Cuneo-Milan-Rome-Cuneo-Bangui

Cuneo-Milan-Rome-Cuneo-Bangui

I am ready to leave: this Tuesday coming, I return to Central Africa, a bit tired but overcomed by sympathy, prayer and encouragement that I received from all the people I met. Thank you!

In these weeks I have tried to meet as many people as possible, and to accept all invitations II received in order to talk about Central Africa. I couldn’t visit everyone, but pretty close!

The book "Courage!" has an excellent sales result. The first 1,000 copies are practically exhausted!

I did end the week in Liguria, visiting our Carmelite communities. I have had also the opportunity to meet the Bishop emeritus of Bouar, and many friends. I was also present on May 19^th, at the party for the various anniversaries of the confreres: some remembering 70 years of priestly ordination, another 50 years of religious life. It was a nice moment of celebration and fraternity.

In the last week I held also some evening conferences on Central Africa: in Como, Cassina Amata and Milan. I also went to Rome for a short visit, where on Thursday morning I participated in a live TV broadcast on TV2000 (with a very warm welcome!). I accepted also a couple of interviews (on RAI3 and with "Aid to the Church in Need"):

TV2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkxP_AG_GSU&feature=share

TG 3: http://www.tg3.rai.it/dl/tg3/rubriche/PublishingBlock-1ce52f03-24c1-45ae-80c8-660dd085502a.html?refresh_ce#

Coming back from Rome I went, together with Federico Trinchero, to visit the Minoprio Foundation, to see if they can work with us for the Bangui School of Agriculture.

As I said, on Tuesday, I leave going back to Central Africa. It was nice to see and receive so much sympathy. I bring everyone with me: together, as for myself from Central Africa and you here in Italy, we continue to live, work, pray and act for Bozoum and for Central Africa Republic.

Thank you!

Arenzano

Fondazione Minoprio

Italy, Italy

 

Italy, Italy

These past days I have been a bit absent from my blog, focusing more about my being in Italy. I wanted to accomplish my plans, giving time in meeting my own family, the Discalced Carmelite family, and the many people who wish to learn more about Central Africa and Bozoum.

In my family I met my mother that also if 91 years old is still in good shape, apart some walking problems. My sister Marisa, with her family and Bar Barò (“baro’ “is the way how to greet people in Sango, the national language of Central Africa). My brother Giovanni. And then the Parish Community, and the many people I’m use to meet.

This week I'm in Liguria, where I meet our Carmelite communities. Warm reception, much fraternity, with the support of sympathy and prayer promised by convents and monasteries.

Last week (In 3 days I covered 1,500 km) I’m in Milan to meet friends working at “Popoli e Missioni”, “Famiglia Cristiana” and “Avvenire”. With them I have conversations about Central Africa, Church, and Bozoum ... The following day I'm in Pegognaga visiting Mario Mazzali, our unbeatable volunteer handyman, and his wife Luigina. Then I drive towards Ferrara and Lendinara (Rovigo), where I meet other Bozoum friends. The third day I go to Turin, at the Book Fair. Here I meet other friends, but also a special person: Grégoire Ahongbonon. Born in Benin, for years he has dedicated himself to the mentally ill in many African Countries, literally freeing them from the chains and taking care of them. An idea useful for Bozoum too. After a greeting to the daily newspaper “La Stampa”, I return to Cuneo.

And the journey goes on. I will stay in Italy until May 29^th , but there is still a lot to do and many beautiful people to meet.

 

Grégoire Ahongbon

The BOOK

The BOOK

May 1^st 2018: in Bangui, Capital city of Central Africa, armed people enter the parish church of Fatima, throwing grenades and shooting on the crowd gathered for the Mass. They leave at least 16 dead, including the priest which I know. The people really strained organize a march bringing with them the bodies of some of the victims to the Presidential Palace, where the march is broken up by the military.

It's a terrible news. The fear that violence is unleashed is reality: 80% of the Country is in the hands of rebels, and in the Capital itself there are entire neighborhoods in the hands of armed bands.

The Cardinal, Archbishop of Bangui, has launched a message calling for prayer and calm, but at the same time asks that the truth be made about what happened at Fatima parish church. Peace is still far away!

The first week of May, after a brief visit to my confreres of Bocca di Magra, where I give a press conference about the book just printed containing the texts of this blog, beginning from January 1^st of 2008, to the other 320 texts from 2011 to the whole 2017.

As I said newly printed, the book is titled: "Courage. We must fight so that God grants victory ".

Thursday evening there is the official presentation of the book in Cuneo, in a beautiful location: a greenhouse full of plants and flowers, made available by some friends like Roagna. Paolo Silvestro (but not only) who worked on the making of the book, and together with Fabrizio Brignone, the author of the foreword, all of them introduce the meeting, and then leave me the floor. At this happening there is a good number of person. Some of my Carmelite confreres are also present. And at the end of the evening, we sell the first 77 copies. On Friday, I am guest of the University of Turin, where I speak of Bozoum to a hundred third-curriculum students. And in the evening I'm in Dogliani, where Rai-Italian Television interview me and where I can talk about the book.

http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/TGR/basic/PublishingBlock-8cbbd8fc-3365-4785-a7ec-950b73541553.html#

Take courage!

Università di Torino

A Dogliani con RAI 3