2 white roses
It has been tre months since I went to
Bouar, where the dioceses and other Carmelitan's communities are
located. I finally went on Monday with abbé Mirek, the vicar, who was
visiting.
On our way we came across a big trucks convoy going to Bangui: transportation is still dangerous, they were escorted by MISCA
In
Baoro I finally met father Dieudonne, father Daniel and the nuns. Since
last month they have been hosting 3700 people, 1700 of which were
Muslims. Just few days ago they set off to Cameroon, the rest f the
people came back home... However what home? Selekas burned more than
1300 houses these past weeks!
In Bouar I was leased to see the
fathers and the sisters, brave missionaries who stayed, despite
everything! On Tuesday afternoon we had caritas meeting, to assess the
situation and decide what to do next. It strikes me how any religious
homes and parishes are open to help refugees without any discrimination
between Christians or Muslims! These people, laics, monks, nuns, of
different ages and countless countries (car, Cameroon, Chad, Madagascar,
India, Uruguay, Italy, France, Poland, Czech Republic) caritas
international!
Last week, father Emilio Martinez, the vicar of
the Carmelitan's family, was here. And he had a wonderful idea. He
brought two roses to Pope Francis, as a symbol of all the work done here
by the missionaries. Here's what he also wrote:
I was able to
give these two white roses to Pope Francis during the hearing on
Wednesday. I told Hume these roses were from Car, from the missionaries
and their refugees
I wish I could describe my feeling when he told his assistant “Esto me lo sube
arriba, a mi
despacho”, which means "bring this into my office ”.
Your
faces, your lives, as well as the nuns and friends, each and everyone
of the refugees especially the children...I carried all of this in my
heart, after my visit and gave it to Pope Francis and I felt I've been
your messenger and carrier of such treasure, thanks to The Lord!
Please
do send this message to all brothers and sisters: the pope is with you
and you are with him! Thank you all for everything, your smaller
brother, Emilio.
On Wednesday I went to the North with couple of journalists from the associated press.
We
passed by Bohong, where it finally seems possible co-existing of
Muslims and non-Muslims, after months of fighting. Along the way we saw
many of the villages burnt by Selekas, and almost all chapels have
bullets in their walls, their holes are clearly visible!
I
saw the capuchins in Ngaundaye, they are reorganizing for
reconstructions. I also drove Father Francesco down to his farm (it's 3
km fR from here and Selekas stole his car so he must walk and he's not
as young anymore!) I was able to see hundreds of small plants and mangos
sprouts.
And
today I saw the primary schools kids all excited because it's quarter
end and they'll get their reports soon. Seems little, but it's actually a
big step, especially now....
 | |
| rifugiati alla Misisone di Baoro réfugiés à la Mision de Baoro |
 |
| convoglio di camions provenienti dal Cameroun e diretti a Bangui le convoi provenant du Cameroun, destinés à Bangui |
 |
| Fra Francesco con i suoi manghi innesati frère Francesco, avec ses mangues greffés |
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