Christmas 2017
Once
more it’s Christmas: great celebration all over the world. In Bozoum
Christmas celebration has always something special. As for me Christmas
reminds of snow and cold. Here instead we celebrate it with 35 degrees
Celsius in the shade (even if at night the temperature drops below 15
degrees Celsius). But forgetting about the weather, the Christmas
atmosphere is more about the joy for adults and, above all, for
children, the lights, the colors, the cribs, songs and dances. And the
enchantment and wonder of that Child never cease to amaze young and
seniors. Christmas shines not so much because of the lights and the
gifts, but essentially for the Light and for the Gift which is Jesus,
the Son of God made Man. With Him, every man acquires a unique dignity.
On Sunday 24th we began the preparation with the morning Mass, and then
the celebration of the Birth of Jesus. Given the climate and the usual
ways of living, we celebrated the Midnight Mass at 6.30 pm. A large
crowd of believers, a well prepared Choir, and the Protagonist, He,
Jesus, at the center of all our attention, of all our hopes. On the
25th, Christmas Day, we gathered at the church for the great Mass: a
single celebrant priest, but 50 altar servers and about twenty dancers!
In addition to the joy of the celebration, there were also 4 children
receiving the Sacrament of Baptism (including twins, Antoine and
Joseph). Many kids came to church with a toy, a small gift to be shared,
sign and memory of the great gift which is Jesus. After the Mass,
songs and dances go really wild. The Christmas day and the following are
quiet. Schools are closed, and activities are a bit slowed. On
Wednesday I go to Bouar to take part at a meeting of the leaders of
Catholic schools. We need to decide how to be ready for the consecration
of the new bishop, but also to discuss the school year situation. Some
schools began with almost two months of delay, due to the clashes. But as always we keep going on.
p.Norberto |
le danzatrici liturgiche les danseuses liturgiques |
Uno dei gemelli battezzati un des jumeaux baptisés |
Riunione scuole a Bouar Réunion écoles à Bouar |
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