The Central
African Republic is in mourning...
The past few weeks have presented us
with very big internet connection issues.
Our system that works via satellite has been disrupted and the
connection through our phone lines moves at a snail’s pace.
I have been on the move a lot because
I still have responsibilities that I need to attend to. Friday I went to
Bangui, to return to Bozoum the next day, together with Father Saverio, our
Provincial Superior and with Fr. Paolo Arosio who has come to visit our
missions for the first time. But when I arrived in Bossemptele, 300 km from
Bangui, my car was showing signs of getting tired ... and no longer wanted to
go on; the transmission broke. The confreres of Baoro came to our rescue and we
continued the journey.
On Sunday we celebrated Mass on Mount
Binon, overlooking Bozoum, for the feast of Christ the King.
I’m writing from Bocaranga, where I
am in transit, after a visit to the missions of Bouar, Bocaranga, Ndim and
Ngaoundaye. I went to Bocaranga with Pierre and his wife, who will attend
school here to become catechists. The main reason I'm here is because the
German Caritas helps us to support the schools in the area (65 schools and 250
teachers), with a monthly stipend of about 22.50 Euros for each teacher. The
area is hard to reach, but the big problem is the presence of rebels, whom I
have met along the way. Thank God they have not stopped me, but the journey is
quite tense.
The past few days have been
momentous, the Bishops of the CAR have made a historic decision: they have
asked Christians and people of good will not to take part in the celebrations
on December 1st (the National Day). The decision is serious because the Country
is in mourning (in Alindao last week there were at least 72 people killed,
including 2 priests) due to the constant attacks, and it doesn’t seem fair to
celebrate when around 80% of the Country is under rebel control.
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| Ngaoundaye |
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| I Caschi blu - MINUSCA |
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| RIBELLI vicino a Nagoundaye les Selekas près de Ngaoundaye |
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