Wonderful times!

 

 

 

Work in progress

 

Wonderful times!

The start of the school year is quickly approaching, and we proceeded with cleaning and fixing up of some of our schools.

We have just finished putting a fresh coat of paint at the school of Pate Bonambolo, and we are on our way to the school in Kouisso Baguera.  We finished painting the nuns' school, here in Baoro. It was a little "gray", and is now an explosion of color. It looks very nice!

Last Friday I managed to get the Covid vaccine, here in Baoro. Thanks be to God, and thanks to the good will of many people, the vaccines have also arrived here in Central Africa. Despite the very little publicity, the inoculated doses are already 150,000. This is a good result, all things considered.

Saturday morning I left for Niem, a village 70 km from Bouar, an area infested by rebels.  This was where a few months ago Fr Arialdo, the parish priest, had jumped over a mine (wrecked car, trauma and wounds, and a dead man). I went to Niem to arrange some things in the chapel of the Sisters: a panel depicting a Last Supper. To help make the chapel more beautiful. It is a space of encounter with God, where it is beautiful to pray.

Today, Thursday 23 September, the catechists of the city and villages are gathered here in Baoro for three days of meeting and prayer. Almost forty people are committed to bringing the Gospel to the smallest communities.

How wonderful!

Niem

Scuola elementare "Les Martyrs Africains" di Baoro
Ecole primaire "Les Martyrs Africains" de Baoro

Arrivo dei catechisti a Baoro per la formazione
Arrivée des catéchistes à Baoro pour la formation

Rain and fiftieths!

 

 

 

Rain and fiftieths!

September, in theory, would be the time to return to school.

In theory, because in Central Africa there is no fixed date, but every year the time for the reopening of the schools is varied. This year it should be around mid-October, because the Final exam is scheduled for next week.

It is not clear why elementary and middle schools start late, due to the Final exam, but that is the way it has been and will continue to be.

We hope to be able to open a little earlier, perhaps as a recovery and pre-return time. As long as the authorities do not block the opening of schools!

On Sunday I celebrated Mass in Dobere, a village 55 km away, on the (asphalted) road to Bangui.

On Tuesday we had yet another inspection of the construction site of the new convent in Bangui, and on Wednesday I welcomed Father Stefano, parish priest and superior here in Baoro, who returned after a period of rest in Italy.

I returned to Baoro today, Thursday morning, just in time to participate in the feast in honor of Sister Biagina, who today celebrated 50 years of religious vocation (in Baoro since 1974!).

And since we are on the theme for fiftieths, on Saturday, September 11th, Luigina and Mario, friends and volunteers of the Mission (and more), celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Which also happened to be the year in which we commemorated the arrival of the Carmelites in Central Africa, on December 16, 1971.

Best wishes!

Piove
Il pleut

Cantiere di Bangui
Le chantier à Bangui

Sr Biagina

Mario e Luigina

 

 

 

Bayanga Didi, and various schools

 

 

Fiore lungo la strada... (forse Protea Gaguedi)
Une fleur, à coté de la route. Peut etre Protea Gaguedi

 

Bayanga Didi, and various schools

On Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th, I finally managed to get out to Bayanga Didi, a large village almost 90 km from Baoro.

The area is fairly quiet, although groups of rebels and/or bandits often pass through. For now I still haven't had the pleasure of meeting them and hopefully I never will. A month ago, the Baoro authorities assured me that the army, together with the Russians, had carried out a "clean-up" operation. Instead they just took a quick tour, spending just 1 or 2 hours in the larger villages ...

On Saturday evening I showed a film, and on Sunday morning I dedicated myself to confessions (for almost 3 hours!), And then we celebrated Mass. It was a day of thanksgiving for working the fields, and many brought peanuts, pumpkins, corn and other produce, which they offered to God, the poor and the village community.

In Bayanga Didi we are trying to do something for education. Unfortunately, the state primary school does not work. The last date written on the blackboard is April 26… Which means that practically from Easter onwards there have been no lessons. Furthermore, the classrooms are empty: desks and chairs are missing.

Not being able, for now, to do something for elementary school, we want to open a kindergarten, so that at least small children can receive some education. Saturday and Sunday I talked about it with the parents, and now I am waiting for them to make me a first list of the children who will be enrolled. In the meantime, let's think about how to build a canopy and adapt some rooms to accommodate the Bayanga Didi Nursery School.

Back in Baoro, these days I follow the work of the elementary school of the Baoro nuns. With remote help and advice from Italy and Prague (thanks Paolo, thanks Karol), we are trying to create a more cheerful and more suitable environment for the children who attend it.

Good job!

Bayanga Didi

Scuola di Baynga Didi. Foto del 5 settembre...
Ecole de Bayanga Didi. Photo du 5 septembre

Offertorio - offertoire (Bayanga Didi)

Ecole "Les Martyrs Africains" - Baoro

 

 

 

Igwe etc

 

Igwe etc

The rain, in recent days, has shown itself to be more "friendly". So on Sunday I was able to take the road to Igwe, the smallest of the villages: 12 houses and 1 thatched chapel.

It is located about 60/65 kilometers away, but the last 14 km to get there are in the middle of the bush: or rather a path, which zigzags among the trees, almost submerged by very tall grasses, including some termite mounds (more than 3 meters high). A few fallen trees forced us to stop, and it took 45 minutes for this last part alone.

Here I found the community waiting. They provided greetings, some information on the work in the fields and on security (there are rebel groups that pass "irregularly") and on the inhabitants. I dedicated myself to confessions, and then I celebrated Mass. It is a simple world, but one that is thirsty for the Gospel, for God and for peace.

After Mass I went to see the village chief, who was recovering from a period of being quite ill.

Monday morning, at 5 am, I left again for Bangui. This is supposed to be one of the best roads in the country. It is the only road that allows communication and the arrival of goods imported from abroad. But even here, in some places, there are more holes than asphalt!

In Bangui, construction work on the new convent is continuing. A part of the foundations is already built, and we move forward with passion and good will.

Igwe, la cappella
Igwe, la chapelle

Carmel, Bangui