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Thursday, November 25, 2021

Visits

 

 

 

Visits

In many countries, the Pope sends his "Nuncios" - ambassadors - who perform a double function, in front of the local Church, and in front of the Government. There is also a Nunciature in Central Africa, and in these days our diocese of Bouar welcomed the Nuncio Mgr. Santiago de Wit Guzmán, from Valencia, on a visit for a week.

He visited some cities and communities of the diocese (Niem, Baboua, Baoro) and last Friday he arrived among us, accompanied by the bishop of Bouar, Mgr. Mirek Gucwa. We welcomed him for the Vesper prayers, but also for dinner. On Saturday morning he celebrated Mass at 6, and then left around 9 and continued his visit to the rest of the Diocese.

The Nuncio's visit is a moment of celebration, because it brings the Pope and the whole Church an embrace. A Church that, especially here in Central Africa, is very committed with and for the poorest.

Sunday morning I celebrated Mass in the small village of Barka Bongo, and then continued to Bangui, to visit the construction site of the new convent.

In Bangui I welcomed Father Davide Sollami, who is the head of our Arenzano Public Prosecutor's Office. Tuesday morning I went up with him to Baoro. We stopped to greet the pupils of our schools. There are now more than 1,900 children, including kindergartens (about 200) and elementary schools (over 1,700 pupils). In the following days, Father Davide will visit some of them, especially to take pictures of the children who are being followed with the "Long Distance Adoptions" project.

On Saturday afternoon the catechists for the school of "Nerviano" arrived (it is the name of the structure that welcomes them, given years ago by the missionary group of the homonymous locality in Italy).

There are 13 families in all, from Bocaranga (7), Wantigera (1), Bozoum (2) and Baoro (3). The catechists are here with their wives (one each) and part of the children (about 60!).

On Monday the moments of formation for the catechists began (followed by Fr Michael), while in the afternoon the women are in classes for sewing, knitting, childcare and cooking.

When I stopped by to say hello, I saw them working with knitting needles: thank you to everyone who worked hard to send them to us!

In particular, Sr Biagina follows them: on Saturday afternoon I accompanied her to meet the families of the catechists who have just arrived. With the children and mothers, Sr. Biagina forgets her over 70 years, and looks thirty years younger.

Babies and mothers are a great rejuvenation cure!


Baoro
Il Nunzio e il vescovo di Bouar
Le Nonce et l'éveque de Bouar


Macchinari dalla Russia per...?
Des machines russes pour l'exploitation de...?


Sr Biagina




Formazione delle mogli dei catechisti
Formation pour les femmes des catéchistes


Il cantiere di Bangui

Dobere


P.Davide Sollami

Kouisso Baguera


 

 

 

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Villages, schools and catechists

 

 


Villages, schools and catechists

Saturday and Sunday were in the villages, as usual.

After the malaria bout last Sunday, I resumed my visits, trying to get everywhere.

Saturday afternoon I was in Zoungbe, a small village on the paved road. The catechist of this community, Raymond, was preparing to leave for the school of catechists in Bocaranga (230 km from Baoro). He left with all his family (including some hens), and will remain there for 6/7 months, until the beginning of May. He and his wife will live an experience of formation, and community life with 17 other families, coming from all over the diocese. For him, Raymond, there will be courses in the Bible, Sacraments, Liturgy, Community Direction, while Estella, his wife, will follow complementary courses. Raymond will be able to learn a trade (carpenter or tailor), and Estella will follow courses on childcare, hygiene, family economy (which will be useful, as well as for her, also to give a hand to the women of the village, upon her return).

On Sunday I celebrated Mass in Dobere, with many people.

Wednesday I finally went to Bayanga Didi, for the opening of the Kindergarten class. I took Marie, the teacher, with me: she has been here in Baoro for more than a month, for a small internship.

The road, as always, is bad, but I still managed (a lot anyway!) to get there, even if it took me almost 3 hours to cover the 85 km that separates Baoro from Bayanga Didi.

I took this opportunity to quickly visit our 3 schools on that street, and to give each one a ball (impossible to describe the joy and the cries of the children!).

In Bayanga Didi the parents have prepared a shed, which will host the kindergarten children outdoors, and I have brought games and materials for educational activities.

On my return I stopped in the neighboring village, Yoro, because the pump in their well had broken down several months ago. We took it out of the well, and tried to fix it, but after 3 attempts we gave up. It was 3 hours that we were there, and we still had a long way to go home. So I took it down and took it to Baoro.

This morning, at 6 am, I left for Bouar, with the car loaded with about twenty people: 3 mothers, and a bunch of children. They are the families of the catechists of the Baoro area, who will leave today for Bocaranga.

Have a good trip and good work!



Zoungbe

Dobere

Il dono di un pallone
le don d'un balon

Strada
Route...

I bambini della scuola materna di Bayanga Didi
Les enfants de l'école maternelle de Bayanga Didi



Bayanga Didi: la tettoia per l'asilo
Bayanga Didi, l'hangar pour l'école maternelle



Yoro - lavori sulla pompa
Yoro - le travail sur la pompe


Bouar - Partenza dei catechisti verso Bocaranga
Bouar - Départ des catéchistes vers Bocaranga



Thursday, November 11, 2021

Fog, sun, malaria and construction sites

 

 

 
Fog, sun, malaria and construction sites

Here in Central Africa we are now at the end of the rainy season, and we are moving towards the dry season, which will last until March-April: a few months of sun, no clouds, no rain, a lot of dust and very hot temperatures (at least during the day).

Last week I had a bit of malaria, a disease that afflicts (literally!) millions of people. So on Sunday I was not able to celebrate Mass in Dobere (55km) as I had planned.

From Tuesday to Thursday I was in Bangui, for the construction of the new convent. The construction company is continuing with the foundations, and just yesterday they laid part of the slabs and curbs. Work that has kept all the workers until 6 pm, even after the sun has set.

This morning, Thursday, I left early, as usual. During this time it is easy when travelling, whether at night or early in the morning, to find fog along the road. It is always impressive to go from an autumn fog to a beautiful summer sun, in the span of a few minutes and a few kilometers.




Lavori al nuovo Convento del Carmel di Bangui
Les travaux dans le nouveau Couvent du Carmel à Bangui






Nebbia
Brouillard

 

 

Monday, November 8, 2021

Away from everything, but God is nea

 

 


 


Away from everything, but God is near

Returning Thursday from Bangui, on Friday 29 October I left for the most distant villages, more than 80 km away, where I stopped for 4 days, until Monday.

It is an area with few streets and very shabby. A few days earlier a group of rebels had frightened the people, stealing and plundering what they could. Thank God, when I went there, I did not meet them- But the fear of the people is so great that on Saturday, walking back from the village of Sinaforo, I saw, from a distance, 2 people with a sack on their heads. After a few seconds, they disappeared! Moving along I saw the sack thrown on the ground, abandoned by the two, then I heard them fleeing into the savannah, not far away. I tried to reassure them, saying that we are neither rebels nor military ...

Friday afternoon I arrived in Yoro, a fairly large village. Here I spent the first 2 nights. Saturday was dedicated to the village of Sinaforo, 7 km away. The road was rather a path, and with the rains it became impassable by car. Upon arrival I found the children who welcomed me: it is a party when someone arrives. Even if they are far from everything, God does not abandon any of his children!

I returned to Yoro in the early afternoon, and I dedicated the time to discussing the choice of the catechist with the Christian community. At 6 pm I showed a film, especially for children.

Sunday I celebrated in Yoro, with a good number of Christians. In the afternoon I went to Bayanga Didi, 5 km away. Here too the road is in ruins, and many times I thank those who invented double bridges and reductions, which allow cars to overcome the most difficult points.

Here we are well under way for kindergarten. The teacher has been in Baoro for a few weeks, for a period of study and training. The parents have cleaned the area that we want to dedicate to the children, and by this month of November I hope and expect to start the activities.

Monday morning was the great feast of All Saints: a good rain blessed the village (and slowed down the arrival of the people a little). And after almost 3 hours of confessions, around 11.30 am I began the celebration of Mass, in which I had the joy of baptizing 4 babies: Roxilia, Augustin, Laurent and Channelle.

I left around 2 pm, taking a sick girl with me, with her father and her mother: she had not been well for months, and it was the only opportunity to be able to show her to a doctor.

We arrived in Baoro just before 5pm, finally!




Imprevisti della strada
Les imprévus de la route




Sinaforo


Yoro

Yoro


Fratello e sorella
Frère et Soeur

Battesimi a Bayanga Didi
Les baptèmes à Bayanga Didi