after Bozoum, news from Bangassou: On the paths of the Kingdom

On the paths of the Kingdom

It was a week of travel: from Thursday to Sunday were the most distant villages, in the middle of the savannah, and from Monday to Wednesday we were in Bangui.

Thursday morning I left around 7 for Yoro, where I stayed for 4 days, and from there I will move to the other villages. During those days I held the catechism meetings and exams for the boys, girls and adults who were preparing for Baptism, as well as the various stages of the catechumenate.

The 72 km of road… as always were an adventure, between water, mud and sand. But we arrived at around 9.30 in Yoro. Immediately after unloading the car, a storm broke out, which stopped us in place (but it did not prevent the children from playing soccer ...).

At around 12 the rain stopped, and at 13:30 we left for Sinaforo, a small village 7 km away. We went there on foot, because a tree fell and blocked the road. But when we arrived, we discovered that the catechist was not there, and therefore it was not possible to meet the catechumens.

So back to Yoro we went, where I spent the evening and overnight.

Friday morning the catechist from Sinaforo arrived with the catechumens, but unfortunately they were not ready, and we had to postpone everything until next year.
At about 9.30 am I left for Bayanga Didi, 7 km away.
Here the nursery school, which has only been open for a few months, is working quite well.

We began the catechism exams, with good results. We had an exciting visit by a couple of snakes that occasionally peeked out from the roof beams!

After the exams, I celebrated Mass, explaining the moments of the celebration: a live catechesis!

I returned to Yoro around 2.30 pm, and it immediately started to rain. I had a long meeting with the catechist, who presented me with the lists of candidates for the following day.

I slept in Yoro, and Saturday was taken up with meetings and exams with the catechumens of this village. Around 1pm I celebrated Mass, explaining and re-explaining the various parts of the mass.

Unfortunately, the learning availability is not very good. This is in part due to the fact that the schools were open very little in Yoro and not at all in Bayanga Didi: visiting them I discovered that on the blackboard there was still the date of April 26, 2021. Proving the fact that this year there hasn't been a day of school!

In the evening we gathered the catechumens, and we recited the Rosary together, to ask Mary for light, faith and charity for all catechumens, and also to explain this simple prayer to them.

Sunday morning I left on foot for Sinaforo. Here, however, we celebrated the baptisms of Naomi, Basil, Elie, Jean Paul and Monique, all newborns. The chapel was a canopy made with sheets obtained from iron cans, and the walls are of made of mud. But, as I always say: the Mass is the same, the sacrifice of Christ, the presence of God is the same here, as in the most beautiful cathedrals of Christianity.

We finished Mass, and the village was celebrating these baptisms. After a bite to eat (rice, cassava and dried fish), I left for Yoro, where I arrived at around 2 pm, to leave almost immediately for Baoro.

Monday morning we left at 5 for Bangui, together with Mario and Luigina, who have done an enormous job in our Mission in these months. Unfortunately, the road continues to get worse, and we arrived in Bangui around 11.

Here the work of the new convent continues. With Mario we saw how to organize electrical and plumbing systems (any volunteers who want to come, we will welcome you with open arms!).

On Wednesday I returned to Baoro.

The paths of the Kingdom of God passes on roads, hearts and huts and convents, in the hearts of newborn children, boys and girls, young people, adults and the elderly.