Madagascar 2
The week goes on and I am still here
in Madagascar. There are about 10 Carmelite fathers gathered here. We have come
from various French-speaking African countries (Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and
Togo, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Madagascar and Senegal), along with one
of our priests from Malawi and a Nigerian from our General House. We are kept
buy enough with long, but interesting, meetings. The Church and Carmel are
growing in many African countries. Many young people, who hail from very
different countries and cultures, are knocking at our doors and so we are
looking to bring to them the richness and beauty of the Gospel, and the
experience of our Saints who lived in deep communion with God through prayer.
Wednesday morning was an important
day for the country: it was Election Day for the President. We took this
opportunity for a day of informal meetings and relaxation. In the morning we
went to visit the Carmelite nuns of Amposanimalo, a monastery located in
Antananarivo. There were fifteen nuns, all very happy and full of life. We spent
almost an hour with them, sharing news about our communities and our countries.
In the afternoon, we visited the Cathedral and the tomb of the Blessed Victoire
Rasoamanarivo, the first Malagasy woman to be beatified (by John Paul II).
In the evening we went to visit a
small community of Carmelite Teresian Missionary Sisters, for the feast of
their founder. After the celebration of Mass we enjoyed an evening meal with
them (and joined them washing the dishes), ending with some joyful moments,
singing and dancing. We will finish our work tomorrow, Friday, and on Sunday I
will leave for Central Africa, where I will arrive on Monday afternoon.
le Monache Carmelitane les carmélites de Antananarivo |
Cathédrale de Antananarivo |
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