SW News: The Catholic Church in the West African nation of Ivory Coast has undertaken a "missionary tour" that covers four ecclesiastical provinces in the country. The tour that began in the missionary month of October is organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) and will end in December. As part of the journey, priests and believers will travel from one province to another and share their testimonies with others to make them aware of the Pontifical Mission Societies and their activities.

According to Father Jean-Noël Gossou, National Director of the PMS of Ivory Coast, the mission journey enjoys the support of all the Catholic Bishops. It will also be an opportunity for believers to exchange views and talk about PMS and its activities, said Fr. Gossou.

The "missionary tour" is currently in Bouaké and will begin its journey to the ecclesiastical province of Gagnoa on November 12 and it will go on until November 22. On December 18, the tour will conclude in Abidjan.

"The Missionary Month is an opportunity to awaken missionary awareness in all priests, men, and women religious, laity and families. And for this reason, I invite you all to become aware of our missionary vocation and to assume the commitment to walk in the footsteps of the apostles and the first missionaries," said Fr. Gossou. During the beginning of the journey, Archbishop Ignace Dogbo Bessi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Korhogo, urged believers to support the PMS. Apart from the trip, all dioceses organized pastoral activities to spread awareness of PMS among the People of God.