On the way
At our Mission, the weeks before Easter are very intense: preparation to
the Sacrament of Baptism (with the catechism tests, moments of spiritual
retreat and prayer), the first school term ends, and the Holy Week is approaching.
During the week I go to Baoro, accompanied by a light rain. It’s the
beginning of the rainy season. This year the rain seems to be a bit early. The
last ones had arrived around the middle of November. The meteorology tells us
that in a slowly way the rainy season is close. When the rain will be more
consistent and regular, it’s then that farming job will restart.
The Saturday preceding Palm Sunday is traditionally the day of Youth
Pilgrimage. This year it will last a single day, about 5 km from Bozoum. De
departure at 8.00 am under a beautiful sun. We are about 400 people walking
together the 5 Km praying. When we reach the river, we stop there for all
morning reflecting on the theme proposed by Pope Francis for this World Youth
Day: "Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor before
God" (Lk 1:30). Our meditation is followed by the Sacrament of Confession.
Around 1.00 pm we celebrate the Mass. Then a little 'free time. Given the heat,
we all, almost all, dive into the river nearby the Ouham. At 3:00 pm, just as
we get ready to leave, a downpour is on us, and in the rain we return to
Bozoum.
Despite the tiredness, boys and girls sing all the way, waving the palms
they found, almost a prelude to the feast of tomorrow, Palm Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment