Lanome and More
September 15, 2026
In July, the director of the Maman Tongolo orphanage left for Bangui with a group of orphans. By car! And it took them 5 days (for 750 km) because of the terrible condition of the roads.
For the children, it was a wonderful adventure, made even more memorable during their stay in Bangui by various visits and encounters.
But the return trip was even more incredible: MINUSCA (the UN Mission) managed to get them on a plane and bring them back to Bangassou.
And on Monday, August 7, I was at the Bangassou airport, and seeing them get off the plane was a sight to behold!
Tuesday, September 8, is the big day for the dedication of the new church in Lanome, 35 km away.
Construction began in July of last year, and it took almost a year to finish: partly because of the necessary funding, and partly to give the local community time to organize and make the bricks.
But little by little, we finished it!
It was largely funded by the Pontifical Mission Societies (with money collected worldwide during Mission Sunday in October), and partly by other benefactors.
On Monday afternoon, I went to do the final touches, and the whole village—including Protestants and Muslims—was at the Mission, where a group of young people from neighboring Congo put on a wonderful concert.
By Tuesday morning, the church… was already too small.
We began with the site foreman, Dieu Béni, who handed me the keys, visibly moved and very proud of this fine work. And I handed the keys to Father Martin, the parish priest, who officially opened the door.
The dedication of a church is a very beautiful ritual: there is the blessing of the people and the walls, inside and out, the litanies of the saints, and the consecration with oil of the altar and the walls.
It is a moving moment, crowning a long period of work, and bringing joy and pride to this small community.
That joy and pride burst forth after Communion with a long (one-hour!) procession of gifts and offerings—including chickens and goats!
On Friday, I’m going to Ouango, where there are nearly 700 young men and women from the Aita Kwe movement. I’ll share some reflections with them on the theme of the pastoral year, which is vocation.
On Sunday, another celebration: here in Bangassou, the Cathedral parish welcomes its new pastor, Father Amos.
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| La consegna delle chiavi al parroco La remise des clèfs au Curé La entrega de las llaves al sacerdote |
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| L'offertorio L'offertoire El ofertorio |
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| Ouango |
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| Il nuovo parroco, abbé Amos Le nouveau curé, Abbé Amos El nuevo sacerdote; el padre Amos |
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