The grace of the new beginnings

 

The grace of the new beginnings

Starting something, especially starting a new life, is a moment of Grace. This Grace is not only because of the newness, but above all for the Presence of God, who "makes all things new".

Sunday 22 November, the feast of Christ the King, I celebrated Mass in Barka Bongo, a village about 36 km from Baoro, on the road to Bangui. I went with Fr Michael, one of my confreres, and Sister Solange.

As we left, we observed Don Andrea, a priest from Belarus, who was preparing to enter the church, where he was going to celebrate Mass in Sango (a language he just recently began studying, since he only arrived here a few months ago).

In Barka Bongo we celebrated the sacrament of Confession with some of the  boys and girls baptized just a few months ago, and then we celebrated Mass with about fifty other people: it was the celebration of the same sacrifice, that of Jesus, which is repeated today in the small chapel of Barka Bongo, the same as the one in the largest of cathedrals, without any difference!

There were beautiful songs, and a beautiful moment of listening and celebration.

After Mass we left again, and we stopped in Bawi, another village, for a meeting with the teachers and parents of the students. The beginning of this school year was very slow: many did not send their children to school because they preferred to wait for the next elections (December 27), others were afraid of the hypothetical rebel groups. In many of our schools, the number of children enrolled is still very low compared to last year.

The meeting allowed us to share our concerns, but also to encourage and urge the parents not to let their children miss an opportunity such as school.

Speaking of school, just today the results of the second round of the baccalaureate exam were announced: all the students of our St. Augustin High School have been promoted. So between the first and second round, for the first time ever, we reached 100% of our students passing!

During the week I dedicated myself to the Mechanical School, I made 2 visits to schools in the villages, I dealt with countless small and large jobs, and I finished arranging the books in the new room.

Don Andrea
Abbé André

P.Michael et sr Solange à Barka Bongo

 

 

Ready, set, and go!

Ready, set, and go!

It is strange how time passes: days that seem like seconds and seconds that seem like hours!

The end of last week and the days leading up to Monday, were very, very busy, for me and for the Bozoum community.

On Friday afternoon the children of the “Arc en Ciel” Orphanage Center express their joy and their gratitude with songs, dances, drawings and poems. And there was even a goat as a gift!

Fr Marco Poggi also arrived on Friday, he is the priest who will replace me in Bozoum, starting December 6th.

Sunday was a great day of greeting for the parish. I celebrated Mass at 8.30, and there were a lot of people as we as a lot of emotions! It was time for me to thank God for the gift of these 17 years in Bozoum: For what we have done together with the Christians and all the people of Bozoum. For the welcome and kindness of so many people, who came with simplicity to thank, many with tears in their eyes. It was not so much the moment for Fr Aurelio, but above all for the community and, even before, for God. He trusted. About me and us. The Gospel presents the parable of the talents: each one receives them, according to his abilities, and it is nice to know that God is full of joy when we play everything with it, without hiding our talents, but let them bear fruit.

In the afternoon I took a final tour of Bozoum. I passed by the home of Thierry Kanghal, a collaborator of Caritas for many years. At his house there was the  "San Vincenzo" meeting.  and today, which is World Day of the Poor, I was happy to be able to start my goodbye's with them.

I then went to the hospital, to visit a sick person, and meet the doctor, with whom I have been collaborating for years.

Monday morning there was the last flag raising at our St. Augustin Lyceum. I stopped to greet the pupils of our “Isidore Bakanjia” elementary school: the courtyard was filled with a thousand children!

Finally, around 1.30pm, I left Bozoum! The journey to Baoro was long, very long (even if it is only 180 km): the kilometers become a screen, on which many beautiful and difficult moments of these 17 years passed by. Above all, the many faces and many people passed by.

I arrived in Baoro in the evening, and here I found another parish and another community (we are 3 fathers), and new activities. While I prepared for the reopening of the Mechanical School, the work in the villages and schools, I turned a page and started with a new chapter.

Thanks!

Courage!

I bambini del Centro orfani "Arc en ciel"
Les Enfants du Centre pour les orphelins "Arc en ciel"

P.Marco Poggi, il nuovo parroco di Bozoum
Le p.Marco, nouveau curé de Bozoum

La Messa di saluto a Bozoum, domenica 15 novembre
La Messe d'au revoir, dimanche 15 novembre

Con alcuni degli alunni del nostro Liceo St Augustin
Avec certains des élèves de notre Lycée St Augustin

La scuola elementare "Isidore Bakanjia"
L'école primaire "Isidore Bakanjia"

Scuola Meccanica di Baoro
Ecole mécanique de Baoro

 

 

Slowly, but running

 

Slowly, but running

Days of hello, farewell and goodbye, that is what this last week in Bozoum has been.

Sometimes she is a mother, like Suzanne, who brings me a bag with about ten kilos of the rice she produces, and some legumes from her garden, or at times like a grandmother with a chicken. Simple gestures, accompanied by a lot of emotion, on both sides (I didn't ask the chicken, but maybe he is moved too. Anyway, I invited him to the table!).

The pupils at our St. Augustine High School read a speech on Monday morning at the flag-raising. Their teachers, who invited me in the afternoon for a moment of sharing, gave me a statue of a wise old man (patience for the old, but wise ... not yet!).

When I celebrate Mass on Sundays, there are two moments that I particularly like: when I return to the altar, after sprinkling, at Kyrie, and after the distribution of Communion.

At the beginning of Mass, we ask forgiveness for our sins. Then the priest passes by and blesses the faithful with holy water, the symbol of Baptism. When I get back to the altar, I always feel a beautiful feeling: that of being, me and the people present, clean, forgiven.

After having distributed the Eucharist, the Body of Christ, I always look forward to the most beautiful part: bringing it to the sick, the poor and those who cannot move. Then I go back to the altar, and it is not I who carry Jesus, but He who carries me. He who carries everyone.

I end with good news:

This week, in the Ceca Republic, the book “Comenius would rejoice. The story of SIRIRI" (Komensky by zajasal. Pribeh SIRIRI) was published.  It speaks of SIRIRI, a Czech NGO that helps Carmelite missions in CAR. The book was written by Ludmila Böhmova with the help of Katerina Lachmanova, author of various books on spirituality, who invited Ludmila to tell this interesting story.

The book presents the beginnings and the whole adventure of SIRIRI since 2006.  Not only is it about SIRRI but it also tells about the work of Carmelite missionaries in CAR, in particular the ministry of Father Aurelio in Bozoum, initiator and guarantor of most of SIRIRI's projects. During the last 15 years, various projects have been managed together. At the beginning it was the construction and collaboration for the Arc en ciel Orphans Center, later it was the St. Augustin Lyceum and the Foyer for pupils. SIRIRI found the money for the construction of the Ophthalmic Clinic in Bouar to support the St Michel Center (for people with AIDS). SIRIRI also regularly supports the functioning of the Lyceum, the Cana Center and the school for mechanics in Baoro, etc. In recent years, SIRIRI has developed and introduced in schools the “Apprendre en Jouant” (Learning while having fun) program based on the pedagogical principles of Comenius (hence the title of the book).

The book (in Czech) can be found here: https://www.siriri.org/rukuvruce/index.php?route=product/product&path=76_78&product_id=239 "

 

 

 

 

Con gli insegnanti del St.Augustin
Avec les enseignants du Lycée St.Augustin

Mario, al tornio, a Baoro
Mario, au tour, à Baoro