Men of Faith

Sunday 12th of May the pope proclaimed saints the 800 martyrs from  Otranto. A beautiful story. Otranto is a very historical city where Christianity blossomed both in Art and culture (there was a school for those who wanted to learn Greek and Latin, they could also live there…for free) in 1480, Turks, after conquering Constantinople tried to attack Italy to get to Rome. Fleet got to Otranto under siege. Turks sent a message, if the city surrenders, all citizen won’t be killed. The chief of the city decided to resist against 18000 soldiers…..

Unfortunately after  15 days, had to surrender. Turks offered life to those who repudiate Christ. Antonio Primaldo, a dressmaker, said “Brothers until now we fought to defend our country and to survive and for our earthly lords. It is now time to fight to save our souls” so the city choose death just not deny their religion…. The next day 800 men were beheaded.

A good story, from other times. It’s unfortunately still very actual in too many countries across the globe. And in Africa too: Nigeria, Kenya….

John Paul II, talking about them said “martyrs left us two fundamental legacies: love for the country and authenticity of faith. A Christian loves his country and love for the country is a Christian virtue,

Today I thought about this during the Pentecost, talking about the Holy Ghost. It was the Holy ghost that made those people strong, years ago, and still does, for each one of us.

During these weeks in the parish we experienced Grace several times: Sunday the 5^th of May here in Bozoum we celebrated the Confirmations, and today people whom are preparing for baptism celebrated one of the Catechumen steps.

May the Lord open our hearts to the action of the holy ghost to become always better men, better women

 
 

2013, May

 

Here we are in May, the best month (it’s when I was born..!)

We’re almost reaching the end of schooling month, only here though, in the rest of the village and in the country everything remained shut down due to unsafety and shooting….

They keep happening here too…On Friday “commissioned”rebels arrived from Bangui to disarm the local rebels…but they went on hiding. On Saturday once the senior rebels left, they kept on shooting all day to celebrate a wedding….it would have been better to use rice instead, tomorrow I’ll go there and suggest that!

On Sunday evening the abbè Mirek called from Bouar. There’s a young guy who was kidnapped from rebels in Bocaranga, asking for a ransom of 250.000 F CFA (375 €)  it was paid but they didn’t release the young guy. So on Monday afternoon I went to visit the chief. He’s a colonel (all rebels are colonels or generals here….)They’re having lunch, there’s about 12 of them. I present them with the situation. One of them sais the young guy is kept prisoner at his dad’s place, whom is the mayor of a village. The chief said they let him go this morning…but I’m not convinced. (afterwards they confirmed he was set free)

Anyways I bring to their attention the second issue….they placed a check bar in front of the secondary school. This barrier has been designed as toll bar to stop cars and motorbikes…and I explain that until the barrier is there the school cannot be reopened. They discuss amongst themselves.  “Why do you need a barrier?”  – I ask.  “Because we must check all vehicles are in line with traffic laws!”  I replied “but all your cars don’t even have a plate!”  they answered “well, but WE are rebels!” I said “As a matter of fact now there’s a government, there is no more rebellion”  reply “no, we are still at war and this is a province of….Chad” I said “so are you here to ensure safety or to cause more troubles?” I also noticed that there was a prisoner in the other room: “Is he the young guy you are to set free?”  “no” they replied, “this is a thug” “as yourselves?” I asked. They laughed.

We’ll see.

More news : Father Nicola left us. He was a missionnaire in CAR since 1971, a great person, missionnaire and from Piemonte ! he’s 90 and now it’s time to move towards safest places….
 



 

From comedy to tragedy

Comedy part I

Last week rebels arrived 15km far from here to steal a car that our mechanic was repairing for a priest in Paoua (125km) – he had hid it but they eventually found it….so I have the archbishop certifying that the car is property of the diocese, I give it to the Chad’s Consul… (why? Because almost all rebels are Chadians, he’s the only authority figure they recognize..) So while we wait for the rebel’s chief to arrive we have a chat….the Consul says in CAR there are too many weapons: 

Me: “I agree.”

Him: “Too many locally made weapons”

Me: “yes”

Him: “it’s the authorities that are placing the orders”

Me: “well, yes, however there are many that are imported through borders…Moreover (also because during the night loads of cars were stolen in Bangui, now heading to Chad) too many things can come and go that  shouldn’t come nor go…

Him: “of course, but in CAR there are too many locally made weapons”

Me: “but…ermm…”

Him: “even Kalashnikov are locally made in CAR?”

Me: “well, no…but…ermm…”

Him: “I see plenty of rockets carried by the rebels’ cars…even those are locally made?”

Me: “well, no…but…ermm…”

In the meantime the chief arrived. He doesn’t speak French he cannot read. He’s young, elegant, carries a couple of mobile phones. Pretends to read the paper i give him… up-side-down….and the consul reads its contents. Then translates in Arabic.

The chief says he’ll return the car….IF we refund the expenses. ( i wonder which expenses…they stole the petrol too!)

I take this opportunity if it’s possible to re-open schools (ours are already open, yet not the others) He says of course, no problem. So I add they won’t go rob the schools nor looking for the teachers….he of course, ensure they shan’t do that. They won’t bother anyone….

Tragedy part I

And of course, the very same day, the rebels went to Manga, a village 30km far, where we hid the other car and stole it. Took off to Chad and I’m afraid  we’ll never see it ever again. (if anyone sees a Landcruiser Toyota DA0002NM it’s ours)

Comedy, part II

On Friday i went to Bouar to visit with the fathers and the nuns and to attend  a meeting with Justice and Peace commission. They told me that the previous day the Prefect and the local rebel chief met the missionaries and the laics to reassure them. They really didn’t do a good job because they still shoot and loot and steal (especially cars)….they even arrived on the car stolen to a local priest few days ago! The prefect too goes around in a stolen car……

Tragedy, part II
on my way back from Bouar i stopped in Bossemptele where Camillian monks and Carmelitans nuns from Turin manage a hospital. Yesterday a 13 years old died. He had a surgery in Yaloke, but rebels arrived at the hospital and all personnel fled. Without assistance nor medical care he got tetanus infection and after a terrible suffering he eventually died few days after.

Yesterday Sister Elvira from Berberati told me a kid just died. His family left after the shooting as they left with the other 5 siblings in the forest. Unfortunately on their way back he had a bad malaria case and he died. He just was adopted by another family because his natural parents had abandoned him….

Happy Ending Part O

In Bouar I met people members of the Justice and Peace committee of two parishes. All from CAR, I was really impressed by their courage and their analytical skills.

Courage: one of them during the meeting with the Prefect said we all are hostages. The prefect got angry. But indeed it is true! And the prefect is hostage too.

Analysis: some said: we need to be careful. They invite us to meetings, try to convince us all is fine so we can tell people that. And that is a deceit! 

It rains...

There’s a way of saying in Italy ‘’It rains! What a rip-off government’’…but we should at least have one here in CAR

Theoretically there is one, but in reality anything goes yet. After the coup d’état, The self-made president and the prime minister put together a new government, with ministers and stuff…however the real situation across the country, after a month, still is chaotic and tragic. Looting, shooting and violence keep happening all over as it happens in the capital as well.

Friday at 11.40 pm the phone rang. Father Marco told me rebels came back to Yole seminar, where they have 80 kids. Once more they experienced terror, shootings, plundering and menace….thankfully nobody was hurt or worse, killed.

Here in Bozoum they killed a teacher this week. Rebels went to a village looking for a car that had been hidden by a merchant. They came, took him, tied and beaten him up to get information about the car. Finally they shot him. That same day they were up and down the main road with that very car.

There is no justification for all this. Only cruelty and incompetence of people in charge, without taking any responsibility for it

As Gandhi said: ’The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.’’

Few weeks after….

It has been weeks since the coup d’etat…but we’re still in chaos!

Last Saturday a transition counsel (that should be representing the whole country) chose by acclamation the only one candidate, whom is the self-claimed President….

In the meantime, killing and looting continue, especially on Saturday and Sunday, rebels got in few areas to disarm people, or at least this is what they said they were doing. Truth to be told, they stole every single thing they found worth something. There has been few reaction and rebel shot. The outcome is 20 killed during weekend. Few children too, that were in a church that was struck by mortar.

And this even in the rest of the country, capuchin father had to leave Gofo mission. And in the other villages, more or less they all suffer damages, fear caused by these rebels. We do not understand what their intentions are… They’re destroying everything. Politics, economy, administration…..

Politicians here are sadly standing out for their incompetence and opportunism….

The only strong and brave voice is the Bangui’s Archbishop. In the homily, last Sunday and in the Vatican radio interview he had no fear telling the truth about what’s going on and that he sees every day amongst his people.

He said: “last Tuesday the whole neighborhood emptied. Terrible fear, as id they wanted to burn everything down. Me myself helped some kids across the street and they were frightened, scene of psychosis, of...

I wonder how it’s possible to let children get traumatized. They are the smallest, they represent the present and the future of this country. These are questions that our new masters will have to answer for. It is time to set up a trusting clima. It is time to reassure people. This is what we expect of them. As of now the Seleka rebels have all the power and no one can stop them. It is time that they build rules and set grounds, with boundaries and no weapons, so that people can live their life and take care of their own things’’

We’re trying to manage and keep going. The building site for the students is still open (see pics below)

On Wednesday i visited Bouar (250km far from here) to gather with the brothers and the community over there. We also met the members of Justice and Peace, with whom we recapped a bit the situation and thought about what to do next. Both in the immediate time (reporting every kind of violence and tyranny) and in the future, to help people, Christians and young to build a future and to set grounds for a deep cultural change….

Today, Sunday, I left at 6.30 and walked to the chapel of  St. Jean for the Mass as we only got the one car, we hid the others, as we’re afraid the rebels would steal them….in the afternoon we held a meeting with Caritas, and Justice and peace, we’re trying to see what’s we can do and if schools can be reopened again…

We keep on going, slowly, in fear, but also with trust. Both because Jesus  told us he won’t leave us with whom wants to hurt us but also for the prayers and the support of so many people. thanks

War and peace….

Same as the last few months,  this week has been alternating with moments of joy and unfortunately many moments of sorrow and sadness…

Whereas in the rest of the country the situation is sadly very tense, here in Bozoum we live relatively calmly. Why? Probably it’s due to people’s will power, along with the presence of the Chad’s Consul…rebels visit him every time they pass through this area.

On Monday week we’re going to resume building the new student house…fingers crossed!

Last Wednesday at 5 we hit the road, myself, Joseph (the mechanic) and Christin (the mutual saving bank’s manager) off to: NDIM, a village 160km north side, bad roads, worse bridges.

About 8 we got to Bocaranga in a small Capuchin parish and a Caritas Sisters home. In this village the rebels plundered an American ONG called IRC that took care of education, wells building and healthcare….

On the way out of Bocaranga we met a car full of rebels…assault rifle, cartridge belts, sunglasses….rather unsettling….but we carried out as if nothing happened….

About 9 we got in NDIM. There’s a Capuchin community and another of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. They’re doing ok, however everyone is very much worried and tense…living for months in this conditions is really really hard.

They also re-opened schools and same as us, they try to give to Bocaranga kids the impression of normality.

We visited the mutual saving bank, that last week was attacked and plundered by the rebels.

They wrecked the grid and broke in and entered, took everything they could laid an hand, tore off all furniture and tried to break in the safe.

They didn’t make it, however they did great harm. Almost 2000 euro value (cash, 3 solar panel batteries, calculators, chairs, finance registers and books) and what is worse is that they seriously put in danger this whole activity…

After lunch we came back, we brought few students that were there visiting their families. Most especially Pierre was there, he’s 14 had sever speech and psychological traumas (couldn’t speak and had strange behavior), thank God he’s all improved and he came back home!

Thursday afternoon we held the teachers meeting for the second quarter, yesterday morning we handed out the report cards…

Friday afternoon I organized a training for the young, on the problems we’re living, trying to help them understand and think.

Yesterday we received bad news: rebels attacked the Bangui seminar and the Yole one in the evening, thanks to the archbishop’s help they managed to avoid the worst. They eventually left after they broke some car windows…

In Yole situation is worrying. At 8 pm 2 armed rebels and a guy from Bouar arrived there, took a young nurse as hostage and demanded to enter the place. They demanded money shot few times. In the meantime some monks warned Bouar on the local radio Siriri.

Some friends went looking for the rebels chief and brought him and few others there. The latter ones thought rebels were still inside and started to shoot (but they already left).

In the end we left with a a lot of fear and thankfully no one got injured or worse! Problem is that in Yole there are 80 kids and now the monks (father Enrico, father Maurice and father Marco) have a dilemma, to keep the kids there or not….

This, after three weeks of coup d’etat is a clear sign that the new rulers have no clue how to run this country….

Why do we stay?

Easter Sunday mt cousin called me and told me (strictly Piemonte dialect, neh!) ) “Fate nen masè, pitost ven via” (don’t get killed, just get away from there)

I told him everything was ok, even if it wasn’t…

When a country is in a situation as Central Africa is, anything goes…rebels conquered one village after the next one and all around they plundered and destroyed

When there’s turmoil, first to run away are civil authorities and military…same ones that until yesterday were bullying the weakest now are small and invisible….

Gone are the doctors, the nurses, the teacher… Soon the village was left undefended.

There’s an unreal silence, everyone prepares for the worse….every noise is a suspicion…a motor engine scares you, a barking dog…who could that be? Rumors spreading….rebels are there, here, out and about, did this and that. They look for Father Aurelio, they want the car….

Then shotguns begin, heart beats uncontrollably, stomachache,…it’s like if the body let the fear get it, while the mind tries to reason…even if it’s not always possible.

And when things get worse, when you realize you’re one of the few ‘known characters’ left….you ask yourself why…

Because people need a Father, a Mother, a Sister. Even if you don’t do much, just being there gives hope and helps. It’s like being there for a sick friend or a sleeping child. They know you’re there. And your presence there is the sign of Another Presence….

Because you know if you leave, all you worked for, all those years could be destroyed: hospitals, schools, agricultural co-ops, mutual aid bank. And you fear there won’t be any strength nor means to start all over from the beginning….you don’t care much if it was you doing it, but in this there are years of work with people, education and training you saw slowly growing risk to be totally halted.

Because you know He is always at your side, even when the boat seems to drown

Because every now and then there’s a man or a woman saying thank you for staying! Or a child, that could make it to school, despite everything he looks at you and smiles…

Therefore, in spite of your fear and stomachache, sleepless nights, you understand you’re doing something good and important: your giving Jesus hand to those who need it most!

Bravery? A little, however it’s full of fear. Also of the Presence of Someone who never leaves us!

These are photos of the Savings Bank that we opened in Ndim (160 km from Bozoum) a year ago. Today was attacked by the rebels ... Thank God, and the intervention of a Capuchin friar who speaks Arabic, have been blocked before forcing the safe (which was empty anyway .....)

Here instead is Bozoum, on Easter Sunday ...
and ... yesterday we reopened the schools .... in spite of the rebels! This is also the resurrection!