A few raindrops
Sunday morning,
February 6, there is a little excitement before 8,30 am Mass. The liturgy in
Central Africa is very intense, joyful and participated (heart, mind, body,
eyes, ears ...). Sunday Mass engages, in addition to the priest, all people.
Around the altar have something to carry on the catechists, the readers, the
altar boys, the choir and the dancers, a group of girls who dance and accompany
the songs and liturgy.
Today’s
excitement is due to the just arrived new liturgical vestments for the dancers!
In 2014 the Bozoum Christians did collect a bit of money to express their
gratitude to the parish priest, because of his help during the period of war helping
the refugees. Unfortunately, for a number of circumstances, the gift expected
had not been made possible. Few weeks ago they gave me the money (more than 110
euro!). Then I thought to make gowns for "danseuses": so I did buy
beautiful yellow fabric and another green, satin type, and soon is party!
The Mass is
celebrated by Fr.Giustino, our Provincial Superior, and Fr.Davide,
Administrator for the Missions. At the end Fr.Giustino greets the liturgical
assembly, and expresses his own surprise for the great works of construction of
the Church, saying that we are building a Cathedral! The roar of the faithful
expressed their entire satisfaction! This work is the result of some aid (like
the “Propaganda Fide” and especially “Aid to the Church in Need”. But I have to
say that what we see today is also the fruit of the work of Bozoum Christians,
who have collected stones and sand for the construction.
At about 1.00 pm
we leave immediately towards Bangui, and at 8.15 pm we are finally in our
Carmel convent. The next morning, before beginning the meeting, we visit the
refugee camp (almost 5,000 people who have been here since December 2013!) And,
accompanied by a bunch of kids, we visit the stables and the various parts of
the land, covered with palms, fruit trees and plants of the forest. In the
morning we gather to discuss about the community (made up of 18 people, the
majority of whom are our young guys in formation).
We discuss also
on future projects: the construction of a monastery, a Shrine and a Center of
Spirituality, the opening of an Agricultural school and, hopefully, the arrival
of the Carmelite nuns. After numerous (too many!) meetings, with a little
crisis of malaria and some cooking, I am on the road finally driving back to
Bozoum, where I arrived greeted by a beautiful rain. It is the first of this
year, after the dry season. 2 drops are enough to revive the dry and arid land.
I see this rain
like the grace of God on our lives!
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| i lavori di amplamento della Chiesa di Bozoum les travaux d'ampliation de l'Eglise de Bozoum |
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