Fr. Roger Debaud, CSV, who served more than 40 years in the Foundation of Ivory Coast and ultimately served as its superior, has died. Fr. Debaud passed away April 26 in Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast. He was 75.
Fr. Roger Debaud, CSV
Father Roger Debaud was born in France on 09/06/1943. He entered the Viatorian Novitiate in 1959 in Loupiac in France. In 1960 he pronounced his first vows as a Viatorian and he began his pastoral work in France.
In 1964, he arrived in Bouaké in the Ivory Coast as a young religious as part of his military service. Back in France in 1968, he pronounced his perpetual vows as a Viatorian. The following year, 1969, he began studies of philosophy and theology for the priesthood. He was ordained a priest in Lyon, France in 1974.
That same year, 1974, he returned to Bouaké as a missionary, serving as a professor and chaplain at the Saint Viateur College of Bouaké. In 1982, he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Nazareth parish in Bouaké. While serving as a parish priest — from 1998 to 2001 — Fr. Debaud was elected Superior of the Viatorian Foundation of Ivory Coast. On Sept. 12, 2004, the Nazareth Parish said goodbye after 22 years of service as parish priest. During all these years, Fr. Debaud saw the birth of several communities in his pastoral work in the villages. He was a true lover of rural areas. He then was appointed Manager of the YOUNG VIATOR FOCUS of Bouaké.
Hundreds of villagers from the towns where Fr. Debaud ministered, turned out for his funeral Mass.
In 2006, Fr. Debaud became Chaplain and Professor of Human and Religious Formation (FHR) at St. Charles Lwanga of Ferke. He also served as Dominical Vicar at the Holy Trinity Parish of Ferké. In 2012, he went back to France for medical care.
Fr. Debaud returned to the Ivory Coast in 2015, where he was appointed formator of the Viatorian Novitiate in Bouaké. He also returned to serve in pastoral ministry at the parish of Our Lady of Nazareth. In this sense, as a priest he will be remembered for bringing pastoral ministry to outlying villages.
Funeral services for Fr. Debaud will take place in Bouake, from Sunday May 5 to Sunday May 12.
- From Sunday 05 May to Tuesday 07 May 2019:
Presentation of condolences at the Novitiate from 18h-20h followed by the offices. - Wednesday, May 08, 2019: 1st animated vigil at the Novitiate
- Thursday, May 09, 2019: 2nd vigil in the parish Our Lady of Nazareth of Bouaké from 20h-22h.
- Friday, May 10, 2019: Requiem Mass at the Saint Therese Cathedral parish in Bouaké:
- 08h: Office of the dead
- 08h30: Body lift on the church square
- 09h:Requiem Mass followed by burial at the Novitiate
- Sunday, May 12: Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Nazareth Parish at 0700.