after Bozoum, news from Bangassou

Friday, October 30, 2026

Goodbye Italy (and Europe)

October 28, 2026

I returned yesterday to the Central African Republic, to Bangui, after a very intense few weeks in Italy.

I was able to celebrate Mass and pray with many people, and meet many others who, in different ways are interested in the Central African Republic and Bangassou.

It was not a particularly restful period, but reconnecting with family, friends, fellow religious, and communities is a grace and a gift.

After a brief stop in Canada, I arrived in Italy on September 28, just in time to celebrate, the following day, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron saint of Cuneo.

On October 3, I was in Arenzano for the traditional gathering of friends of the Carmelite Missions.

The following week, I visited Rome. There were many meetings here too, both for the diocese and for the Central African Republic. I met one of our priests and two seminarians from Bangassou who are studying in Rome.

Maurizio Dischino, one of the friends of TV2000, interviewed me in preparation for World Mission Sunday. Here is the link to the interview:

https://www.play2000.it/detail/96?episode_id=40481&season_id=65

From Rome, I travelled to Padua, where a priest from Bangassou is beginning a doctoral degree in liturgy.

The following week, I was in Paris. There, between one demonstration and another, I had numerous meetings with associations and organizations interested in the Central African Republic and Bangassou.

During a meeting with friends from Aid to the Church in Need, they told me that in November they will hold several days of events to remember witnesses to the faith: priests, catechists, bishops, and religious who paid for their faith with their lives. Among them, they have also included Abbé Crépin, who was killed in Zemio on June 29.

And speaking of Zemio, some wonderful news arrived last week: the hostages captured by the AAKJ rebel movement have been released after ten months in captivity! This is wonderful news, the result of the hardwork of many people, and we sincerely hope it will pave the way for peace throughout the entire region!

I returned from Paris on October 14, and on Saturday, October 17, I was back in Arenzano for the diaconal ordination of Brother Gerard, a Central African Carmelite. I was deeply moved becauseI had baptized Gerard, accompanied him to the seminary for the first time, and received his first religious profession into my hands!

On Friday, October 16, I was in Fossano, where a prayer vigil was held in preparation for World Mission Sunday. On Sunday, I celebrated Mass at San Rocco Bernezzo, in a small church filled with boys, girls, and families.

During these very days, the French Catholic television channel KTO was broadcasting a wonderful documentary about Bangassou and my mission. For now, it is available only in French, but we are looking for a television station that could produce versions in Italian,Spanish, and other languages. Here it is:

https://youtu.be/GS1b3PsxxmI?si=_yt-ifLRQ-UFYBhz

This time was also used to prepare a shipping container filled with supplies to be sent to Bangassou. Thanks to the generosity of so many people, along with donations and discounts from several companies, the project is well underway.

The Amici di Padre Aurelio.odv Association is now ready to load the container and send it on its way,probably around the middle of November!

It has been a time of meetings, prayer, witness,affection, and care for Bangassou and theCentralAfrican Republic.

Thank you all!

Arenzano

Cuneo

Parigi
Paris

Padova

Roma

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Confirmations in Ketemo, Meetings in Bangassou, and Traveling to Canada

Ketemo

Confirmations in Ketemo, Meetings in Bangassou, and Traveling to Canada

September 25, 2026

I am writing from Montréal, Canada, where I have been invited to a training session on social justice.

On Tuesday, September 15, I celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in Ketemo, a village 70 km from Bangassou.

Here I meet Brother Jérome, a Polish Franciscan missionary. After a brief catechesis and confessions, we celebrate Mass, during which about twelve boys and girls receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The village is peaceful, but a few days later, several kilometres away, the nearby village of Madabazouma is attacked by some LRA rebels, a movement that originated years ago in Uganda. They killed two people and left with about ten children, whom they took hostage.

The LRA was present throughout the region for almost 15 years and became responsible for horrific crimes: kidnappings, killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of villages. After several years of absence, they have returned. And in a region already deeply affected by violence, this is yet another problem.

The rest of the week is very busy, with various meetings and celebrations.

On Thursday, the students from the minor seminary in Bangassou arrive. There are about seventy of them, from all the parishes of the diocese. And in February 2027, we will celebrate 60 years since this institution was founded!

On Friday morning, at around 6:00, I say goodbye to and bless the seminarians from Bangassou, who have come for their vacation and are leaving for Bangui. The roads are terrible, and they will arrive on Wednesday, after seven days of travel covering 750 kilometres!

At 8:30, there is a meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, made up of about twenty people, both priests and laypeople. Together, we work on the pastoral year that is about to begin, which will be dedicated to vocations and the seminary.

On Saturday, we laid the foundations for the new chapel at our hospital in Bangonde, and I visited some classrooms at our high school that we just renovated.

On Sunday, September 20, I celebrated Mass in the Cathedral, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the departure of the first Sisters of the Congregation of Saint Paul of Chartres for Cayenne—a journey that, at that time, lasted six months!

These are the same sisters who continue to work here in Bangassou with orphans, the sick, schools, and the poor.

On Monday, after heavy rain, I was finally able to leave by plane for Bangui.

On Tuesday at 1:00 p.m., I left for Addis Ababa, and during the night I continued on to Paris. From there, I arrived in Montréal, Canada, on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. local time).

Here I am taking part, together with laypeople, priests, and bishops, in several days of training on social justice, with meetings and conferences organized by the Louis Evens Centre, which for many years have reflected on, studied, and promoted the social teaching of the Church.

On Sunday I left for Italy, where I will remain until October 25. It will be a time of meetings, visits, and celebrations.

Also a time to prepare a shipping container for Bangassou, together with many friends and the Friends of Bangassou Association.

Here is the link for donations via Satispay: https://www.satispay.com/app/pay/shops/17e6c4f0-37dd-47b7-8ff0-6dbcd9a355f2