Fr. Joeven Matugas Shares of His Mission Experience in Sierra Leone, West Africa

I am Fr. Joeven Matugas. I am the second Filipino Xaverian. I came from the southern part of the Philippines, Cebu, in the Visayas region. I joined the Xaverian Pre-Novitiate Formation from 2004 to 2007 in St. Conforti Mission Center in Novaliches, Quezon City. After that, I studied Theology from 2007 to 2011 at St. Francis Xavier International Theology of Asia in Project 8, Quezon City, Philippines.  

Right after my Theological Studies, I was sent to Sierra Leone to do an Overseas Training Program. It was a real mission experience for me. It was my first time leaving my country and traveling abroad to a far-distant land of West Africa. When I arrived, I did not feel odd in the place. I had a positive impression of the mission. I was feeling at home. I was initiated into being a missionary as a young Xaverian. I took my Perpetual Profession in Sierra Leone on the 5th November 2013 in St. Conforti Parish, Makeni. I was ordained Deacon on 17th November 2013 in Kabala Parish by the Most Rev. Charles Campbell – Bishop of the Diocese of Bo. On the 17th May 2014, I was ordained to the Priesthood in my city – Sto: Rev. Emilio Bataclan, DD – Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu. Then, I returned to Sierra Leone to continue my official mission assignment.

Sierra Leone is a relatively small country bordered by Guinea and Liberia. It has an approximate population of 8.6 million, with 77.9 % Islam and 22.9% Christians. Among the Christians, 14% are Catholics, and 7% are other Christian Denominations. There are an estimated 800,000 Catholics.

 In Sierra Leone, the Xaverians established the Diocese of Makeni in 1952 with three Xaverian Bishops successively until 2013. In this Diocese, there are 25 parishes and two chaplaincies. There are 45 Diocesan Priests since the first ordination in 1977. There are also 7 Religious Men Missionary Congregations and 7 Religious Women Missionary Congregations. From 2014 to 2024, we, the Xaverians, have 4 Parishes and 1 Quasi-Parish, 1 Formation House in the capital city of Freetown, and our headquarters, the Regional House, in Makeni.   

I was assigned in our mission in Kabala – Holy Martyrs of Uganda Parish. I used to go to the Outstations for Sunday Masses and followed Catechumenate programs in preparation for Baptism. In the Parish, I followed the program and activities of the children, altar servers, youth, and adult associations.  I also worked in the management of our Catholic Mission Schools in the Parish – (4) Pre-Schools, (44) Primary Schools, and (7) Secondary Schools. They are categorized as Government Assisted Schools, whereby the Catholic Mission is considered the Proprietors and Administrators. I was six years old in Kabala. After that, I was sent to our far and tough mission of Mongo Bendugu near Guinea for roughly 3 years. From there, I returned to Kabala and worked briefly for Vocation Animation. Then, I was transferred to our Formation community in Freetown as assistant to Fr Vicenzo Munari in the outstation of St. Charles Lwanga – Allentown. From Freetown, I was sent to our Regional House in Makeni to assist with the work of the late Fr. Luis Perez. Until the beginning of October 2024, I received an appointment to attend our Central Delegation in Italy. I went to Rome to study Italian while waiting for my arrival in the United States as my next assignment. At the beginning of this year, 2025, I received my U.S. Visa. I am now assigned in our Mission Center here in Holliston, MA – Fatima Shrine.