Divine Mercy Parish, Pissa, Kontagora Diocese
Divine Mercy Parish, Pissa, operates within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Kontagora Diocese and is overseen by missionary priests of the Society of African Missions (SMA Fathers). Established approximately a decade ago, the parish was initiated under the leadership of Fr. Donall O’Cathain, SMA.
Situated in a predominantly rural setting, Divine Mercy Parish encompasses a vast territory spanning approximately 2,500 square kilometres within the Borgu Local Government area of Niger state. Comprising 48 mission stations or villages, the parish serves a community primarily composed of recent converts to the Christian faith, amidst a backdrop of large majority Muslim and traditional religious adherents.
Our principal mission within this territory is the propagation of Christian teachings, notwithstanding numerous socio-cultural challenges that necessitate our intervention. Notably, a prevailing lack of educational infrastructure and cultural biases against formal schooling pose significant obstacles. Going to school was seen as laziness by all since farming gets you better financial support to sustain yourself and your family. To address this, we conduct a three-month educational program during the dry season (January to March), attracting between 400 to 600 participants, encompassing children, teenagers, and adults. This initiative not only fosters literacy but also facilitates catechesis.
In addition to educational endeavours, our outreach extends to healthcare provision through a weekly clinic staffed by OLA sisters, offering medical assistance irrespective of religious affiliation. Moreover, we have implemented initiatives to improve access to clean water by constructing wells in select villages and within our parish compound, aiming to ameliorate the pervasive scarcity of potable water. We wish we could construct more if we had benefactors to assist.
However, our efforts are impeded by several challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, and notably poor road networks that hinder transportation and escalate costs. Moreover, the dearth of educational opportunities hampers the development of local church leadership (educated service leaders to lead the various churches), while societal practices such as polygamy and child marriage present formidable cultural barriers. Economic hardships are exacerbated by the remote location of our parish, which entails higher living costs. Furthermore, financial constraints constrain our ability to provide essential amenities such as suitable church facilities across all 48 mission stations (churches with good roofs, cemented walls, altars and benches for the people).
Furthermore, security poses a significant concern. Residing in a village where the priest and the catechist’s family are the sole Catholic inhabitants, our compound remains unenclosed, lacking the necessary fortifications to safeguard our premises and possessions. Regrettably, erecting perimeter walls entails considerable expenses beyond our current means.
Despite these challenges, Divine Mercy Parish remains a bastion of hope, dedicated to the missionary imperative of spreading the gospel to the most abandoned in Africa—an ethos emblematic of the SMA. Through the collaborative efforts of dedicated missionaries, the support of the local populace, and the help of external supportive benefactors, our mission continues to progress.
Fr. Chukwubuikem Nwoha, SMA