Paul Keenan
Trio kidnapped in April
Three Catholic missionaries kidnapped in Cameroon in April are reported to be in good condition following their release this week.
Italian Frs Gianantonio Allegri and Don Giampaolo Marta, Fidei Donum priests and Canadian Sister Gilberte Bussier of the Sisters of Our Lady of Montreal disappeared on April 4 from Tchere, just 20 miles from the border with Nigeria, leading to speculation that they were in the hands of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram up to their return on June 1.
News of the missionaries’ safe return was greeted with joy by their congregations.
"It is with great joy that the sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame have learned of the release of Sister Gilberte Bussiere," said a statement from the Montreal-based order.
The Diocese of Vicenza in Italy, also issued a statement expressing "great joy" that the priests had been returned unharmed.
Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the prefect of the Congregation for Evangelisation, who was in Cameroon when the released missionaries were freed, met with them and reported that they “were excited and happy and, I must say, in good physical and psychological condition.” The cardinal said that Church officials had “no inkling” that the hostages would be freed until just before their release. He said that civil authorities in Cameroon as still trying to identify the kidnappers.
