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| La gioia della fede la joie de la Foi |
Discovering
On Thursday the 11th we will be leaving, Mons Aguirre and I, towards the south of the diocese.
They are waiting for us in Bema, a large village located at the meeting of the two rivers, Mbomou and Uele. From there the union Oubangui was born, which continues its journey to form the Congo river.
Here too the river marks the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a border as fleeting as water: the villages on one side and the other speak the same language, and it's not that important to be born on one side or the other.
The road has been spruced up a bit lately. We left at 8.30, and at 11.30 we arrived in Ouango, about a hundred km from Bangassou. There was a mission here, with a beautiful brick church (built around 1950). We stopped to see some work to be done at the school (part of the roof was destroyed by a falling tree), and after a bite to eat with the priests of the parish, we continued to Bema, about thirty km away.
The parish here is quite new, and very lively: there is a beautiful church, a priest and a deacon, and elementary and middle schools.
Life is pretty spartan, but you adapt to it. It's very, very hot these days.
Friday morning we travelled 25 km, to the village of Tondomozuma, where there was a small church, and where two young people, Julien and Placide, were preparing for the diaconate, which they will receive on Sunday. Here the spiritual exercises were ending, and it was beautiful to share with them the joy and enthusiasm, but also the fear, of this ministry.
On Saturday we remained in Bema to prepare for the celebration. The community was working hard to put up poles and tarpaulins for the public, because the Mass will be celebrated outside.
Many Christians also arrived from nearby villages, and many priests from the diocese (at least the closest ones).
On Sunday morning we started Mass at 8.30. I was next to Mgr Aguirre, and there was a beautiful atmosphere of prayer, joy and singing.
While we prayed over the two candidates, lying on the ground, I also thought about the episcopal consecration, in less than two months: I too will be lying down, while the assembly will pray with me and for me...
At 11.30 we finished Mass, and it was time to move on to the table. There were many guests (over 400): friends, families, Christians from nearby villages, but also the poor, who had a front row seat.
On Monday morning we went to Tomunga, a village about ten km away, where, after confessions, we celebrated Mass.
And then we left for Bangassou, where we arrived around 3pm.
On Thursday the 11th we will be leaving, Mons Aguirre and I, towards the south of the diocese.
They are waiting for us in Bema, a large village located at the meeting of the two rivers, Mbomou and Uele. From there the union Oubangui was born, which continues its journey to form the Congo river.
Here too the river marks the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a border as fleeting as water: the villages on one side and the other speak the same language, and it's not that important to be born on one side or the other.
The road has been spruced up a bit lately. We left at 8.30, and at 11.30 we arrived in Ouango, about a hundred km from Bangassou. There was a mission here, with a beautiful brick church (built around 1950). We stopped to see some work to be done at the school (part of the roof was destroyed by a falling tree), and after a bite to eat with the priests of the parish, we continued to Bema, about thirty km away.
The parish here is quite new, and very lively: there is a beautiful church, a priest and a deacon, and elementary and middle schools.
Life is pretty spartan, but you adapt to it. It's very, very hot these days.
Friday morning we travelled 25 km, to the village of Tondomozuma, where there was a small church, and where two young people, Julien and Placide, were preparing for the diaconate, which they will receive on Sunday. Here the spiritual exercises were ending, and it was beautiful to share with them the joy and enthusiasm, but also the fear, of this ministry.
On Saturday we remained in Bema to prepare for the celebration. The community was working hard to put up poles and tarpaulins for the public, because the Mass will be celebrated outside.
Many Christians also arrived from nearby villages, and many priests from the diocese (at least the closest ones).
On Sunday morning we started Mass at 8.30. I was next to Mgr Aguirre, and there was a beautiful atmosphere of prayer, joy and singing.
While we prayed over the two candidates, lying on the ground, I also thought about the episcopal consecration, in less than two months: I too will be lying down, while the assembly will pray with me and for me...
At 11.30 we finished Mass, and it was time to move on to the table. There were many guests (over 400): friends, families, Christians from nearby villages, but also the poor, who had a front row seat.
On Monday morning we went to Tomunga, a village about ten km away, where, after confessions, we celebrated Mass.
And then we left for Bangassou, where we arrived around 3pm.
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| l'ordinazione dei due diaconi La consécration des 2 diacres |
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| Ouango |
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| Tondomozunga |
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| La torrefazione del caffé la torrefaction du café |
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| Il concerto Le concert |
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