TestimonyWorld News

Salesian missionary murdered in Burkina Faso

A tragic death has struck the Salesian Congregation in Africa. Father Antonio César Fernández, of the AFO Province (Francophone Western Africa), was shot dead in an ambush by jihadist assassins yesterday, Friday, February 15, 2019, after 3 PM.

Salesian News Agency reports from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Alas, the hour of martyrs. A tragic death has struck the Salesian Congregation in Africa. Our beloved confrere Antonio César Fernández, of the AFO Province (Francophone Western Africa), was shot dead in an ambush by jihadist assassins yesterday, Friday, February 15, 2019, after 3 PM.

He was currently in charge of the Salesian community of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

We pray for his eternal rest.

He had offered his life for Africa and his offer was fully accepted.

We ask him to pray with us for his province, where he arrived with the first group of missionaries in Lomé (Togo). He was also the founder of the parish of Mary Help of Christians, the first teacher of novices for 10 years.

This attack is part of the wave of violence that has been afflicting Burkina Faso since 2015, in a context that has seen a surge in terrorist threats in the past few weeks after the fifth Conference of Heads of State of the Sahel G5, of which the country has the current presidency.

May the Risen Lord welcome Brother César with tenderness alongside all those who have given their lives to the Salesian mission, and may Mary Help of Christians, whom he so loved, welcome him with the affection of the Good Mother of Heaven.”

 

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