The grace of the new beginnings

 

The grace of the new beginnings

Starting something, especially starting a new life, is a moment of Grace. This Grace is not only because of the newness, but above all for the Presence of God, who "makes all things new".

Sunday 22 November, the feast of Christ the King, I celebrated Mass in Barka Bongo, a village about 36 km from Baoro, on the road to Bangui. I went with Fr Michael, one of my confreres, and Sister Solange.

As we left, we observed Don Andrea, a priest from Belarus, who was preparing to enter the church, where he was going to celebrate Mass in Sango (a language he just recently began studying, since he only arrived here a few months ago).

In Barka Bongo we celebrated the sacrament of Confession with some of the  boys and girls baptized just a few months ago, and then we celebrated Mass with about fifty other people: it was the celebration of the same sacrifice, that of Jesus, which is repeated today in the small chapel of Barka Bongo, the same as the one in the largest of cathedrals, without any difference!

There were beautiful songs, and a beautiful moment of listening and celebration.

After Mass we left again, and we stopped in Bawi, another village, for a meeting with the teachers and parents of the students. The beginning of this school year was very slow: many did not send their children to school because they preferred to wait for the next elections (December 27), others were afraid of the hypothetical rebel groups. In many of our schools, the number of children enrolled is still very low compared to last year.

The meeting allowed us to share our concerns, but also to encourage and urge the parents not to let their children miss an opportunity such as school.

Speaking of school, just today the results of the second round of the baccalaureate exam were announced: all the students of our St. Augustin High School have been promoted. So between the first and second round, for the first time ever, we reached 100% of our students passing!

During the week I dedicated myself to the Mechanical School, I made 2 visits to schools in the villages, I dealt with countless small and large jobs, and I finished arranging the books in the new room.

Don Andrea
Abbé André

P.Michael et sr Solange à Barka Bongo