after Bozoum, news from Bangassou: Parishes and coffee

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Parishes and coffee

Parishes and coffee

30 October 2025

On Sunday, I celebrated Mass in the Cathedral, and on Monday I left for the south to visit the parishes of Ouango and Bema, 75 and 110 km from Bangassou.

I left with Daniela, the volunteer midwife at our hospital, and Father Martin Modoue, a priest from Bangassou who had just returned to the diocese after spending a few years as a fidei donum (missionary) priest in the diocese of Rennes, France.

We left at 2.30 pm because the road was quite good. But... 20 km from Ouango, the road was blocked by a large tree that had fallen across it. It was impossible to pass! Shortly afterwards, a young boy arrived... a bit skinny, and with a small axe. Fortunately, he went back to the nearby village, and eight other young people arrived. They set to work and in half an hour they cut the tree and cleared the way!

We arrive at around 5.30 pm in Ouango, a parish along the river, with a beautiful church dating back to the 1940s. Here we are welcomed by the parish priest and a young seminarian. We spend the night in Ouango.

On Tuesday morning, I celebrate Mass in the beautiful little church, and then we visit the Mission's middle school. Although resources are scarce, at least the boys and girls can find an educational space here. Unfortunately, many schools are still closed, and many will not open until after the elections (at the end of December).

Around 9 o'clock we leave for Bema, another parish. Along the way there are many small, well-tended coffee plantations. Here coffee is grown in the forest: the larger trees remain to shade the coffee plants. At this time of year there are berries at various stages of ripeness, and also many flowers.

It is encouraging, and I continue to hope for the revival of this production, which could give hope (and bread) to so many people.

There are two priests in Bema. Here too there is a primary school, a middle school and even a high school. We visit all the classes, and while we are having lunch we see a small stream of children, lined up behind their teachers, walking down towards the village.

In the afternoon we set off again for Bangassou, where we arrive in three and a half hours, without any unexpected incidents!