Festivity,
work and big projects
Sunday, October 2nd, we celebrated
the feast of St. Michael, the patron saint of the parish. In the previous days
we have "warmed the hearts" with the celebrations of the Eucharist
and the Sacrament of penance.
And, finally, on Sunday we can return
to the church for the celebrations after being absent for three Sundays in a
row. Expectations are high, in order to get a view, at least in part, at the
"new" church. The works continue quite quickly. On the same Sunday we
celebrate a wedding and two baptisms. And the joy is at its fullness!
On Tuesday I'm back on the road
toward Bangui, where I stay for a few days committed to a number of meetings
and encounters. Arriving in Bangui, I am forced to avoid some neighborhoods,
because in the morning an army colonel was killed. As a consequence there is
much commotion. In the afternoon it’s easy to hear pretty close the gunfire,
sometimes from heavy weapons. In the evening I welcome at the airport,
Fr.Giustino, our provincial superior, Fr.Davide Sollami, our administrator for
the missions, Fr.Enrico, the architect Giovanni Grossi Bianchi and Enrico
Massone, long-time volunteer bricklayer. I'm here on a visit to submit and
discuss a major project: the construction of a new convent here in Bangui.
On Wednesday morning I go to the
airport to receive Sr.Bensitta and Sr.Brice, Sisters in charge, in Africa, of
the Indian Congregation of Sisters of Mother of Carmel (whom I visited in India
last April). They’re here on a visit and, above all, to give a better shape to
the idea of opening a Convent here in Bangui, at the Carmel. I greet them and immediately
I go to town to attend, at least for few hours, at a meeting of Caritas. It is
a very important one: is present at the meeting the president of Caritas
International, with other people of Rome and Nairobi Agencies together with
representatives of the Secours Catholique (the French Caritas) and CRS (Caritas
USA). The goal is to reflect together in order to help the Central African
Caritas to restart with courage and passion in serving the poor. In the
afternoon I go back to the Carmel, and at 5.00pm we celebrate the first
profession of vows by Br.Loic.
On Thursday we continue the
discussion about the major project of a new monastery, which begins to take
shape.
And just today, October 7, we
celebrate 10 years of our presence here in Bangui.
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