Bobo-Dioulasso – The Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral in Bobo-Dioulasso hosted a thanksgiving mass on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the brothers of the hall in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the mass was led by the Bishop of Banfora, Monsignor Lucas Kalfa Sanou, and attended by the Archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, Mgr Paul Ouédraogo, along with several other bishops, priests, religious figures, and Lasallian students.
The celebration marked the close of the alabaster jubilee that began on May 13, 2023, celebrating 75 years since the brothers first established their educational mission at the intervicarial normal school of Toussiana. The mass featured remarks from Mgr Lucas Kalfa Sanou, who highlighted the significant contributions of the Lasallian brothers to Catholic education in Burkina Faso. The event also served as a reflection on the impact of Lasallian education, which aims to provide holistic learning experiences that foster active citizenship.
Armand Badiel, the national director of the Commercial and Economic Bank of West Africa (BCEAO) for Burkina Faso and godfather of the jubilee, spoke about his personal connection to Lasallian schools and his commitment to supporting their educational ethos. Visiting brother Rodrigue Toeppen from the Lasallian district of West Africa expressed gratitude for the enduring legacy of the Lasallian brothers in the country and discussed the need for adapting Lasallian education to meet contemporary challenges through community involvement.