Return to Bozoum

l'omaggio dei bambini dell'Asilo
l'hommage des enfants de l'école Maternelle

Return to Bozoum

After a week of travel, Thursday night I was back to Bozoum, and now here I am in conversation with you. Tuesday morning I did take my flight in Paris, and around 3.30pm we arrived in Bangui. To recover the luggage and leave the airport is always an adventure! Fr.Federico is there to welcome me, and we drive towards the Carmel. This time we pass by "Km 5", a district which until 2013 was a large market place. Many Muslims were living there, mostly traders. Since almost two years ago it’s the first time I stop there. It is impressive to see the devastation I found there: destroyed houses, ruins and almost no economic activity. On Wednesday morning I leave for Baoro, arriving there on early afternoon. In Baoro Father Renato who died in Italy on March 9^th worked for many years until recently. Thursday morning I attend a major Eucharistic Celebration in the parish church, presided over by the Bishop, a memorial Mass for the eternal repose of the blessed soul of Father Renato. A large crowd had gathered from many villages remembering his priestly ministry among them. It was a very strongly felt Mass, with many songs, and a lot of involvement. Were present the kindergarten children too. These children, at the end of the Celebration, gave a touching tribute moving emotionally everybody. I go back to Bozoum where a lot of work has to be done.  Just this week in the North there were attacks against the small traders (at least 8 people dead) and against Bozoum. As a reaction, some antibalaka looted two shops (without any intervention by Blue Helmets who are present in the city!). Friday morning I have a meeting with the parish youth. With them we are organizing the annual pilgrimage, involving at least 200 people. In four days journey we’ll reach Bossemptele, covering 87 km. It is a journey of prayer, of faith and witness for peace. A last beautiful news: if everything goes in the right direction we are going to have here in Bozoum a RADIO, which will help to broadcast  issues of training and education.

La Chiesa di Baoro
L'eglise de Baoro

P.Renato