In prayer and meeting with the priests and parish delegates of the diocese!

 

In prayer and meeting with the priests and parish delegates of the diocese!

July 14, 2026

On Wednesday, July 8, I managed to leave Zemio and return to Bangassou.

In theory, we should have begun the diocesan spiritual exercises on Monday, July 6. But it's the rainy season, and both the Preacher and I were stranded—he in Bangui, I in Zemio—because many flights have been canceled.

At 4:30 PM on Wednesday, we gathered in the seminary with the priests and some nuns of the diocese to begin the Spiritual Exercises: a few days of silence and prayer, listening to the Word of God.

I opened the exercises with a reflection on the recent events that have shaken the diocese: the tragedy of the killing of Father Crépin, the mourning, but also the faith and consolation with which the Lord has accompanied us. And the fraternity among the priests.

During these days, we are guided by the Gospel of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman.

We conclude the Exercises on Sunday evening with a beautiful Eucharistic celebration. At the end, we read the decrees of the various appointments and transfers.

On Monday, July 13th, we begin the Pastoral Meeting.

About seventy people have arrived from (almost) every parish in the diocese.

During the first three days, we share reports from the parishes and various commissions and work on the theme of the pastoral year, which will be:

From Thursday to Saturday, Fr. Marcello, who has come from Baoro, will assist parish priests and catechists with training on preparing couples for marriage.

And on Friday, the Nuncio, his secretary, and three other bishops (from Bouar, Bambari, and Mbaiki) are expected to arrive to celebrate together, on Sunday, July 19th, the beginning of my official episcopal ministry here in Bangassou.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalm 126)

Messa di chiusura degli esercizi spirituali
Messe de cloture de la retraite spirituelle
Misa de clausura de los Ejercicios Espirituales

Lavori in corso
Travaux...
Obras en curso