No Confirmations!

 

 

No Confirmations!

 

I didn’t celebrate any Confirmations this week, but we did have a big Pentecost celebration!

On my return from Bakouma on Tuesday, I found Bishop Aguirre, who had arrived the day before from Bangui, together with Dr Enrique Ripoll Pascual y Otrus. Enrique is here on behalf of the ILUMINAFRICA Foundation (https://iluminafrica.com/), to organise a campaign of eye surgery. He checked and reviewed our hospital’s records, and then began the consultations: 400 in total! He identified 300 cases of cataracts requiring surgery. A team will be coming in the autumn to carry out the operations and restore sight and hope to so many people. 

On Thursday the 21st, I’m heading to Bangui because a container has arrived. Given the state of the roads, we can’t find anyone willing to transport it to Bangassou. We’re therefore forced to unload everything and load it onto a lorry.

On Friday morning we got to work: opening the container and unloading it… whilst waiting for the lorry to arrive. But by 11.30 am we had to face facts: the lorry hadn’t turned up! So we had to put all the unloaded goods (three-quarters of a 12-metre container!) back under cover.

So I’m free on Saturday, and I’m making the most of it to attend a few meetings, and above all to meet the seminarians from Bangassou who are in Bangui (secondary school, preparatory course and theology). It’s the end of the year, and it’s time for important decisions. We have a large number of seminarians, and they’re doing well. And it’s wonderful, when I ask them if they’re happy, to see the smiles on the faces of these teenagers and young adults!

On Sunday I celebrate the Pentecost Mass at the Nunciature, where people from all over the world and speaking every language gather… just like in Jerusalem 2000 years ago!

On Monday morning I have to, or rather I should, be setting off for Bangassou. I’m at the airport at 6 am, with tickets and luggage and so on, but at 9.50 am the flight is cancelled due to the weather conditions…

So I head over to the container: we finish emptying it and start loading the lorry, which has finally arrived. It’s hard, painstaking work, which we stop at 3.30 pm, to resume the following day.

I’m now at the airport, waiting for the flight leaving at 8.30 am. I should arrive in Bangassou at 2 pm (!) after three stopovers: Bria, Birao, Bambari.

Come on!

Sr Elisabeth, dr Enrique, Mgr Aguirre

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birao

Confirmations.3

 

Bakouma

 Confirmations.3

18 May 2026

The season of Confirmations continues!

Having returned to Bangassou on Monday, I am at the Seminary on Thursday. Here we are celebrating the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus today.

Ten seminarians are receiving Confirmation: they are the youngest, but full of enthusiasm!

On Friday 15 May, I set off for Bakouma, a parish 140 km from Bangassou. It is an area rich in uranium, which has attracted the interest of many for decades, even though there is no actual mining taking place.

Here I am welcomed by the two parish priests, and by the boys and girls preparing for Confirmation.

I spend Saturday teaching catechism and preparing, and on Sunday morning we celebrate Mass with the Confirmations.

They have come here from the nearest villages. Or almost: two adults have come from a village 48 km away… and they walked all the way!

Early in the afternoon we set off for Nzacko, a parish that has been closed since 2017, when Seleka rebels destroyed everything, razing the church and the rectory to the ground.

The road is in terrible condition, and the 55-kilometre journey takes nearly three hours by car.

But arriving in Nzacko is a real celebration!

No sooner have we unloaded the car than I’m in the church with the confirmands for a brief catechesis.

A quick shower, a bite to eat, but the mosquitoes keep us company, so we go to bed early!

And today, Monday 18 May, we are celebrating Confirmations here in Nzacko too!

At the end of Mass, I go out with the confirmands, and we head over to the ruins of the church, which was razed to the ground in 2017. And here we pray, especially for the parish community, that they may have the strength to rebuild and continue to spread the ‘fragrance of Christ’.

And it is time to set off again for Bakouma, which we reach in the rain.

And tomorrow, Tuesday, we’ll be on the road to Bangassou.

 

Il Seminario
Le Séminaire

 

 

 

Bakouma

 

 

 

Nzacko

 

 

 

 

 

Confirmations.2

  

 

 

Confirmations.2

May 11, 2026

I just returned to Bangassou, after almost two weeks in Rafai and Zemio.

On Monday, May 4th, I left for Zemio. In the month since my last trip, there hasn't been much rain, and the road was passable: we left at 7:00 a.m. and arrived in Zemio (150 km away) around 2:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the confirmands, who live as refugees in neighboring Congo, arrived. It took the whole morning of discussions, letters, and so on before they could cross the river and reach Central Africa.

On Thursday, we celebrated Confirmations. The city was a little calmer, but tensions still remained high: I came across a small group of armed rebels along the road, and I stopped to talk to them, and listened, and invited them to peace!

On Friday morning, I left for Rafai. It rained heavily, and the road had worsened. On the other hand, we had the joy of seeing many animals, especially several groups of monkeys.

Saturday morning, we crossed the Rafai River to celebrate Confirmations in the village of Agoumar, and in the afternoon we prepared for Sunday's celebration: the diaconate of a young Franciscan from this community.

Other priests from Bangassou also came for the occasion, and we shared this moment of grace.

Monday morning, in the rain, we departed Rafai for Selim, about thirty kilometers away. Here too, we celebrated Confirmations for about fifty young men and women: the gift of the Holy Spirit is a joy, and the hope that it will bear much fruit.

I left Selim at 1:00 PM, and in the evening I arrived in Bangassou. Finally!

Zemio

Agoumar

 

Selim

Confirmations

 

 

 Confirmations

May 3, 2026

I am writing from Rafai, where we celebrated Confirmations. Thus, the beginning of this special period, dedicated to parish visits, catechesis, and the celebration of this Sacrament, which seals the adult life of every Christian, thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Work on the various construction sites is progressing well, both at Lanome (the church) and Gambo (the rectory).

Wednesday morning, in Bangassou, the College of Consultors met. These seven priests from the diocese assist the Bishop in making the most important decisions. We discussed the calendar, programs, changes, and the appointment of parish priests for the coming months.

Thursday morning, I departed Bangassou for Rafai, arriving early in the afternoon.

Fr. Jerome, a Franciscan, also arrived with me. He is now returning after several months in Poland, where he was battling cancer.

He's happy to return, to be reunited with his brothers and, above all, with the people! He tells me, "I've realized that the most important thing about the Mission isn't the houses, the churches, or the facilities. The most important thing is the people!"

Fridays and Saturdays are dedicated to catechism and the formation of the boys and girls who will receive Confirmation. The candidates are bright and well-trained by the catechist, Apollinaire, and they follow with interest and attention.

Last year, with the help of the Bangassou Foundation, we had 11,000 Gospels printed in Sango. They hadn't been available for years, and this allows Christians to have the Word of God in their hands. It's wonderful!

Today, Sunday, May 3rd, we celebrated Confirmations in Rafai: about seventy of them, including children, young people, and a few adults.

Tomorrow, Monday, I continue to Zemio, where I will administer Confirmations on Thursday.

Thus begins the Confirmation season!

 

Lanome

Gambo

I vangeli in Sango
Les évangiles en Sango
Los Evangelios en Sango

p.Jerome OFM

 

Construction Sites

 

Lanome

 

Construction Sites

 

26 April 2026

 

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself with several construction projects to start and keep track of.

It’s the same here in Bangassou!

Despite the rain, we are continuing or starting work on a number of projects in various parishes. Thanks to the help of so many people from all over the world!

Construction of the church in Lanome is progressing well. Whilst the bricklayers are putting up the walls, the carpenters are starting to build the trusses (13.5 metres long).

On Tuesday I am in Gambo, 75 km from Bangassou. Here, the Mission has endured numerous wars, and there is much to be done to repair and refurbish the presbytery.

On Thursday, together with Bishop Aguirre, we are going to Oungo, 70 km away. In just over a month’s time, we will celebrate the ordination of Guy Médard, a young man born in this parish. And on Thursday itself, we meet several priests here who have come to celebrate the anniversary of Abbé Clotaire’s ordination, which took place in Gambo on 23 April 2006!

On Friday we go to Niakari, 15 km away, where on Sunday Bishop Aguirre will celebrate Confirmations.

Meanwhile, on Sunday 26 April, I will be celebrating Mass in the Cathedral in Bangassou, to mark the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. And our 67 seminarians will be there! Let us pray with them, and for them, and for the other seminarians of the diocese, who are studying and continuing their formation in the seminaries of Bangui, or in Italy and Spain.

Ouango

Ouango

Niakari

Bangassou