Senegal: Tribute Paid to Abp. Lefebvre

As it celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, the Benedictine Abbey of Keur Moussa, in the Thiès region in Senegal, organized an international colloquium on the topic of “Be mindful, keep watch.”

During the opening Mass, which took place in Our Lady of Victories Cathedral in Dakar on April 10, 2013, Father Ange-Marie Niouky paid a forceful tribute to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. He recalled that the presence of the Benedictine monks in Senegal is due to Marcel Lefebvre, who was then Archbishop of Dakar (1947-1962).

In 1959 he petitioned the Abbey of Solesmes in France with a view to a Benedictine foundation in Africa. “Because there were no longer enough missionaries and vocations were becoming sparse, I took the initiative to call for new congregations,” Archbishop Lefebvre explained (as cited in the biography by Bp. Tissier de Mallerais). The biographer goes on to write:

The last to arrive were the Benedictines from Solesmes. In the early 1950’s, Archbishop Lefebvre had asked Father Abbot, Dom Germain Cozien, to found a monastery in Senegal. His successor, Dom Jean Prou, was the one who established the foundation: he came to prospect in February 1961 and again in November to oversee the initial construction work near Sébikotane, in the village of Keur Moussa."

So it was that nine monks arrived in Senegal to found Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey in Keur Moussa. The land was donated by the Archdiocese of Dakar and the blessing of the first stone took place on June 25, 1962. That day, with the recently installed Archbishop of Dakar, Archbishop Hyacinthe Thiandoum in attendance, Dom Philippe Champetier de Ribes himself described Archbishop Lefebvre in these terms:

You know, Your Excellency, the reasons that prompted Father Abbot in Solesmes to undertake this foundation at the request of your predecessor Archbishop Lefebvre, whom we cannot fail to recall today with affectionate gratitude. We know that he rejoices with us to see the fulfillment of a long-cherished desire; for, with a great spirit of faith, he had long since understood the important role of contemplative communities in the life of the Church. As he departed he left us a letter on prayer which expresses simply and profoundly the traditional teaching of the Church on this subject.”

Located in an arid environment, around fifty kilometers [31 miles] from Dakar, the monastery built near the village of Keur Moussa, in the Thiès region, now has 44 monks who come from Senegal, France, Gabon, Guinea, Cameroon and Congo. The project developed swiftly on a grand scale: practical, harmonious buildings housed an ever-growing monastic community. Near Keur Moussa, in Keur Guilaye, a foundation of nuns was started. Dispensaries [out-patient clinics] and schools were established nearby. Wells were drilled, which made it possible to plant a luxuriant orchard around the buildings. In 1984 the status of independent abbey was granted to Keur Moussa and Dom Philippe Champetier de Ribes was elected its first abbot.

Sources:  apic/keurmoussa/clovis – DICI no. 274 - 04/26/13

On the same topic : http://www.lefebvrethemovie.org/