As the Saint Charles de Foucauld School of Theological and Pastoral Initiation (EITP) in Cotonou celebrated its seventh anniversary on February 2, 2025, Archbishop Roger Houngbédji of the local Church issued a call to his students:
"True theology is not limited to books. It is lived on one's knees, in submission to God and in communion with the Church."
This anniversary, coinciding with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, was marked by the missionary sending forth of the school's sixth graduating class, responding to Pope Benedict XVI's exhortation to promote "a pastoral ministry of intelligence" in Africa (Africae munus, n°137).
A Response to the Call of the Magisterium
From its inception, the EITP has had a clear objective: to form Christians capable of reflecting on the challenges of faith without ever separating it from concrete life. "Here, theology is not a theoretical incubation. It is rooted in spiritual experience," explains Father Rodrigue Gbédjinou, the school's director. In seven years, nearly 1,000 laypeople, religious brothers, and sisters have followed this path, blending doctrinal studies and pastoral engagement.
Archbishop Houngbédji, who is also President of the Bishops' Conference of Benin, rejoices in this dynamic: "These disciples, formed in the mysteries of the faith, actively participate in evangelization, both in our diocese and at the universal level."
Against the Pride of the Intellect: Grace Above All
During the sending-forth Mass, the Archbishop cautioned the 31 new "Disciples of Emmaus"—the title bestowed upon graduates—against a subtle temptation: "To believe that reason surpasses grace, or that erudition dispenses with docility to the Holy Spirit, would be a grave error."
Drawing on the day's readings, he invited them to three conversions: "The purification of the heart, abandonment to the Spirit, and fervent prayer."
"What I expect from you," he insisted, "is not primarily knowledge, but a living encounter with Christ." A salutary warning in a world where even theology can become an instrument of pride.
Testimonies That Speak
The recipients, unanimously, emphasized the depth of this formation. "It is an experience that transforms more than it instructs," shares Christiane Tokpassi, moved. Hervé Affognon, a young member of the Charismatic Renewal, testifies to his discovery: "Christology overwhelmed me. I want to share these treasures in my diocesan service."
In founding this school, Archbishop Houngbédji planted a seed. Seven years later, the fruits are tangible: a generation of Catholics armed not with dialectics, but with that "theology on one's knees" which unites intelligence with the humility of prayer.