A quiet departure

 

 

 

A quiet departure

8 June 2026

In recent days, alongside keeping an eye on the progress of the new church in Lanome, attention has focused on Bishop Juan José Aguirre, who left the diocese today after 28 years as bishop.

He chose to leave quietly, with great discretion, and did not want any formal celebrations.

With a little persistence, I managed to persuade him to ‘give’ a day to the priests and religious of the diocese.

So on Friday 5 June, his 72nd birthday, almost all the priests and nuns of the diocese gathered around him for a day of celebration, thanksgiving and witness.

This morning, he took us on a journey through his long missionary career, which began 46 years ago in Obo. And he spoke of his journey as bishop of this beautiful diocese. Beautiful because it belongs to Christ. And beautiful too for the many works that Bishop Aguirre has managed to bring about, with the help of God and so many good people: the priests, the elderly, the orphans, the schools, the parishes, the students, but also the wars, the refugees, the hardships and the difficulties. And all this despite his health being severely tested by several heart attacks and other illnesses.

At 11.30 am we concelebrated Mass together: this is the source from which Bishop Aguirre drew so much strength and tenderness. And it is from here that we must set out again to continue building the Diocese of Bangassou.

After a festive lunch, Monsignor Aguirre went to Tokoyo, the other parish, to give a catechesis to the Confirmation candidates, whose sacrament he celebrated on Sunday.

And today, Monday 8 June, I accompanied him to the airport. With us were two priests, Sister Yolanda (who looks after orphans, the elderly and the poor) and Solange, whom he had taken in as an orphan more than twenty years ago, and who is now a woman and a mother.

 

Have a safe journey, Juan José, and thank you for everything!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gambo

Lanome

 

 

Lanome

A New Priest

 

 

 

A New Priest

June 1, 2026

A week dedicated to younger priests, concluding with the ordination of a new priest, Guy Médard Mbondo.

In the diocese of Bangassou, there are 11 parishes (plus two on standby due to the war), a minor seminary, and other activities. There are about thirty priests present in the diocese. For the younger priests, for the second consecutive year, we have prepared three days of study and reflection on the various aspects of ministry, to support and accompany them.

These are important and beautiful moments: they are young, and their enthusiasm also helps other priests to live their vocation with greater commitment.

I returned from Bangui on Tuesday. The flight was very long, with three layovers. I left at 8:00 a.m. and arrived in Bangassou at 2:00 p.m., after stops in Bria, Birao, and Bambari.

The meeting with the young priests, which began on Tuesday, ended on Thursday.

On Saturday, we almost moved to Ouango, a parish on the Mbomou River, where on Sunday the ordination of Guy Médard Mbondo, a young man born right here, took place.

Almost all the priests were present, the nuns of Bangassou, along with the children of the Maman Tongolo Orphanage, who were also taking a short "trip": dressed in their best clothes, with beautiful hats, and the joy of a couple of special days.

On Sunday morning, at 8:30, we began the celebration. It was a beautiful liturgy, rich with the sacrament of the consecration of a new priest, punctuated by songs, prayers, and dances...

We finished Mass at 12, and around 2:00 pm, we were on the riverbank. Here, they prepared a special moment for Father Guy Médard: a beautifully decorated canoe approached. In addition to the rowers, there were two women dancing (it seemed impossible!) to the rhythm of the drums played from the shore. The new priest boarded the canoe for a short ride.

After the canoe ride, it was time for a celebration with the family and numerous guests: it was a great celebration, because a son of the village had become a priest.

Seeing the children, young people, adults, and the elderly approach him to receive one of the first blessings as a priest was a great joy, and a simple moment of profound faith!

i sacerdoti più giovani in formazione
Les pretres jeunes en formation
los sacerdotes más jóvenes en formación

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bambini del Centro orfani in gita...
Les enfants de l'Orphélinat en sortie
Los niños del orfanato en una excursión...

 

 

 

 

 

 

don Guy Médard con la mamma e uno zio
L'abbé Guy Médard avec ses parents
El padre Guy Médard con su madre y un tío.

 

 

 

La processione del Vangelo
La procéssion avec l'Evangile
La procesión del Evangelio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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