Guyane
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Population: 150,000 (1995)
Life expectancy males/females: 60/66 years |
Infant mortality rate: 63
GDP per capita: US $590 |
Spiritan presence: since 1777 (1924).
The diocese of Cayenne takes in the whole territory of French
Guyana. The population of more or less 140.000 inhabitants is extremely
heterogeneous (Creole, Europeans, Amerindian and Haitian immigrants,
Brazilians, Surinamians, west Indians, Asians...). so many distinctions
and divisions in such a small population makes certain apostolic
activities difficult. Two other demographic observations: the concentration
of the population in Cayenne and the excessive growth in recent
years (in 1975 the populations was only 50.000 inhabitants).
The Spiritans want to articulate themselves around three types
of pastoral activity:
- first evangelisation, especially on the banks of the two border
rivers, the Maroni (Suriname) and the Oyapock (Brazil). In Maroni
mission a team of young Nigerians are working, so diversifying
the composition of the district, formerly only French.
- urban pastoral work, linked to a diocesan pastoral project
of renewal of the parishes.
- pastoral work with immigrants, who do not cease to increase
and diversify. The Church in Guyana, and therefore the Spiritans,
is not prepared to cope with this situation. Could this not be
a priority for Spiritans? In Guyana two thirds of the population
is foreign.
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