Other names Abbey of Keur Moussa Founder(s) Monks of Solesmes Address Keur Moussa, Senegal | Established 1961 Prior Armand Sauvaget Phone +221 33 836 16 17 | |
Order Solesmes Congregation, Order of Saint Benedict Abbot Philippe Champetier de Ribes Christofle Diocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dakar Similar Blaise Diagne Internatio, SIPRES 5, Marché Keur Mbaye Fall, cité Darou Salam | ||
Abbaye de Keur Moussa, near Dakar, Senegal, is a Benedictine monastery of the Solesmes Congregation. Founded in 1961, the monastery became an abbey in 1984. As of 2000, the monastery was home to 26 monks, under the leadership of Abbot Fr Philippe Champetier de Ribes Christofle.
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History
In 1961, nine French monks from the Abbey of Solesmes arrived in Senegal to establish a monastic foundation. In the midst of a largely Islamic country, the founding monks aimed to allow Christians the opportunity to take part in the Benedictine life of prayer and work, and to provide non-Christians with an example of such a lifestyle.
By 1984, the monastery attained complete autonomy, being raised to the rank of an abbey on January 30. Fr Philippe Champetier de Ribes Christofle was elected as the community's first abbot. Two years later, the monastery's church was solemnly dedicated.
Apostolic Work
The monks are primarily engaged in agricultural work. Irrigation has allowed for the cultivation of various fruits (grapefruits, oranges, lemons, mangoes, bananas) and vegetables. Additionally, the monks support themselves by producing goat cheese, the traditional West African kora harp, and CD recordings.
Since the foundation of their community, the monks of Abbaye de Keur Moussa have supported the local Muslim population, providing health care and distributing food to the needy. A dispensary and a primary school founded by the monks are now operated by a groups of religious sisters and by lay people, respectively.
Personnel
The original nine founding monks were Frenchmen from the Abbey of Solesmes. By 1998, two-thirds of the community's approximately 40 members (including novices, postulants, and candidates) were Senegalese.
As of 2000, the community at Keur Moussa included 26 monks, 12 of whom were ordained priests. The monks of Abbaye de Keur Moussa are under the leadership of Abbot Philippe Champetier de Ribes Christofle, who is assisted in his duties by Armand Sauvaget, prior.