On the way to...

 

 

 

On the way to...

Slowly, the situation in Central Africa is slowly improving, albeit temporarily, and only in some areas. The future is unclear, and in the long run I fear that problems will continue to plague this beautiful land.

The Bouar refugees have all returned to their homes, thankful to God and the contribution of so many people. Now we need to think about how to consolidate this return, and how to help so that life resumes to some sort of normalcy.

On Saturday and Sunday I was able to go to the small villages of Zoungbe and Balembe, where I was able to celebrate Masses.

On Monday morning I left for Bangui. With a bit of trepidation, because the road (the only one that allows the arrival of goods to the capital) has now been blocked by rebel troops for 2 months. For a couple of weeks the Russian, Rwandan and Central African soldiers have been trying to free it, and the first convoys (under strong escorts) are seen passing by, guarded by helicopters.

I left at 5 from Baoro. The journey is strange because there are many barriers (checkpoints) kept by the military. Since there was practically no traffic: we met a few motorcycles, one or two cars, and that was it.

At 10:30am I arrived in Bangui, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I immediately went to the Institut Pasteur to take the Covid test, in order to get on the plane that will take me to Italy.

On Tuesday I was in various meetings, waiting for the result of the test, which arrived at 8 on Wednesday morning, 3 hours before the plane left!

The journey to Italy went smoothly, and yesterday, Thursday, February 25, I arrived in Cuneo.

I am stopping in Italy for a few weeks, to stay with my family for a while after the death of my mother, and also to meet, Covid permitting, confreres and friends.

 

Gauthier et p.Matteo

Bouar - I rifugiati lasciano il sito della Cattedrale e tornano alle loro case
Les déplacés du site de la Cathédrale retournent à leur maisons

Zoungbe

Balembe

Sulla strada verso Bangui: un camion bruciato
Sur la route vers Bangui: un camion brulé

Cuneo

 

 

A road opens, slowly, very slowly.

 

 

A road opens, slowly, very slowly.

Slowly, very slowly, Central Africa seems to be moving towards a small improvement in the precarious situation that has been dragging on for 2 months now.

These days the first convoys of trucks are beginning to pass, heading towards Bangui. Since December 22nd, no trucks had managed to get beyond the blockade set up by the rebels, and the capital is still in dire trouble. Prices have doubled or even tripled in some cases, putting families to the test. The towns along the road also suffered major economic repercussions, due to the halt in sales of vegetables, fruit, cassava, wood, coal and various services to passing trucks (every week there were from 600 to 1,000 trucks in both directions).

Thank God the situation in Bouar is also starting to improve. Thanks to the help of many, in particular CRS (Caritas of the United States), Siriri, OPS (Prague) and the many people with good hearts, on Saturday, February 13th we were able to organize a large distribution. Over 2,800 families (almost 17,000 people) were welcomed at the sites of the Cathedral, Fatima, St. Laurent, St Michel, St. Elie and in the 3 seminaries.  Each family received rice, oil, sardines, sugar, coffee, nuts, tomato paste, soap and detergent.

Thanks to this help, and to the improvement of the situation, many people have been able to return to their homes. Today, Thursday, February 18th, I passed through Bouar, and I was struck by the difference between the current situation and that of a week ago. Out of 17,000 people, there are now 2,000 or 3,000, who are expected to leave in the next few days.

On Saturday, while priests and volunteers from various sites distributed the aid, I was able to follow the live streaming (the wonders of technology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzFULgeaE8&feature=youtu.be) of the funeral Mass of my mom. A very difficult moment, but full of gratitude to God for the gift he gave me and he gave us in the person of my mother.

The grace and affection of so many people who, in one way or another have shown their closeness (with prayer and hundreds of messages) have helped and supported me a lot. Thank you!

Allow me to share with you the letter I sent to my mother, which my sister Marisa read during the funeral:

Hi mama!

I want to greet you once again, I know it won't be the last!

I am Aurelio, your furthest son, but I am still close, despite the kilometers, thanks to prayer and affection.

In September 1992, just as I was about to leave for the Mission in Central Africa, we said goodbye in the hospital. You had prepared everything to accompany me, you and dad, to Paris. But you had fallen, breaking a vertebra, and could not move from the hospital.

When I came to greet you for the last time before leaving, that September 1992, I remember that you hugged me with affection, and with so much strength. You didn't cry, in front of me, although I'm sure you did, after I left your room, because you wanted to help me leave peacefully.

It is a bit like an image of your whole life: always letting others pass by, not being a burden, not disturbing ...

You didn't want to bother anyone even to die, leaving us a little suddenly, but after so many months of illness and pain.

Yesterday I saw you, thanks to technology today: dressed well, with the rosary in hand.

How many rosaries have those hands of yours opened!

How many tagliolini and ravioli have those hands made!

How many hugs and candies your hands have given!

How many fabrics and scraps those hands have sewn! Curtains, tablecloths, sheets, pillows and pot holders… scattered throughout Italy and Africa.

A strong and simple faith, and the joy of pleasing and giving joy to others.

Now you will finally be with dad, Giuseppe, Luisella and with the many friends you have met and have cheered up with your attention and affection for many many years.

We will miss you, mom; me, Giovanni and Marisa, Flavio and Franca and all your grandchildren; Daniela, Mauri, Valentina and Lu.  We will all miss you very much.

Your life leaves a beautiful mark, and we can only thank God because He gave you to us, and because we have been able to enjoy you for so many years.

You will continue, I'm more than sure, to be close to us.

You will continue, as you always have, to be proud of each of us, children and grandchildren.

Help and accompany us, so that we always deserve your pride.

Saint Elie a una settimana di differenza: prima e ora
Saint Elie à une semaine de différence: avant et maintenat

Saint Elie a una settimana di differenza: prima e ora
Saint Elie à une semaine de différence: avant et maintenat

Distribuzione viveri ai rifugiati della Yolé Carmes
Distribution des vivres aux déplacés de Yolé Carmes

Il vescovo di Bouar con i viveri da distribuire ai rifugiati
L'eveque de Bouar avec les vivres à distribuer aux déplacés

Catechismo domenicale a Samba Bougoulou
Le catéchisme, le dimanche, à Samba Bougoulou

Riprendono timidamente, ma ben scortati, i convogli di camion per bangui
La reprise des convois de camions, timidement mais bien escortés, en direction Bangui

Maman, avec mon frère Giovanni, moi, ma soeur Marisa, et toutes leurs familles
Mamma con mio fratello Giovanni, mia sorella Marisa, e tutte le loro famiglie

 

 

Villages, a Cardinal, many mothers and my mother

 

 

 

Villages, a Cardinal, many mothers and my mother

This week has been, if possible, even busier than usual!

On Friday, February 5th I travelled 40 km to Samba Bougoulou for a training meeting with the catechists of the area. In the afternoon, after taking some to Igwe, I returned to Samba Bougoulou and took the others to Yoro, where I stayed until Sunday.

They are the furthest villages (about 90 km from Baoro) and very beautiful villages!
Saturday morning I left on foot for Sinaforo, just over 7 km: the road was so bad that I almost walked! Here I celebrated Mass, and I met the people of the village. Then I left on foot around noon (under a scorching sun), and in the afternoon, after confessions, I celebrated the Eucharist.

On Sunday, February 7th I went to Bayanga Didi, a large village, where I did some confessions and celebrated mass.

I returned to Baoro around 4 pm, and here the news reached me that my mother (94) is not well and has been hospitalized. It is serious.

On Monday many soldiers finally arrived to regain control of the road, the only road that connects the border to the capital. Among them are Russian mercenaries, Rwandan soldiers and the Central African army. The few rebels who were here in Baoro fled, and the next day some soldiers reached Bouar. Here the rebels have moved away. But the fear is that they did not go very far, and/or that they moved to other cities (Bocaranga, Bozoum, Ngaundaye, Koui, Bozoum) creating other areas of terror ...

On Tuesday I left early for Bouar (just before the soldiers set out on the road…). On Monday and Tuesday, Cardinal Nzapalainga, archbishop of Bangui, is on a visit with the members of the Platform of Religious Confessions: 2 Protestant pastors and 2 imams.

I accompanied them as they visited the larger sites, where over 17,000 people have been taking refuge for almost a month. When they visited our convent in St. Elie, they found 6 mothers with 6 babies welcoming them: children born while away from home, here in St. Elie! During the meeting they received the blessings of the Cardinal, the bishop of Bouar, both pastors and both imams. I believe they are the most blessed children in the country!

While waiting for the army to take control of Bouar, we are trying, like Caritas, to prepare for the return of the refugees to their homes in the coming days. Thanks to the help of many people, we will accompany them with a kit for each family (oil, sugar, rice, coffee, soap, detergent, etc.), which we will distribute in the next few days.

This morning, February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Day of the Sick, I received the news that my mother had passed away. After a few months of suffering and deteriorating health, she can finally rest in peace. Together with my father, brother and sister.

Being a missionary is also this; the mother of a missionary brings, together with her and sometimes even more, the joy and fatigue of the Kingdom of God.

May she rest in peace, after a long life, made up of sacrifices, pains, joys, attention to others, dedication, prayer and faith.

Sinaforo

Arrivano i russi!
L'arrivée des russes à Baoro

Grande fotografo, piccola fotocamera "biscuit"
Un grand photographe, avec une petite caméra "biscuit"

I bambini nati "in esilio" a st Elie
Les enfants nés en exile à st Elie

dr Ione + Card Nzapalinga

Mamma Teresa
Maman Thérèse

 

 

Something really dangerous is happening: the prayer of the poor!

 

 

Something really dangerous is happening: the prayer of the poor!

The situation in Central Africa continues to be very tense and dangerous. Much of the country is occupied by rebel militias, of various kinds, but fairly coordinated and determined to achieve something. What this something is, it is not clear!

In the meantime, they have managed to block a large part of the country, and ALL the flow of goods that supply the capital, Bangui, from the border with Cameroon. The various armed forces (Central African, Russian and Rwandan) are trying to clear the road, but it is a difficult undertaking.

Here in Baoro, right in front of the Mission, the asphalted road remains empty: from 22 December to today, 4 February, NO trucks with goods have passed to go to Bangui! In the capital, the prices of imported goods (almost all!)have been rising rapidly, leading many families to hunger and despair.

Precisely for this reason we experienced, on Sunday afternoon, a beautiful moment of prayer and peace, at the Baoro roundabout. Despite the short notice, a good number of people (over 2,000) gathered around this clearing, and with great serenity and in profound silence we let ourselves be guided in prayer by a Protestant Pastor, followed by a Muslim imam, and finally by the Catholic parish priest, Fr Stefano. It was beautiful, wonderful to see different people, of different faiths and origins, to pray together. Finally, I asked each person to take their neighbor's hands, and raise them together towards the sky, as a prayer, and we had minutes of intense and profound prayer.

As at the beginning, even at the end, the choir animated those present: Protestants, Catholics and Muslims, sang and danced together.

2000 people who come together to pray are very dangerous, more than the rebels and various bandits! They can make God and humanity win!

This week I went to Bouar twice to follow the situation of the refugees, who are now more than 15,000.

Thanks be to God, fathers, priests, nuns, and faithful who are working very hard trying to come to the aid of all those who have left their homes for fear of the violence of the rebels.

Many are working hard, because we can help and intervene better: a big thank you to some organizations (MSF, Unicef, ACF, WFP, APAD, ANEA) that help with food, water and the most urgent needs. But thanks also to the many who, in one way or another, are helping us: Siriri. OPS from Prague, Caritas Internationalis, CRS, and friends and various brothers and sisters.

Charity is also very dangerous! It can make Love win!

La preghiera per la pace
la Pière pour la paix à Baoro

P.Stefano

Bouar - Negozi chiusi
Boutiques fermées

Riso e sardine per i rifugiati
Riz et sardines pour les déplacés

Couvent Carmes - Saint Elie

Couvent Carmes - Saint Elie

Riunione Caritas e responsabili dei siti dei rifugiati
Réunion Caritas et sites des déplacés