50 years of the Carmelites in Baoro
On 8 October 1973 Fr. Carlo arrived in Baoro and the "Baoro Mission" officially began.
On
Sunday 8 October 2023 we celebrated the first 50 years of our presence
here. In attendance were the bishop, the brothers, but also many
Christians from the villages, who have received the gift of Faith
through the presence and work of the many missionaries who have given
themselves in recent years.
Here's a bit of history...
GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS
The
"Child Jesus" parish of Baoro covers the interior of Baoro and the
village of Bouar, in the North-West of the Central African Republic.
KEY DATES OF THE EVANGELIZATION OF BAORO
1940: Arrival of the missionaries from Bozoum
The
story of Christianity in Baoro actually began with Protestant
missionaries, long before the arrival of the Catholics. They were there
before the First World War and during the Second World war Baoro became
a base for the German and Italian armies. The Mission was started in
1940 by Father Joseph Dufour and Father Jean Chrysostome. They
established a place for catechism close to the parish, adjacent to the
house of the head of the village, Dangsi. Other Christians came from
various missions, many from Bozoum. The few that were baptized in Baoro
(mostly the teachers) were able to baptize in Bouar.
1950: Evangelization in the rural parts (savana) - Bayanga Didi - from the French and Italian cappuccini of Carnot.
The
Cappuccini savoiardi fathers were able to have more baptisms and
eucharistic rites performed, mostly in part due to Bayanga Didi. A
village that was much larger than Baoro and was also housing a branch of
the French army. The Cappuccin Father Daniel and Father Umberto, from
the Provincia of Genova (Italy) provided assistance to the village until
the end of 1959, which is when the Fathers of Bouar took over.
1955: construction of the first school and the first baptisms occured in Baoro-Centre from the French Cappuccin of Bouar.
In 1955,
Father Francis opened a school made out of hay, where today we still
have a parish. He was the pastor and his associate was Alphonse
Ngakumandji. Pierre Tunumo and his assistant Jean Marie Waka held the
catechism classes.
In 1956, Father Francis de Bouar built
the first permanent building for the school. Until 1985, this building
was occupied by Fathers. The main hall was used as a church when needed.
In 1957, Father Francis started having people baptized in Baoro, 15 of them were from the Mission School. In 1958,
a second building for the school was being built with two large rooms.
In the meantime we had the arrival of Father Norbert and Father
Clément, who took over running the school even though they did not live
in Baoro at the time.
April 12, 1960 - January 27, 1961: Padre Jean-Baptiste Corbet.
1960:
in April, Father Jean-Baptiste Courbet, given direction from the bishop
of Berberati, Monsignor Baud, was to found a parish. Which would
officially become the mission of Baoro. He stayed in Baoro for 10 months
with André Janody, a lay worker.
At the same time they started
to build a permanent house for the priests, but by the time the roof was
finished, Padre Jean-Baptiste had to leave, he was unexpectedly
transferred to Nola. Soon thereafter a generator was installed.
Apostleship:
the number of visits to the mission (including Bangarem) were recorded
as 111 baptisms (of which 63 were in the center of Baoro).
Father
Jean Baptiste took it upon himself to begin the lessons for the local
catechists. He organized two short sessions at a local school, where he
joined by about 20 catechists.
1960-1969: Father Clément Sautier.
After
the departure of Father Jean-Baptiste, came Father Clément, from Bouar.
Baoro at the time was part of rural Bouar, with the streets of Baboua,
Bocaranga, Bozoum, Bangui and Gbassore (Bangarem), joining them all.
Father
Clément went on these roads to increase the apostleship. He did this
by baptizing many in large numbers, which were all recorded in the
register of Bouar at St Joseph. It's difficult to find the exact number
but they were able to find a duplicate of the register in Baoro in 1975
from the previous register, the number of battalions shown by Father
Clément says there were about 690 indiviuals.
He was also able to
have baptisms in 1963 (4 villages), in 1965 (4 villages) and in 1967 (6
villages); in total there were 349 people baptized during this time. He
also opened about catechism courses in 10 new villages, where he
invited the youth to join.
In 1967, Baoro, a large village with
about 2,000 inhabitants, was able to elect the President of the Central
African Republic, Col. Jean Bedel Bokassa. This allowed the population
to steadily increase over time.
Buildings
1. The church of Bayanga-Didi (1967): was
when the concrete foundations and flooring were poured; a wall made of
tarred boards was made; a roof made of beams was covered with sheet
metal obtained from drums: and it was solid work that lasted until
2004-5, when the chapel was completely rebuilt on the same foundation.
2. The church of Pate Bonambolo (1967): was
also when the foundations and concrete flooring were poured; they had
semi-permanent walls; a single-pitched roof in galvanized sheet metal,
plus a presbytery. Behind the church, 15 meters away, there was a house
with 5 rooms and 2 shops for the catechists. From 1979, this house was
used as a mission dispensary run by Father Raffaele de Milano, until
early 2000, when it was transformed into a village school.
1970-1973: the Capuchin Fathers of Genoa
In 1970 the Italian Capuchins of Genoa took over. These
were the years in which the northern sector of the diocese of Berberati
was supposed to become autonomous, which only happened in 1978. Bishop
Baud had already entrusted the northern part to the Capuchins of Genoa,
with the Vicar General as the Superior.
After nine
years of evangelization by Father Clément, Baoro also saw the arrival
of new missionaries such as Father Antonino Panteghini (1970-1971), who
arrived in Baoro in the middle of the year, going mainly to Bayanga-Didi
and Pâté Bonambolo: with the assistance of Christians organized by
Father Clément; in Bayanga-Didi several children were baptized and in
Baoro Center he was able to baptize around fifty adults. He also
organized confirmations in Baoro-Centre and Bayanga Didi and around
fifty people were confirmed.
1971-1973: Father Enzo Canozzi, Capuchin priest
Arriving in Baoro in May 1971, he continued the
evangelization undertaken by Father Clément, traveling the streets like
him. He gave a strong voice to rural and youth work, helped in this task
by Sister Marie-Antoine of the Community of the Poor Clares of Bouar.
1973-1974:
Marked the arrival of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers from the Province
of Genoa and the Tertiary Carmelite Sisters from Turin.
1973
was a turning point in the evangelization of Baoro. The Carmelite
Fathers of the Province of Genoa, who were already present in Bozoum
since 1971, decided to expand their missionary field by opening the
Baoro Mission. On October 8, 1973, Father Carlo, assisted by Father Enzo
Canozzi, a Capuchin friar from Bouar - S. Joseph, on whom the Baoro
chapel depended, settled in Baoro in the Mission area. In April 1974,
with the help of Brother Conrad de Carnot, construction of the parish
church began, followed by a home for the Carmelite Sisters of Saint Teresa of Turin, who arrived in 1974
to work with the Carmelite Fathers. This was followed by the
construction of classrooms for catechism and repairs to the house of the
Fathers.
Father Carlo quickly dedicated himself to pastoral work
in the center and in many villages. On Sunday 17 February 1974 he
organized the first meeting of the Foyers Chrétiens. Other movements
were also created such as the Altar Boys, the Hearts and the Valorous
Souls, the Choir and the Technical Youth.
On 28 October 1974, Father Giuseppe Agosteo, a Carmelite from the Province of Milan, finally arrived in Baoro.
At
the same time, work on the new church and the nuns' house was well
underway. The fathers took over the school within the mission
concession, used by the State, and contributed to building a new one
outside.
On January 16, 1975, the four Carmelite nuns of Santa
Teresa of Turin arrived in Baoro to settle in their new home. From that
point on they worked with the Mission Fathers.
The first mass was celebrated in the new church on 16 February 1975. Once completed, work began on the youth center.
1975-1991: Parish Priest Fr. Giuseppe Agosteo
The church, dedicated to the Infant Jesus of Prague, was inaugurated on 9 March 1975 in
the presence of Monsignor Mario Tagliaferri, pro-nuncio of Bangui, and
Monsignor Basile Baud, bishop of Berberati. On Saturday the 8th a Mass
was held with 110 baptisms and 27 weddings. On Sunday the 9th there was
another mass with 74 confirmations. Baoro, the first mission created by the Discalced Carmelites, had become the new parish of the diocese of Berberati. The new parish priest was Father Giuseppe Agosteo, while Father Carlo took care of the rural areas.
From 1978-81: the community was made up of Father Giuseppe Agosteo, parish priest, Father Vittorino Corsini and Father Renato Aldegheri.
In
1978, after spending his last year in Bozoum, Father Carlo left to
return to Italy, where he became prior of the new novitiate house in the
Varazze Desert. Fr. Giuseppe, parish priest, remained with the newly
arrived Fr. Vittorino Corsini, who followed the brousse and fr. Giovanni
Cangini, the builder.
October 1978, Brother Raffaele Fasoli who
had been in Baoro, where he was responsible for the Pate dispensary,
inaugurated it on March 19th 1979. The sisters Biagina, Iginia and
Giustina helped with the pastoral work in the brousse and in the centre,
and took care of the home school and of the community center.
From 1981-84:
the community was made up of Giuseppe Agosteo, the parish priest,
Father Renato Aldegheri, who took care of the brousse and the works, and
Father Nicolò Ellena (Bossemptelé).
On 14 January 1982, the "Nerviano" training center for catechists was inaugurated, directed by Father Nicolò.
Unfortunately
the center was closed a few months later due to repeated thefts and
other management difficulties. At the end of 1981, Father Nicolò moved
to Bossemptélé, where he took care of the mission entrusted to Baoro.
This school for catechists reopened as a training school for catechists
only in 2019.
After Father Nicolò's departure, Father
Renato Aldegheri began working in Baoro, from where he often went to
Bossemptélé to finish the work on the house.
Since 1982, the
feast of Baby Jesus, previously celebrated on the first Sunday of
September, has been celebrated on the day of the Epiphany, or the day of
Jesus' baptism, at the beginning of January.
The current convent was built in 1984 (first part of the guest rooms, then the refectory and the fathers' rooms).
From 1984-87:
the community was made up of Father Giuseppe Agosteo, the parish
priest, Father Renato Aldegheri, who took care of an ever-increasing
number of villages in the Brousse and construction work. Father Nicolò
Ellena lived in Bossemptélé. Father Domenico Rossi came from La Yolé to
help in the brousse on Saturdays and Sundays.
From 1987-90:
Father Giuseppe Agosteo was still parish priest, despite serious health
problems. Fr. Carlo Cencio returned to Baoro from Italy in 1988. They
were joined in Baoro by the young Fr. Roberto Nava, who arrived from
Italy as a deacon in 1988. Roberto Nava, who arrived from Italy as a
deacon in 1988, and Father Nicolò Ellena, who was still in Bossemptélé.
From 1990-93: Father
Giuseppe Agosteo definitively returned to Italy in August 1990, from
where he would leave as one of the founders of the Mission of the
Lombardy Province in Cameroon. Father Roberto Nava became parish priest
in September 1990. Father Renato Aldegheri arrived in Baoro from Yolé in
August 1990.
1991-2008: Parish Priest Fr. Roberto Nava
In 1991-92, the catechism and carpentry wings were built in the concession.
In 1993 a
dispensary was built in Baoro, in the area called Guindi, to treat
lepers and malnourished children. It was run for many years by Sister
Erneste, a Carmelite nun.
In 1993, a large building (the
Auditorium) was built on the foundations of the existing old school.
This was to serve as a large meeting, conference and theater room, with
the parish office attached.
From 1993-96: Father
Roberto Nava continued his work as parish priest, supported by Father
Paolo Pavone, who arrived in May 1993, and by Father Bernard
Thattaparambil, from India, who arrived in June 1995 but only stayed for
a year. Meanwhile, the School of Mechanics was being created.
From 1996-99:
the community, linked for a certain period to that of Sant'Elie in
Bouar, was made up of Father Roberto Nava, the parish priest, and Father
Norberto Pozzi, who arrived in December 1996.
From 1999-2002: the
community was made up of Father Roberto Nava, the parish priest, and
Father Saverio Gavotto, who took care of the village chapels and gave
great importance to the village schools.
In 2001, on the
vast site of Nerviano, at the entrance to Baoro, on the Bouar side, near
the Catechistic Centre, the "Il Germoglio" nursery school was built by
an association of lay people from Sanremo, who would also manage it.
From 2009 onwards, this nursery school has always been managed by the
Fathers of the Baoro community.
In 2001-2002, on the
opposite side of the house of the Fathers, a building was built that
serves as a women's advancement school. Today, the same rooms are used
as catechism classrooms, for teaching and for the mechanics school. In
September 2001, young Brother Arland began his pastoral training in the
community.
From 2002-2005: the community was
made up of Father Roberto Nava, parish priest, Father Saverio Gavotto,
until October 2004, and Father Thierry Charles Koniam, only for 2003.
From 2005-2008: the
community was made up of Father Roberto Nava, parish priest, Father
George Varghese and Father Lionello Giraudo, who arrived in June 2006.
2008-2011: Parish priest Father Norberto Pozzi
With
the definitive return of Father Roberto Nava to Italy due to serious
health problems, Father Norberto Pozzi becomes superior of the community
and parish priest, a position he will hold until 2011. He will be
joined in the community by Father Dieudonné Yahaka.
2011-2017: Parish Priest Fr. Dieudonné Yahaka
From 2011-2014; After
the 2011 Provincial Chapter and the assignment of Father Norberto to
Bozoum, a new community was created. Father Renato Aldegheri is the
superior of the community, responsible for the pastoral care of the
chapels and schools in the villages of the Brousse. He also reopened the
mechanics school within the Mission complex, entrusting it to a
Cameroonian teacher. Father Dieudonné Yahaka was appointed parish
priest, a position he held until 2017. Worth noting is the courage and
dangers experienced by the community in 2013 and 2014, during the
invasion of the country by the Seleka coalition. In January and February
2014, the parish sheltered nearly 1,500 displaced people, some of whom
were Muslims and others Christians, for several weeks. Father Dieudonné
risked his life to save these people.
From 2014-2017:
The new community is made up of Father Renato Aldegheri, superior (who
unfortunately passef away due to leukemia in 2015), Father Dieudonné
Yahaka, parish priest, and Father Lionello Giraudo, who was appointed
superior from 2015, when Father Renato passed away . From 2016, Father
Maurice, who returned from his studies in Italy, would also be the
superior of the Baoro community. Father Daniele Conte remained there for
a few months in 2015.
2017- 2023: Parish Priest Fr. Stefano Molon
From 2017-20:
in this three-year period Father Maurice Maikane was elected superior
of the new community. He was responsible for the chapels and schools in
the Brousse and will gave a big importance to the mechanical school. Fr.
Stefano Molon, assigned by S. Elie to Bouar, was appointed parish
priest and monitored and helped grow the "Il Germoglio" nursery school.
They were joined by Fr. Odilon Faguende, who was then followed by the
Christian communities in the nearby Brousse of Baoro and who would
become director of the catechetical school of Nerviano, which has just
reopened. Every year, during this three-year period, the community had
grown due to the tenacity of this young intern brother.
From 2020-23: The year 2020 saw a major reshuffle in the Community. Father Maurice and Father Odilon were transferred elsewhere.
Fr Stefano Molon continued to be parish priest and became superior of the community.
Fr. Aurelio Gazzera,
former parish priest of Bozoum, took over a large part of the brousse
and takes care of all the schools: the mechanical school of the Mission,
the nursery school of Nerviano and the nine village schools managed by
the community of Baoro. He immediately began repairing schools and
chapels in the Brousse, in addition to his work in the parish.
Fr Michael Yambeti, a
priest for just a year, replaced Father Odilon in the care of the seven
chapels in the villages closest to Baoro and took over the direction of
the school for catechists. He also helps Father Stéphane in various
movements of the parish. He also gave a strong boost to the choir,
personally supervising its musical training.
On August 6, 2023, Msgr. Mirek Gucwa installed Father Arland Djim Toga as the new parish priest of Baoro.
Currently,
in 2023, the community is made up of Father Arland, superior and parish
priest, Father Aurelio, the deacon Brother Wilfrid and the student
Brother Jephte, in pastoral training.
Three Carmelite nuns from
Turin, Sister Solange, Sister Viviane and Sister Celestina, ensure an
active presence in the parish community, in the training of catechists
and in education, in particular in their school "Les Martyrs Africains".
The
fathers of the community of the Enfant Jesus Convent of Baoro try above
all to bear witness to the love of Jesus. They do this above all
through their life as a small Carmelite community.
Every day begins at 5:00am in church with a moment of prayer, Lauds and, at 6:00am, Mass with a group of faithful.
At 7:00am, after breakfast, the three brothers divide the day's work between them. Everyone has a job to do.
The
parish priest is very busy with the people who knock on the door of his
office at all hours, he takes care of families and the poor, of the 17
branches present in the parish, of the catechesis divided into four
years, of visiting the sick, of their comfort through the sacraments,
Christian funerals and finally taking care of the health center. The
parish is divided into four basic communities. Encouraging Christians to
take charge of their parish and their faith is an important challenge.
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Sr Erneste
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P.Roberto Nava
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P.Renato - P.Giuseppe
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| P.Giuseppe |
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P.Giuseppe, P.Carlo, Sr Giustina, sr Iginia, sr Biagina
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| P.Carlo |
