This summer, Father Bonaventure Lahafia Koné, a priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA), experienced a unique opportunity in France. For the first time, he spent the summer serving in a rural parish, in the countryside between Charlieu and Roanne. Upon his arrival, he quickly realized that despite cultural differences, his previous missionary experience in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria had well-prepared him to adapt to his new environment. The rural context of this French parish was not vastly different from the villages in northern Côte d’Ivoire, where he currently ministers.

“The pastoral field this summer in the rural areas between Charlieu and Roanne was not much different from my mission in the villages of northern Côte d’Ivoire,” explains Father Bonaventure. “As for the time spent in Bandol, it reminded me of my experiences in Egypt and Adjamé.” Father Bonaventure highlights that his time in France was marked by liturgical adjustments, particularly during funerals and weddings. He adapted to local customs and was able to deliver messages tailored to the French culture while staying true to his mission of evangelization.

One of his main reflections on this experience is the similarity in pastoral challenges, even though approaches differ from one country to another. “The novelty to highlight was mainly in terms of the audience, habits, culture, and the sensitivity needed in delivering the message,” he adds.

From Côte d’Ivoire to the Society of African Missions

“I am Father Bonaventure Lahafia Koné, a priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA),” is how this remarkable missionary begins his story. Born on December 25, 1983, in Vavoua, Côte d’Ivoire, to a Muslim family, his discovery of Christianity began early in his childhood. He encountered Jesus Christ for the first time in primary school, thanks to the Sisters of the Congregation of Saint Clare, who taught catechism to children on Wednesday afternoons.

“It was in primary school, during those Wednesdays, that I began to discover Jesus Christ and the Church through the Sisters of Saint Clare,” he recalls. When he entered secondary school, far from his family, Bonaventure made the bold decision to become a Christian and be baptized. After several years of preparation at the Sacred Heart parish in Vavoua, he received the sacrament of baptism on May 9, 2002. Quickly becoming involved in the Christian community, he became the youth leader of the parish and began discerning his vocation.

A Long Journey Toward the Priesthood

Although becoming a Christian was a significant step for him, the idea of becoming a priest didn’t initially occur to him. “Becoming a Christian was a big enough step for me, but becoming a priest seemed like too much and had never crossed my mind,” confides Father Bonaventure. It took several years of discernment, prayer, and guidance from his mentors before he decided to take the next step. After obtaining his high school diploma in 2004, he turned down professional opportunities offered by his brothers and entered the Propaedeutic Seminary of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Issia.

During this time of formation, he discovered the Society of African Missions under the leadership of Fathers Paul Pageaud and the late Mario Boffa. Fascinated by their missionary lifestyle, he chose to join the SMA, and in 2005, he was officially accepted as a candidate to continue his formation at the Grand Seminary. “Under the guidance of Fathers Paul Pageaud and the late Mario Boffa, both SMA priests and formators at the Issia propaedeutic seminary, I discovered the lifestyle of several apostolic communities through various publications. I opted for the Society of African Missions (SMA), whose way of life suited me perfectly,” he recalls.

An International Missionary Calling

Bonaventure’s missionary journey has taken him far beyond Côte d’Ivoire. After completing his philosophy studies at the Catholic University of West Africa in Abidjan, he spent a spiritual year in Calavi, Benin, in 2009. He was then sent to Egypt, where he worked with migrants and children with disabilities. This period, marked by learning Arabic and engaging in interreligious dialogue, deeply shaped him. “I found enthusiasm and joy in helping and being present for these young people who always need support and reassurance,” says Father Bonaventure.

Ordained a priest in 2014 in Abidjan, he was sent to Nigeria, where he served as a vicar in various parishes before returning to Côte d’Ivoire in 2018. “From 2014 to 2018, I was responsible for youth and children’s ministry, as well as the organization of basic ecclesial communities (BECs) in Nigeria.”

A Commitment to Missionary Service

Today, Father Bonaventure is the pastor of Saint Peter’s parish in Tioro, a mission of first evangelization in northern Côte d’Ivoire. This mission, fully aligned with the SMA’s charism, aims to build the first Christian communities among the most vulnerable populations and train the local clergy. “I have been a parish priest since 2020, and the mission in Tioro is a rural first-evangelization mission,” he explains.

Throughout his missionary journey, three key elements have stood out to him: God’s faithfulness, the joy of bringing hope to others, and the growing challenges of modern pastoral ministry. “From my journey with Christ in the diocese to the SMA, through my pastoral experiences in Egypt, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and this summer in France, three things remain clear: God’s faithfulness in guiding His Church and those He sends, the joy of being a bearer of hope to the people I meet, and the increasingly complex and varied challenges of pastoral work today.”

Reflections and Perspectives

His stay in France this summer also allowed him to reflect on the Church in Europe. “As a suggestion, if it weren’t for the difficulty in gathering all the summer pastoral workers, it would be ideal to hold a conference on the Church in France—its evolution, challenges, and ways to keep the faith alive amidst the tides of secularism and relativism,” he suggests.

He also believes that more in-depth training for pastoral workers could make their work in parishes more effective. “A general presentation of the Church in France to the summer workers, followed by an exchange of ideas and experiences, would also be useful in guiding and making them more effective in the parishes.”

Father Bonaventure Lahafia Koné continues to embody the missionary spirit of the SMA, bringing his energy, faith, and commitment to the communities he serves, whether in Africa or Europe.