Important dates of Charles Lavigerie
1825 Oct 31 Birth in Bayonne, France 1849 June 2 Priestly Ordination 1854 Professor at the Sorbonne in Paris, France 1856 Director of Education in the East His road to Damascus : 1860 His “Road to Dasmascus” Christians are killed in Lebanon and Damascus; Lavigerie is there to help refugees and orphans. His first contact with Muslims; he discovers his missionary vocation1861 Diplomatic function in Rome 1863 Lavigerie becomes Bishop of Nancy, France (aged 36) 1866 Lavigerie accepts the See of Algiers, a poor diocese, but “the gateway to all Africa… and her 200 million souls” Algiers : 1867 Lavigerie is named archbishop of Algiers 1868 Appointed Apostolic Delegate for the Sahara and Sudan Oct 19 First Novitiate of the “White Fathers” at Maison Carrée 1869 Sept 8 First Novitiate of the “White Sisters” at Algiers 1872 Lavigerie presents himself as candidate for the Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem He is not going there,…