From a Church that prays, proclaims the Gospel and does, new priests are born

 

 

La preghiera durante la Messa delle ordinazioni
La prière pendant la Messe des Ordinations
Oración durante la Misa de Ordenación

 

From a Church that prays, proclaims the Gospel and does, new priests are born

 

The last two weeks have been weeks of meetings, prayer and sharing for the Church in Bangassou. All the priests of the diocese have gathered here, at the Cathedral, together with catechists and delegates from the parishes.

After the Spiritual Exercises last week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11, 12 and 13 August, we shared information on the parishes and realities of the diocese, and then set to work on the next pastoral year, which will see us focus on the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-12). Just as Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast, so we want to put ourselves at the service of the families and men and women of the diocese, to discover the beauty of the gift of the sacrament of marriage

On Wednesday afternoon, just before concluding these days of work, we welcome the older seminarians of the diocese, those who during the year study in the seminaries of Bangui, 750 km away.

Friday is the big day of the Assumption. But for the diocese of Bangassou, there is an extra gift: today I ordain Patient Betoloum a priest, and Guy Medard Mbondo a deacon.

With 24 priests present, it is a beautiful concelebration. The cathedral is full, and we experience this miracle with joy and in prayer: two young men put themselves at the service of God and humanity!

I seminaristi più grandi
Les grand-séminaristes
Los seminaristas más grandes

L'inizio della Mesa del 15 agosto
Le commencement de la Messe du 15 aout
El inicio de la misa del 15 de agosto

 

Festa con la famiglia del diacono
Fete avec la famille du diacre
Fiesta con la familia del diácono

Meetings in the diocese.2, or: priests need to pray too!

 

Mgr Pierre D'Ornellas Arceéveque de Rennes
Monsenor Pierre D'Ornellas, Obispo de Rennes (Francia)

Meetings in the diocese.2, or: priests need to pray too!

 

On Monday 4 August, the rains gave a brief respite, allowing Mgr Aguirre and Mgr Pierre D'Ornellas, Archbishop of Rennes (France), to fly in from Bangui.

In the afternoon, we begin the spiritual exercises... It's not a kind of gymnastics or training! Or rather, it is!  It is a week of prayer and reflection, which we live together with all the priests of the diocese and a few nuns.

We live it in silence, letting ourselves be accompanied by the Bishop of Rennes, who helps us to discover and rediscover the Mercy of God, through the Gospel of Matthew.

It is a precious time to "recharge our batteries", and to listen to God.

The days are punctuated by prayer, catechesis, and the celebration of Mass.

On Friday afternoon we move to Maliko, where there is the chapel inaugurated on 25 March, dedicated to Our Lady of Hope.

Here we celebrate confessions: a beautiful sacrament, where God's mercy shines through.

Once confessions are over, we set off on foot for a short pilgrimage to the cathedral.

But we make three stops along the short walk, visiting other cathedrals in the diocese: the cathedral of the sick (the Bangonde hospital), the cathedral of the elderly (the Hope House, which shelters elderly people and victims of witchcraft accusations) and the cathedral of the children (the Maman Tongolo centre for orphaned children).

A moment of prayer and a blessing for all those who are in need, and who find mercy and healing in the bosom of the Church.

Arriving at the Cathedral, we enter through the Jubilee door, and go to the Crucifix, which we venerate by touching it.

Today, Sunday, we concluded with Mass, during which the nominations and transfers of priests for the new pastoral year were read out.

Casa Speranza
Maison Espoir
Casa Esperanza, con los ancianos

Il vescovo con Leone XIV !
L'eveque avec... Léon XIV !
El obispo con Leon XIV !

 

 

 

 

Meetings in the diocese

Passiflora
Fleur de la Passion
Passiflora - Flor de la pasión

 Meetings in the diocese

With the rainy season and schools closed for the holidays, the rhythms in the parishes are a little calmer.

So the diocese organises annual training and prayer times for all priests.

Since the middle of last week, priests from the various parishes have started to arrive here in Bangassou. For some it is a few dozen kilometres, for others it is 150. The most distant (Zemio, 300 km, and Obo, 500 km) will arrive in a few days, because the roads are unsafe and difficult.

On Friday and Saturday we start with two days of training on family pastoral work. Fr Francis Siki, a priest from Bangui, originally from Bangassou, helps and guides us. Together with the priests (25) there are some couples who have come from the nearest parishes.

Together we begin to prepare a pastoral plan for the whole diocese.

Sunday is a day of rest. I go to celebrate in the Maliko chapel, here in town, while the other priests go to other churches.

On Monday morning, Mgr Aguirre arrives from Bangui, together with the Archbishop of Rennes (France), Mgr Pierre D'Ornellas. It is he who will lead us this week in the spiritual exercises: a time of silence, prayer and reflection.

For years, the Rennes diocese has welcomed a number of priests from Bangassou, who help in various parishes: the Church of the Central African Republic, born of missionaries, becomes Missionary!

Monday afternoon, 4 August, we start the Exercises: and I ask for a prayer for all of us!

 

In the photo, the preparation of caterpillars (makongo): in this season, there are millions of caterpillars, of a very specific species, which are very appreciated, because they are rich in protein!

 

 

Preparazione dei bruchi... per la cena!
Préparation des chenilles... pour le diner!

Preparando las orugas...¡para la cena!

 

Maliko