AU BÉNIN.
Par une cursilliste de Montréal, membre de l'équipe.
(under construction)
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Links
To know more about the Catholic Church in Benin (in French)
- Diocèse de Cotonou
- Conférence épiscopale du Bénin | Portail de l'Église Catholique du Bénin
- Visite du Pape au Bénin (site officiel)
- Annuaire des diocèses du Bénin
- Diocèse de Natitingou
- La Croix du Bénin