Emmanuel Colani
45 years old, ordained on June 19 for the diocese of Coutances and Avranches
“I was an apostolic religious within the Society of Mary before committing myself to the seminary. I taught philosophy, as well as computer science. I also taught at the major seminary in my country of origin, Togo. This allowed me to see the difference in terms of the number of seminarians: there are many more young people there who apply to become priests. That said, I see a form of revival in France. The Carmelite seminary, for example, was threatened with closure: it is no longer, thanks to an increase in vocations. We can also see a real fervor in the Christian assemblies. The synodal path traced by Pope Francis is a very good thing. We must understand that it does not only involve the laity, we are all concerned by this reflection: how to live in community and how to lead the life of the Church? Some may be afraid of having some of the power of authority taken away from them, but I don’t believe there is a risk of a schism. It is a fruitful path that will revitalize the life of the Church. The latter is always brought to adapt. The reception of Vatican II is still not over, but this council has placed us in a dynamic of listening to the world. We must listen to what the men and women of our time tell us, adapt our way of walking towards God accordingly. In the same way, we must continue to advance in the field of ecumenism and inter-religious. Christian unity and human unity are not optional. This is why Christ came, to gather all the scattered children of God. »
