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Friday, May 21, 2021

Land of man, land of God

 


 

Land of man, land of God

All life, the entire world, is a parallel between good and evil, between life and death.

During the week I was able to relive this reality in a particular way: on Friday I was in Niem, a land of war and death, while between Saturday and Tuesday we celebrated  the sacrament of Confirmation, which is the irruption of the Holy Spirit into the world .

Friday 13 May I went to Niem. Here, a few days ago, the parish priest, Fr Arialdo, hit a mine with his car and the mine exploded. He and a passenger got out unscathed, but another passenger died.

The area is dangerous: the rebels have officially been ordered to leave by various troops (Russian, Rwandan and Central African), but yet they are still present in the territory. They are the ones who have planted mines on some roads. In the past few days there have been other similar incidents, as well as attacks on traders and people passing through.

The area is in need so, just like Caritas, we have decided to continue working here. On Friday I accompanied a dozen people, who for a few days dedicated themselves to meeting with families and helping those who are most in need.  This project is supported by CRS, one of the United States Caritas branches.

I met with Fr Arialdo.  He is 82 years old, and fifty of those years were spent in Thailand, the Ivory Coast and Central Africa.  Even though he is very strong, the hit from the road mine has caused setbacks for him, both physically and psychologically.

Between Saturday and Tuesday we made space for the Holy Spirit!

The bishop of Bouar, Mirek Gucwa, was with us for the sacrament of Confirmation. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who confirms Christians and makes them witnesses of Christ.

We organized 4 celebrations: on Saturday in Mbormo (on the road to Bossemptele) for the villages of Ngoumbou, Mbormo, Bawi, Barka Bongo, Zoungbe and Balembe. Sunday we were in Baoro. Monday in Pate Bonambolo (25 km on the Carnot road) and then to the villages of Samba Bougoulou, Pate and Bayanga Bode.

On Monday, after the confirmations in Pate, I left the bishop and with the carpenters went to the most distant villages. Around 2 pm I arrived in Bayanga Didi, about ninety km from Baoro. Here the candidates from the villages of Yoro and Sinaforo gathered. While the carpenters repaired the pews in the church, I completed the final exams and confessions.

Tuesday morning the bishop arrived around 8, and people welcomed him cheering.

Around 9.30 we began Mass, we had about seventy candidates, boys, girls, young people and adults, receive the sacrament of Confirmation. They were very intense celebrations, where we felt the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit abundantly.  I'm happy because, among the confirmed, there was Junior, a deaf child. What joy!

We finished around 12.30 ad it was time to say goodbye, load the car and then we left for Baoro.

The road was a path in the forest. Holes, stones, trees ... and even a fallen tree, which forced us to stop and cut it down in order to pass.

Around 4 pm we finally arrived in Baoro.


Mbormo



Baoro




Pate Bonambolo




Bayanga Didi

P.Stefano


Junior

Bayanga Didi

Imprevisti
Imprévues


Termitaio
Termitière





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