Benin: The Jubilee of Catechists, celebrated in Rome from September 26 to 28, brought together catechists from across the globe to reflect on their mission in the Church. Among them were members of the Oblate Catechists of the Little Servants to the Poor (OCPSP), a Beninese religious institute whose Superior General, Sister Anicette Ghislaine Quenum, emphasized that for her congregation, being a catechist is not simply a role or duty but “a way of life, an echo of God’s voice in the world.”
Founded on March 19, 1914, by Father Emile François Barril and Julia Nobre later known as Sister Elisabeth of the Trinity the OCPSP was born in the heart of Benin (then Dahomey) with a twofold mission: to teach the faith and to serve the poor. For over a century, the sisters have lived out this charism, weaving catechesis into every aspect of their service, from schools and parishes to outreach programs for the vulnerable.
Sister Quenum explained that their presence is always marked by hope: “We strive to be true witnesses of hope by genuinely seeking God. Our life is a signpost pointing to His presence.” She invited young people in particular to live the Jubilee year with gratitude and as a summons to become “authentic witnesses of hope.”
During the Jubilee, the OCPSP sisters reflected on their mission in light of the Church’s call to evangelization. For them, catechesis is not limited to teaching doctrine but is a holistic presence proclaiming Christ through service, prayer, and daily witness. “We are called to be beacons,” said Sister Quenum, “sending out signals of God’s presence into a world often marked by despair.”
Their approach prioritizes justice, charity, and humility. By embracing the poorest and marginalized, the sisters believe they embody the Gospel’s radical demand to seek the Kingdom of God first.
A defining feature of their ministry is close collaboration with lay catechists in parishes across Benin. The sisters offer training, guidance, and retreats, creating networks of evangelization that extend beyond convent walls. “Catechesis here is a shared responsibility,” Sister Quenum noted. “We walk together with laypeople, forming them while also being formed by their lived faith.”
Their outreach includes catechetical formation for children, youth, and especially persons living with disabilities. This inclusive approach reflects the institute’s deep conviction that every person is capable of encountering Christ, regardless of physical or social limitations.
The institute’s foundation traces back to February 1910, when Father Barril, a French missionary struggling to evangelize women in Dahomey due to cultural restrictions, encountered Julia De Souza Nobre. As a local woman deeply committed to serving the poor and elderly, Julia was able to bridge the cultural divide and open new paths for evangelization. Their meeting is remembered by the sisters as a providential event, one that gave rise to a community uniquely attuned to both catechesis and service.
Beyond parish and classroom catechesis, the OCPSP has expanded its mission to social service. Since 2006, the sisters have run an association dedicated to persons with disabilities, orphans, women in need, and other vulnerable groups. This work, Sister Quenum explained, is inseparable from their catechetical calling: “To teach the faith is to embody it in word, in action, and in love.”
For the Oblate Catechists of the Little Servants to the Poor, catechesis is not a temporary assignment but a permanent identity. It shapes their spirituality, their community life, and their service to society. As Sister Quenum remarked during the Jubilee, their task is not just to pass on teachings but to be “authentic witnesses of God’s hope” in a world hungering for light.
In Benin and beyond, the sisters continue to stand as a living reminder that the ministry of the catechist is more than instruction it is a vocation of life, faith, and service.