Risks and courageous voices

 

 

 

 Risks and courageous voices

Last Sunday I left for Bangui to follow the work on the construction site of the new convent.

In Bangui I went to the "Mama Carla" center, dedicated to Carla Pagani, founder and soul of "Amici per il Centralafrica". We have a nursery and an elementary school, an institute for teacher training, and a dispensary with ophthalmology, dentistry and many other realities.

Here I met with some friends who I have known for years: Maurizio Pianella, Eric and Giuliano. Maurizio, a dentist from Bologna, is here for a few weeks to offer assistance to future dentists in Central Africa. Eric, from Burundi, is the dentist of this center, while Giuliano Emiliani is a volunteer who lends himself to every service.

I had lunch with them (Giuliano is an excellent cook) and then I took them to visit the building site of the new Bangui convent.

Monday and Tuesday I worked with the carpenters of Baoro, and with them we assembled 40 doors and window frames.

On Tuesday evening, I met the new ambassador of the Czech Republic. He lives in Nigeria, but is responsible for several countries, including Central Africa. We spent some time together, sharing the joys and concerns of Central Africa.

We met with the Bishops and have launched a very strong and concerned message on the situation in the country. Last week the government increased the price of fuel by more than 70%. Insecurity is still very high in many areas of the country (including Bozoum). The (few) roads are a disaster, and the few fixes become an occasion for corruption.  A "sale" of land, mining and forestry concessions to the Chinese and Russians is underway...

The solution? Starting afresh from Christ, abandoning the "friend-enemy" logic, and building hope and the future together.

It's a huge task, and we can't afford to be sidelined!

Le strade
les routes

il cantiere di Bangui
le chantier de Bangui

Louis e Patriot, falegnami
Louis et Patriot, ménuisiers

Giuliano, Maurizio ed Eric

 

 

Sow and harvest

 

alunni in fuga...
les élèves en fuite

 

 

Sow and harvest

When our first Fathers arrived in Central Africa in 1971, it didn't take long for them to dream of establishing the Carmelite family among the people of the country. First there were the laity, and then the boys, with the Yolé Seminary, opened in 1983.

The family is still growing: by now the Central African friars are more numerous than the Italian ones.

On Friday 6 January, 3 young people, Br. Aimé, Br. Alfred and Br. Wilfrid made their solemn profession: they promised God to live forever in chastity, poverty and obedience.

On Friday afternoon, many of us met in St. Elie, our convent in Bouar. The ceremony was very contemplative: at first, just the parents of the three young people, with a simple gesture that corresponded to the local culture, gave their son to God. After the homily, the whole assembly prayed, while the 3 young people laid down to the ground.

Subsequently, one by one, they made their profession in the hands of the Provincial, Fr Saverio, who then signed it on the altar.

After their solemn promise, the 3 young people were welcomed by the Carmelite family with an embrace.

The following day, Saturday, another feast occured: the three professed were ordained deacons, while br. Regis became a priest.

On Monday we met again in Bouar, for a day of reflection and exchange, with all the fathers and young professed in the Delegation. We came from all houses: Bozoum, Baoro, Bangui and Bouar.

On Tuesday I went to Bozoum, for the preparations for the Agricultural Fair, which is soon to come. I went with the confreres who had come from Italy (Fr. Andrea Bello and Br. Matteo Colzani) and with Dr. Natalina Pepe, who was visiting (and at work) here in Baoro.

Unfortunately, insecurity is growing. In the previous days there have been attacks by rebels along the road between Bouar and Bozoum.

As soon as we arrived, we saw the elementary school pupils fleeing the school: the news had arrived that some armed men had "passed" near Bozoum.

Unfortunately there is a lot of fear, paralyzing it seems, throughout the country.

Fraternità Carmelitana
Fraternité carmélitaine

fr. Alfred, fr Wilfrid, fr Aimé

 

 

 

fr Wilfrid

 

fr Aimé

 

 

 

la dott.ssa Natalina Pepe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission and Fraternity

 

 


Mission and Fraternity

In the Gospels, Jesus sends his disciples "two by two" to prepare people's hearts for His arrival. A Father of the Church comments on this choice, saying that Jesus wants communion and fraternity to be the first witness of His Kingdom.
This is exactly what happened over the past few days.

Thursday morning, December 29, I left with Fr Cyriaque, a Central African confrere, and Friar Igor, a Frenchman, and we went to the most distant villages. After almost 3 hours by car we arrived in Sinaforo, 80 km from Baoro.

Here we had to wait for the catechists to return (they had confused the dates), and we celebrated the Eucharist in the hut that serves as a small church.

At the end of the Mass, we gave away a ball, which started the party, along with the races in the village, scaring the goats and chickens.

We also went to Yoro, where we spent the night. In the afternoon we went to the river, Nana, which was a few kilometers away.  Here we found 5 containers, a large bulldozer and a barge that was used to dredge the river: this is what remains of the Chinese camp, who 3 years ago started looking for gold (a bit like in Bozoum). Even here!

On December 30, the Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Family, to whom the chapel of Yoro is dedicated. On Friday morning, we celebrated Mass, a solemn Mass, with the grace of Baptism which Fr. Cyriaque administered to 16 small children of the village.

In the afternoon we went to Bayanga Didi, a few kilometers away. Here Fra Igor tasted snake for the first time, which the catechist had prepared. Here too, like the day before in Yoro, I shared a good film on the Nativity with the community.

On Saturday, December 31st we celebrated Mass in the morning, along with a baptism.  In the afternoon we returned to Baoro.

It was last day of the year, but the exhaustion of the past 3 days caught up with me and I went to bed early: the year is starting regardless, so I prayed and wished that this too will be a year of grace for all humanity.

As soon as I arrived, I received the news of the death of Pope Benedict XVI: a man of great faith, a profound and simple theologian, who loved Africa very much. In 2011, returning from Benin, he said: "Despite suffering and poverty, in Africa there is a joy of living. It is the joy of being a human creature: to be human is to be loved by God".

Early Monday morning I left for Bangui: the building site of the new building site, albeit slowly, is moving along, and I participated in the weekly meeting.

Here too I find the joy of fraternity: in addition to the community, there are confreres who have just arrived from Italy: the Provincial, Fr Saverio, Fr Andrea Bello and Bro Matteo Colzani. There was also a doctor, Natalina, with them.

I left Bangui with them on Wednesday morning heading towards Baoro.

Un pallon, ed è festa!
Un ballon, et la fete commence!

Sinaforo

Ex cantiere cinese per la ricerca dell'oro
Ancien chantier chinois pour l'exploitation de l'or

 

 

Yoro

 

P.Cyriaque

 

 

Bayanga Didi

 

Cantiere del nuovo convento di Bangui
Chantier du nouveau couvent de bangui

 

P.Arland, p.Federico e p.Saverio