From the pirogue to Cordoba

 

 

From the pirogue to Cordoba

Here I am, after a while of silence!

I'm on the train between Cordoba and Madrid! After the visit to Bakouma, I returned to Bangassou, and on Monday I went down to Bangui. On Wednesday at 1:15pm we left Bangui for Addis Ababa, and from here we continued to Madrid, where we arrived on Thursday morning, to continue south, in Andalusia, up to Cordoba.

The reason for this short trip was to get to know the Fundacion Bangassou: founded 20 years ago by friends and family of Mgr. Juan Josè Aguirre, it supports the projects of the diocese of Bangassou, in particular in the educational and healthcare sectors, but also the areas for the orphans, the poor, the elderly, the seminary, and many other Bangassou initiatives.

It was here that I was welcomed into the Patronage (the Board of Directors) last Friday, in a meeting in which the activities and future projects were presented.

Cordoba is the city where the bishop, Mgr Aguirre, was born, and where his large family is located (9, including brothers and sisters), who welcomed me with much affection and kindness. It was like receiving another family as a gift!

Having arrived on Thursday, we will be leaving between today and tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday, for Central Africa. They were very intense days, where we met many many people, and where I was able to discover the many riches of Andalusia, from the food to the affection of the people, and the many treasures of the beautiful city.

On Monday we celebrated Mass in what was the unique treasure, "La Mezquita": the cathedral of Cordoba. With the reconquest of southern Spain, the Catholic kings chose not to destroy the wonderful mosque, but to transform it into a cathedral. It was nice to celebrate the Mass, which brings alive this place of prayer, built 1,200 years ago. It was nice to see that the architecture and beauty of this space have been respected over the centuries, thus becoming a place of peace and respect.

For a Carmelite, a visit to Ubeda, a city 140 km from Cordoba, where Saint John of the Cross, our founder, died, could not be missed.

Now I am on the train to Madrid, and from here I will go to Paris and then to Rennes, to meet some priests from the diocese of Bangassou who live, study and work in France.

Tomorrow, Thursday, I will return to Madrid, and from there, with Mgr Aguirre, we will leave for Bangui.

In just over two weeks, on June 9, I will be consecrated bishop, and in the next few days I will do the spiritual exercises: a time of prayer and reflection in preparation for the sacrament and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I rely greatly on your affection and prayers!

La Mezquita de Cordoba

La tomba di San Giovanni della Croce a Ubeda
Le tombeau de st Jean de la Croix à Ubeda

Icona moderna, della monache di Ravenna
Icone moderne, des Moniales de Ravenna

 

 

Schools, rivers and work

 

 

 

 

Schools, rivers and work

Over the past few days the learning about the diocese of Bangassou continues.

Saturday was dedicated to the meeting of the College of Consultors. This was a small group of priests who constitute an advisory body on the most important and delicate issues of the diocese.

On Sunday we went to Tokoyo, a neighborhood of Bangassou. Here we have the other parish in the city, and we celebrated Mass in a church full of people. After Mass we got to greet the Imam of Bangassou. Here too there is a long and beautiful story: in 2017 the Muslims of the city, mostly women and children, (over 2,000 people), were threatened by the anti-balaka militias, and since have been welcomed for five years in the diocese's seminary.

On Tuesday we went to Nyakari, a parish 17 km from Bangassou. To get there we had to cross the river, and we did it with the bac, a large metal raft.

The parish here is entrusted to 3 Spiritan fathers. We came here to check the solar energy panels, which had not been working well for a few months. We also took the opportunity to visit the mission schools: from nursery school, to elementary school, up to middle school. There is also a small hospital, run by the Mission.

We arrived May 1st, where here too it was a day of celebration. We celebrated Mass at 6.30, and during the service the work tools were blessed: bic, notebooks, hoes, seeds...

Great work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Il dispensario di Nyakari
le dispensaire de Nyakari

Le scuole elementari di Nyakari
Les écoles primaires de Nyakari

1° maggio
1er mai