They arrive with their families ? and their pigs and chickens. Some walk miles to get there, motivated by their love for Jesus and their strong desire to tell others about Him.

The 180 catechists in the Diocese of Morondava, Madagascar, participate in four-day formation programmes every three months, at various locations throughout the island nation off Africa?s southeast coast.

?These men feel that this is a call,? offered Bishop Donald Pelletier, M.S. ?The Lord provides for the Church with and through these catechists.?

Catechists throughout the Missions ? more than 350,000 in Africa alone receive help from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith ? speak of faith to those who have never heard the Gospel. In Morondava, they bring the ?Good News? of Jesus to villages where perhaps only four percent of the population is Catholic - or where there are no Catholics at all. ?They find a hunger and thirst that only Christ can satisfy,? Bishop Pelletier said.

Many in these villages are often ?held prisoner? by fears and superstitions, added Bishop Pelletier.

?If there is a sickness, that is viewed as a curse, and sometimes others are blamed in a village for bringing difficulties and challenges to others,? he explained.