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| 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.
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| Fraternità Carmelitana Fraternité carmélitaine |
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| fr. Alfred, fr Wilfrid, fr Aimé |
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| fr Wilfrid |
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| fr Aimé |
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| la dott.ssa Natalina Pepe |
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