The Baoro intersection

 

 

 

The Baoro intersection

Baoro is a small town at the intersection of two roads: the one that connects Bouar (and the border with Cameroon) to the capital, Bangui, and the one that from Bozoum (theoretically, because that part of the road is impassable) leads south, to Carnot and Berberati (areas of forests, diamonds and timber).

A few days ago the Archbishop of Bangui, Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, headed for Berberati where he will visit the parishes and the communities, passed through  Baoro, bringing a strong message of faith and reconciliation.

Often as I travelled along these roads, I came to realize that there is another big problem of environmental destruction. Since the bulk of the trade passes through here, many take advantage of this to sell alloy and coal. Unfortunately, due to the large quantities being forested and mined combined with no controlling bodies regulating this, the consequences to the environment are very grave.

Perhaps this is due to the authorities, in recent weeks, have been quite busy with their electoral campaigns. The elections will take place on December 27th, if everything goes well.  These days and hours, there is a lot of tension in the air. In some cities there have been clashes between rebel and military groups. In many others it is rather the war of the "it is said": many rumors of the presence of armed men, but, fortunately, little evidence has been seen.

On Saturday, December 12th, in the afternoon, I celebrated Mass in Zoungbe, a small village 38 km from Baoro. The community is still small, and I celebrated Mass under a thatched roof.

But participation was full and intense.

Gesso artigianale
Platre artisanal

Messa a Zoungbe

Legna e carbone
Bois et charbon de bois

Il Cardinale Nzapalainga e p.Stefano

 

Going back home

 

 

Going back home

After almost 3 weeks in Baoro, I "had" to go to Bozoum for a few days and for a particular reason: the beginning of the pastoral ministry of the new parish priest, Fr Marco Poggi.

I arrived in Bozoum on December 4th, the vigil on December 1st… That is: December 1st is a National Holiday, however, for some years it has often been delayed by a few days, depending on the mood of the local authorities. So, in Bozoum as in other cities, the celebrations have been moved to Saturday, December 5th.

Because of this I was able to attend the parade of the festival, where various schools, some churches, and various commercial activities or associations participate. For both children and adults, it is an important and festive time. Also, for me it was very nice to see the joy of so many as they saw me again.

On Sunday the 6th of December instead is the day of the start of the work of the new parish priest. Fr Marco Poggi, from Costa Vescovato (Alessandria).  He is young, but he already has had some years as rector of the Seminary of the Yolé, in Bouar. It is the bishop of Bouar, Monsignor Mirek Gucwa, who presided over the Mass. After the homily, the bishop accompanied the new parish priest to the seat where he will be presiding over the Eucharist, to the Baptismal Font where he will administer baptisms, to the confessional where he will give the Forgiveness of God, to the bell tower, from where he rings to call the people to prayer, and finally he made him open the church as a sign of the responsibility entrusted to him.

Mass was very well attended, and I am happy that everything went well, without the usual problems of moving from one parish priest to another.

After Mass we had lunch together with the guests from the other communities, but also with the catechists and parish leaders, and with the poor of the city.

The following day, Monday, December 7th, Bozoum finally received a visit from the President of the Republic. It was the first time in 5 years that he has come to Bozoum. There was a lot of anticipation, also because the problems in Bozoum are many (roads financed and never completed, hospital without services, personnel and ambulance, and the problem of environmental - and moral - destruction carried out by Chinese companies with Bozoum's gold, now Bozoum-gate).

The President made a good speech, enumerating the many achievements made, and promised more attention from the Government.

In the early afternoon I go home. In Baoro.

P.Marco Poggi con il Vescovo di Bouar
Le p.Marco Poggi avec l'eveque de Bouar

Aspettando l'arrivo del Presidente
En attendant l'arrivé du Président

 

Wake Up!

 

Le cascate di Boali
Les chutes de Boali

Wake Up!

On Sunday I celebrated Mass in the village of Bawi, on the road to Bangui, 36 km from Baoro. It was the first day of Advent, the liturgical season that prepares us for Christmas. The Word of God this Sunday is all centered on this action: "Waking up!". It is a strong call, because God who comes to earth and becomes Man is not a joke. Unfortunately we are often, too often, distracted, almost asleep. It is as though our entire life we await this.

After Mass I continued on to Bangui, together with Luigina and Mario, who will be leaving us after three months of work and volunteering. Luigina works all day with the sewing machine, while Mario arranges and rearranges the various electrical and non-electrical systems. Thanks!

Along the way we stopped to visit the splendid Boali waterfalls, a wonder of nature, 90 km from the capital. This is where the country's first power plant was located.

In Bangui, while Mario and Luigina were preparing to leave, I dedicated myself to preparing the works for the new convent that we are going to build. With the community we met the company that will have to carry out the work, because we want to start soon (if possible in January or February 2021).

Here in Bangui, in our community, I found some good news: the Agricultural School is finally open, which welcomed, in this first year, the first 25 students.

Tuesday December 1st is THE national holiday par excellence. 62 years ago, in 1958, the colony became the Central African Republic (Independence came a couple of years later, on August 13, 1960). It is a very heartfelt party, with parades and various events. In less than a month, on December 27, there will be elections for the President and the Parliament, and the tension is high.

 

Bawi

Luigina e Mario

I primi studenti della Scuola di Agricoltura del Carmel - Bangui
Les premiers étudiants de l'Ecole Agricole - Carmel

Ecole dAgricole du Carmel - Bangui

Festa Nazionale
Fete nationale

 

The grace of the new beginnings

 

The grace of the new beginnings

Starting something, especially starting a new life, is a moment of Grace. This Grace is not only because of the newness, but above all for the Presence of God, who "makes all things new".

Sunday 22 November, the feast of Christ the King, I celebrated Mass in Barka Bongo, a village about 36 km from Baoro, on the road to Bangui. I went with Fr Michael, one of my confreres, and Sister Solange.

As we left, we observed Don Andrea, a priest from Belarus, who was preparing to enter the church, where he was going to celebrate Mass in Sango (a language he just recently began studying, since he only arrived here a few months ago).

In Barka Bongo we celebrated the sacrament of Confession with some of the  boys and girls baptized just a few months ago, and then we celebrated Mass with about fifty other people: it was the celebration of the same sacrifice, that of Jesus, which is repeated today in the small chapel of Barka Bongo, the same as the one in the largest of cathedrals, without any difference!

There were beautiful songs, and a beautiful moment of listening and celebration.

After Mass we left again, and we stopped in Bawi, another village, for a meeting with the teachers and parents of the students. The beginning of this school year was very slow: many did not send their children to school because they preferred to wait for the next elections (December 27), others were afraid of the hypothetical rebel groups. In many of our schools, the number of children enrolled is still very low compared to last year.

The meeting allowed us to share our concerns, but also to encourage and urge the parents not to let their children miss an opportunity such as school.

Speaking of school, just today the results of the second round of the baccalaureate exam were announced: all the students of our St. Augustin High School have been promoted. So between the first and second round, for the first time ever, we reached 100% of our students passing!

During the week I dedicated myself to the Mechanical School, I made 2 visits to schools in the villages, I dealt with countless small and large jobs, and I finished arranging the books in the new room.

Don Andrea
Abbé André

P.Michael et sr Solange à Barka Bongo