Confirmations.3

 

Bakouma

 Confirmations.3

18 May 2026

The season of Confirmations continues!

Having returned to Bangassou on Monday, I am at the Seminary on Thursday. Here we are celebrating the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus today.

Ten seminarians are receiving Confirmation: they are the youngest, but full of enthusiasm!

On Friday 15 May, I set off for Bakouma, a parish 140 km from Bangassou. It is an area rich in uranium, which has attracted the interest of many for decades, even though there is no actual mining taking place.

Here I am welcomed by the two parish priests, and by the boys and girls preparing for Confirmation.

I spend Saturday teaching catechism and preparing, and on Sunday morning we celebrate Mass with the Confirmations.

They have come here from the nearest villages. Or almost: two adults have come from a village 48 km away… and they walked all the way!

Early in the afternoon we set off for Nzacko, a parish that has been closed since 2017, when Seleka rebels destroyed everything, razing the church and the rectory to the ground.

The road is in terrible condition, and the 55-kilometre journey takes nearly three hours by car.

But arriving in Nzacko is a real celebration!

No sooner have we unloaded the car than I’m in the church with the confirmands for a brief catechesis.

A quick shower, a bite to eat, but the mosquitoes keep us company, so we go to bed early!

And today, Monday 18 May, we are celebrating Confirmations here in Nzacko too!

At the end of Mass, I go out with the confirmands, and we head over to the ruins of the church, which was razed to the ground in 2017. And here we pray, especially for the parish community, that they may have the strength to rebuild and continue to spread the ‘fragrance of Christ’.

And it is time to set off again for Bakouma, which we reach in the rain.

And tomorrow, Tuesday, we’ll be on the road to Bangassou.

 

Il Seminario
Le Séminaire

 

 

 

Bakouma

 

 

 

Nzacko

 

 

 

 

 

Confirmations.2

  

 

 

Confirmations.2

May 11, 2026

I just returned to Bangassou, after almost two weeks in Rafai and Zemio.

On Monday, May 4th, I left for Zemio. In the month since my last trip, there hasn't been much rain, and the road was passable: we left at 7:00 a.m. and arrived in Zemio (150 km away) around 2:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the confirmands, who live as refugees in neighboring Congo, arrived. It took the whole morning of discussions, letters, and so on before they could cross the river and reach Central Africa.

On Thursday, we celebrated Confirmations. The city was a little calmer, but tensions still remained high: I came across a small group of armed rebels along the road, and I stopped to talk to them, and listened, and invited them to peace!

On Friday morning, I left for Rafai. It rained heavily, and the road had worsened. On the other hand, we had the joy of seeing many animals, especially several groups of monkeys.

Saturday morning, we crossed the Rafai River to celebrate Confirmations in the village of Agoumar, and in the afternoon we prepared for Sunday's celebration: the diaconate of a young Franciscan from this community.

Other priests from Bangassou also came for the occasion, and we shared this moment of grace.

Monday morning, in the rain, we departed Rafai for Selim, about thirty kilometers away. Here too, we celebrated Confirmations for about fifty young men and women: the gift of the Holy Spirit is a joy, and the hope that it will bear much fruit.

I left Selim at 1:00 PM, and in the evening I arrived in Bangassou. Finally!

Zemio

Agoumar

 

Selim

Confirmations

 

 

 Confirmations

May 3, 2026

I am writing from Rafai, where we celebrated Confirmations. Thus, the beginning of this special period, dedicated to parish visits, catechesis, and the celebration of this Sacrament, which seals the adult life of every Christian, thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Work on the various construction sites is progressing well, both at Lanome (the church) and Gambo (the rectory).

Wednesday morning, in Bangassou, the College of Consultors met. These seven priests from the diocese assist the Bishop in making the most important decisions. We discussed the calendar, programs, changes, and the appointment of parish priests for the coming months.

Thursday morning, I departed Bangassou for Rafai, arriving early in the afternoon.

Fr. Jerome, a Franciscan, also arrived with me. He is now returning after several months in Poland, where he was battling cancer.

He's happy to return, to be reunited with his brothers and, above all, with the people! He tells me, "I've realized that the most important thing about the Mission isn't the houses, the churches, or the facilities. The most important thing is the people!"

Fridays and Saturdays are dedicated to catechism and the formation of the boys and girls who will receive Confirmation. The candidates are bright and well-trained by the catechist, Apollinaire, and they follow with interest and attention.

Last year, with the help of the Bangassou Foundation, we had 11,000 Gospels printed in Sango. They hadn't been available for years, and this allows Christians to have the Word of God in their hands. It's wonderful!

Today, Sunday, May 3rd, we celebrated Confirmations in Rafai: about seventy of them, including children, young people, and a few adults.

Tomorrow, Monday, I continue to Zemio, where I will administer Confirmations on Thursday.

Thus begins the Confirmation season!

 

Lanome

Gambo

I vangeli in Sango
Les évangiles en Sango
Los Evangelios en Sango

p.Jerome OFM