Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Unfortunately I can't post the photos, because of the very slow connection, but also because of a problem with Mr. Google...

Last week I left for Bangui on Tuesday, to return on Thursday. I urgently needed to see some of our priests.

On Friday I left for Gambo, a parish 75 km away. With the road repaired instead of taking 4 hours we got there in just 2!

I arrived with a priest, who is going to follow the parish for a few months, while we wait to find a new parish priest.

For this occasion, about thirty children from the Maman Tongolo Center, our orphan center, also came with us. The older ones came, under the guidance of Sister Yolande, and some older girls. They were a great addition to the expedition!

In the afternoon we participated in the Via Crucis, on the main road of the village.

On Saturday afternoon I presented the Jubilee of Hope, which was the purpose of my visit to this parish.

The next morning we celebrated Palm Sunday, with the blessing and the small procession to the parish.

After Mass I went to see a village 5 km away, where a small church is to be built.

We returned to Bangassou in the afternoon.

Today, Tuesday of Holy Week, we celebrated the Chrism Mass: it is a unique moment of the liturgy! The priests of the diocese gather around the Bishop, and renew their promises made on the day of ordination.  During the Mass I blessed the oils that will be used for the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, the one for catechumens, and the chrism (which is used for confirmations and priestly ordinations).

There were 21 priests present: all those who could came!

At the end of Mass I bleseds the new tabernacle, which the Carmelite community of Loano had offered for the cathedral of Bangassou.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16th, I will be leaving for the East. I will celebrate Holy Thursday in Zemio, and Good Friday in Mboki, to arrive in Obo for the Easter Vigil. I will then continue to other villages (Dembia, Derbissaka, Rafai, Aguomar and Mandabazouma), rebels and roads permitting.

I will be away from home for a couple of weeks ... and I am going to take this opportunity to wish everyone the best for a Holy Easter. The Lord loves us, and saves us, with his passion, death and resurrection!

P.S.: I hope to publish some photos on my Facebook page soon

Jubilees and coffee

Jubilees and coffee

At this time we wanted to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope in two very different places: the parish of Lanome, 37 km from Bangassou, and in the prison.

On Friday, March 28, I go to Lanome, where many faithful have gathered, from the center and the surrounding villages. In the early afternoon I meet them, and explain to them the meaning of the Jubilee.

Then, under a cloudy sky that threatens rain, we move to a neighborhood, and begin the Stations of the Cross, a time of prayer very much felt by the people.

In the evening I return to Bangassou, because I have a commitment on Saturday morning.

I return to Lanome, and arrive around 11:30. The other 2 priests have been confessing since 9 a.m., and I help them, and we confess continuously until 5 p.m.!

Sunday morning we start Mass around 7:30 a.m. with the blessing of water, a sign and reminder of Baptism. Quietly people pass by, mark themselves, as a sign of asking God for forgiveness, and we enter the space of the celebration. Today's beautiful Gospel is that of the Prodigal Son. And Truly we feel the need for God's Mercy, that God who stands watching from afar, waiting, and then runs to embrace that son of His who was gone -- and has returned!

During the Mass we also do the laying of the foundation stone of the new church, the foundations of which are completed.

The construction of the school is advancing faster, and by now the walls are already 1 meter everywhere.

This week I make a discovery: coffee from Bangassou!

In recent months I had been able to see numerous small coffee plantations. Unfortunately, the war and the state of the roads have discouraged many, who no longer tend the plantations.

And I found out that there was a Coffee Producers' Cooperative right here in town. I go to visit what's left (it was vandalized and looted during the war). There are still concrete silos there: 9 silos of 90 tons each! Until a dozen years ago, the Cooperative collected coffee, stored it, and then did initial processing (hulling). By 2001 it was exporting over 300 tons of coffee to France, while the rest was sold to Sudan, Congo, and the local market. Some years they processed up to 15,000 tons of coffee.

One of my dreams is to revive this reality, which would give respite to thousands of families....

Today, Saturday, April 5, I went to Bangassou Prison: there are more than 100 inmates here, almost all awaiting trial. We also celebrate with them the Good News of God's forgiveness and Jubilee. There is a lot of participation, and a lot of attention, when I talk to them about the parable of the Prodigal Son.

People from various movements also came, bringing food for the prisoners. During the offertory procession, I see with surprise and emotion that some prisoners get up, and they also bring something. We will then leave it with the prisoners, along with lunch.

Jubilees and coffee

 Jubilees and coffee

At this time we wanted to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope in two very different places: the parish of Lanome, 37 km from Bangassou, and in the prison.

On Friday, March 28, I go to Lanome, where many faithful have gathered, from the center and the surrounding villages. In the early afternoon I meet them, and explain to them the meaning of the Jubilee.

Then, under a cloudy sky that threatens rain, we move to a neighborhood, and begin the Stations of the Cross, a time of prayer very much felt by the people.

In the evening I return to Bangassou, because I have a commitment on Saturday morning.

I return to Lanome, and arrive around 11:30. The other 2 priests have been confessing since 9 a.m., and I help them, and we confess continuously until 5 p.m.!

Sunday morning we start Mass around 7:30 a.m. with the blessing of water, a sign and reminder of Baptism. Quietly people pass by, mark themselves, as a sign of asking God for forgiveness, and we enter the space of the celebration. Today's beautiful Gospel is that of the Prodigal Son. And Truly we feel the need for God's Mercy, that God who stands watching from afar, waiting, and then runs to embrace that son of His who was gone -- and has returned!

During the Mass we also do the laying of the foundation stone of the new church, the foundations of which are completed.

The construction of the school is advancing faster, and by now the walls are already 1 meter everywhere.

This week I make a discovery: coffee from Bangassou!

In recent months I had been able to see numerous small coffee plantations. Unfortunately, the war and the state of the roads have discouraged many, who no longer tend the plantations.

And I found out that there was a Coffee Producers' Cooperative right here in town. I go to visit what's left (it was vandalized and looted during the war). There are still concrete silos there: 9 silos of 90 tons each! Until a dozen years ago, the Cooperative collected coffee, stored it, and then did initial processing (hulling). By 2001 it was exporting over 300 tons of coffee to France, while the rest was sold to Sudan, Congo, and the local market. Some years they processed up to 15,000 tons of coffee.

One of my dreams is to revive this reality, which would give respite to thousands of families....

Today, Saturday, April 5, I went to Bangassou Prison: there are more than 100 inmates here, almost all awaiting trial. We also celebrate with them the Good News of God's forgiveness and Jubilee. There is a lot of participation, and a lot of attention, when I talk to them about the parable of the Prodigal Son.

People from various movements also came, bringing food for the prisoners. During the offertory procession, I see with surprise and emotion that some prisoners get up, and they also bring something. We will then leave it with the prisoners, along with lunch.