Pilgrims
December 8, 2025
I'm discovering something new, once again. In Bangassou, in addition to coffee, cocoa has also been produced for a few years! As with coffee, we're seeing the possibility of reviving this crop, giving many families a chance at survival outside of what they normally do!
Taking advantage of a somewhat calm day, I travelled to Gambo, a parish on the road to the capital, Bangui. The road was very bad, but due to the decrease in rainfall this allowed for my passage, albeit with some difficulty.
In Gambo, I brought the carpenters and parts for assembling the school desks, which various friends from Rome, Acqui, and other areas have helped build.
This season marked the beginning of Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. On Friday, November 28th, we gathered for an afternoon of meditation and prayer with the priests and nuns of the city.
The beginning of December is also marked by the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. We had a beautiful diocesan pilgrimage, which we had been preparing for during the past several weeks, in the parish of Niakari.
December 8, 2025
I'm discovering something new, once again. In Bangassou, in addition to coffee, cocoa has also been produced for a few years! As with coffee, we're seeing the possibility of reviving this crop, giving many families a chance at survival outside of what they normally do!
Taking advantage of a somewhat calm day, I travelled to Gambo, a parish on the road to the capital, Bangui. The road was very bad, but due to the decrease in rainfall this allowed for my passage, albeit with some difficulty.
In Gambo, I brought the carpenters and parts for assembling the school desks, which various friends from Rome, Acqui, and other areas have helped build.
This season marked the beginning of Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. On Friday, November 28th, we gathered for an afternoon of meditation and prayer with the priests and nuns of the city.
The beginning of December is also marked by the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. We had a beautiful diocesan pilgrimage, which we had been preparing for during the past several weeks, in the parish of Niakari.
We arrived here after about three hours, sweaty and exhausted, but happy!
Slowly, all the pilgrims are also arriving, and by the end, we will be almost a thousand!
During these days, there are catechesis, moments of prayer, and meetings by age group, to reflect on the role of Mary, which we understand through her presence at the wedding at Cana. Cana is the theme of the pastoral year: here, Jesus performs his first miracle, precisely at a wedding feast. In the pastoral letter we wrote for this Advent, we wanted to discover how everything, touched by God, is transformed into good wine.
In theory, we are in the dry season... but the night between December 7th and 8th brought a nice storm, which was wonderfully refreshing!
Today, December 8th, we celebrated a beautiful Mass at 7:30.
Then, the blessing of the pilgrims' staffs, with which I set off again around 11am. It was terribly hot, but before 2pm I arrived home, in Bangassou.
Slowly, all the pilgrims are also arriving, and by the end, we will be almost a thousand!
During these days, there are catechesis, moments of prayer, and meetings by age group, to reflect on the role of Mary, which we understand through her presence at the wedding at Cana. Cana is the theme of the pastoral year: here, Jesus performs his first miracle, precisely at a wedding feast. In the pastoral letter we wrote for this Advent, we wanted to discover how everything, touched by God, is transformed into good wine.
In theory, we are in the dry season... but the night between December 7th and 8th brought a nice storm, which was wonderfully refreshing!
Today, December 8th, we celebrated a beautiful Mass at 7:30.
Then, the blessing of the pilgrims' staffs, with which I set off again around 11am. It was terribly hot, but before 2pm I arrived home, in Bangassou.
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| Cacao di Bangassou |
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| La strada verso Bangui La route pour Bangui El camino a Bangui |
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| Partenza per Niakari Depart pour Niakari Salida hacia Niakari |
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| Il lavoro per gruppi Le travail en carrefour Trabajo en grupo |
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| I bambini del Centro Orfani Les enfants du Centre des Orphelins Los niños del Centro de Huérfanos |
