Between Central Africa and Cameroon

  

Alindao

Between Central Africa and Cameroon

 

I am writing from Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, where yesterday I consecrated two priests and two Carmelite deacons.

Last Sunday, 22 June, we concluded the Assembly of the Central African Bishops' Conference with the celebration of a solemn Mass, and at the end we read the bishops' message. We wanted to highlight the elements of hope, as seeds that can help the country to grow and live in peace.

In the evening, the seminarians from the diocese of Bangassou who are studying in Bangui arrive from Bambari. They had not come on holiday to the diocese for years, and this year I wanted to pick up and have half of them come to Bangassou. Some have not seen their family and village for more than 6 years!

On Monday morning, we set off at 5 a.m. from Alindao. The road is decent, and in four hours we arrive in Bambari, 120 km away. Even the last 10 km have been repaired: unfortunately that is all that has been done in a year, on a construction site solemnly inaugurated by the president (of the 160 km planned, only 10 have been repaired).

We continue on to Grimari, where the Combonian missionaries welcome us and after a quick bite to eat, we continue on to Sibut. From here on, the last 120 km are paved.

We arrive in Bangui at 9pm: 16 hours for 520 km!

On Wednesday morning, the country is shaken by a tragedy: an electrical transformer exploded in the city's largest high school, the Boganda High School. Here there were more than 5,000 students taking their baccalaureate exams. In the panic and stampede, at least 29 young people died, and there are hundreds of injured!

The country is hurt by this tragedy, due to incompetence and lack of minimum prevention...

Thursday morning I leave by plane for Douala, Cameroun. Here I find the Carmelite brethren who have come to pick me up, and take me to Yaounde.

In Cameroon we have two Carmelite communities, and three cloistered monasteries. I was invited for the priestly ordination of two young Cameroonian Carmelites, and two deacons (Central African, one of whom, Br Aristide, was born and raised in Bangassou!).

Friday I dedicate the morning to the Carmelite nuns, while Saturday is devoted to the ordination ceremony and the various celebrations.

Bambari