Courage!

Courage!

Even if troubled by the coronavirus, life still goes on!

Sunday, March 15 we celebrated the marriage of Jean Louis and Natasha, aware that the virus will soon affect our lives as well. We pray for all the affected countries, for the sick, the dead and their families, and for all those who care, serve, suffer and love in this difficult time.  At the end of the Masses that I celebrate, I take time to explain what is happening in the world, what the virus is, and what can be done and what should be avoided.

On Tuesday we prepared sinks, with taps, and placed them in our schools, so that children and teachers are able to wash their hands, before starting lessons and during the day. The children have made it a game, it is helpful to start this process with our school age students so as to implement good rules of hygiene.

In the upcoming hours we are waiting for government decisions (which will foresee the closure of schools, meetings and celebrations).

For now there are only 5 official cases and rather limited to the capital, Bangui. We will see if and, above all, how the situation will evolve.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays I went to Bouar, just to see what to do. Like Caritas, we are very worried about what could happen. Especially for the poorest and weakest people.

We are preparing, thinking above all of the last. Next week we will pass through all 12 parishes of the diocese (distant, on average, between 70 and 100 km) to help parish priests and various movements and volunteers to prepare for the worst.

We are preparing gloves, but also food, in order to be close to those who risk being abandoned (elderly, poor, people with disabilities).

There will also be masks. Since it is very difficult to find them, we are making them with the local fabric. Here is the link on how to make a mask:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6lithu9r4w3cwof/CONFECTIONNER%20UN%20MASQUE%20A%20LA%20MAISON.pdf?dl=0