The cry of 6,400 people, actually of 14,000. Rather…

 

The cry of 6,400 people, actually of 14,000. Rather…

Last Friday I went to Bouar.

60km with no cars or trucks on the road. Upon arriving in Bouar, I found a few soldiers near their camp (and I hoped they were regular soldiers, because they were dressed and armed in the most diverse ways). I passed into the city center (where all the shops were closed) and arrived at the Cathedral. Here there were about 3,000 people who fled their homes (because the rebels were scattered throughout the various neighborhoods).

Rebel militias faced the army, and as always, it was the poor people who lost out! In Africa it has been said that when 2 elephants fight, it is the grass that gets crushed.

Many people left their homes and reached various churches and convents: the Cathedral, the parish of Fatima, the Capuchin convent of St. Laurent and that of the Carmelites of St. Elie.

The issue is serious, also because on Sunday January 17th there were other fights, and the number of refugees doubled, from 6,400 to more than 14,000 people!

Some UN bodies and agencies have been working hard, but the situation has been very difficult: we need to think about water, hygiene, sanitation, food, weather, and the wave of children who make up most of the refugees.

Being Caritas, we organize ourselves to do what we can. Many friends are working hard to support us, organizations (more sisters than friends now!) are helping us: Caritas Germany, Caritas Internationalis, Siriri.org. Here is the first intervention program:

Area	Product	Unit	Quantity	Unit Price	Total	Euros
Food	Rice	kg	6000	420	2.520.000	€ 3.847
Food	Oil	litres	40	25.000	1.000.000	€ 1.527
Food	Boullion	bags	500	1.000	500.000	€ 763
Food	Coffee	bags	4000	200	800.000	€ 1.221
Food	Sugar	kg	2000	1.000	2.000.000	€ 3.053
Hygiene	Bleach	litres	100	1.000	100.000	€ 153
Hygiene	Gloves	boxes	20	4.500	90.000	€ 137
Health	Masks	boxes	20	8.000	160.000	€ 244
Health	Soap	cartons	50	20.000	1.000.000	€ 1.527
Health	Paracetamol (acetaminophen)	boxes 1000	20	7.000	140.000	€ 214
Health	Coartem (for Malaria)	package	50	7.300	365.000	€ 557
Health	Loperamide	boxes 1000	20	7.000	140.000	€ 214
Hygiene	Building of Sanitation Centers	Units	20	50.000	1.000.000	€ 1.527
					9.815.000	€ 14.985

On Tuesday I left for Bozoum, to finalize the purchase of 6 tons of rice. We prefer to buy locally produced rice, so as to lend a hand to the local economy, which has been greatly affected by this war.

In Bozoum the situation is tense, but I managed to visit and shop, and left on Wednesday morning (unfortunately around 10 am they informed me that a young man was killed by the 3R rebels…).

In Bozoum they asked me about the Fair. I also passed quickly to visit the gardens, which are a splendor. In theory this weekend we should have been organizing the Bozoum Fair. For now it is not possible. Will it be possible to do it in a month? We do not know!

On Monday, January 18th the Constitutional Court declared the current president the winner of the elections. Out of 1,800,000 voters, only a third were able to vote ... But the announcement of the decision of the Constitutional Court did not satisfy either the rebels or the opposition, and therefore the tension and war continues.

Wednesday I returned to Bouar, and at 11 we had a meeting with the leaders of the various refugee sites, and we discussed the situation and the biggest problems (hygiene, food and safety). The problems are many, but Charity, Faith and Hope are stronger!

Will anyone hear the cry of so many people? Who, in one way or another, is responsible for this tragedy, and who will do anything to stop the violence?

Cattedrale - Bouar

Gli orti di Bozoum 2021
les jardins potager de Bozoum 2021

Fattura del riso: circa 3.600 euro
Facture du riz: en gros 3.600 euro

Bozoum

St.Elie

Formazione dei catechisti a Bawi
Formation des catéchistes à Bawi

We start well, and continue better!

 

La Missione di Baoro: casa delle suore, tetto della chiesa, campo da pallone, Centro Giovani e Auditorium
La Mission de Baoro: la maison des soeurs, la toiture de l'église. terrain de football, Maison des jeunes et Auditorium

 We start well, and continue better!

The situation in Central Africa continues to worsen.

In recent days, after having occupied almost all the  surrounding cities, the rebels have tried to enter the capital, Bangui. They fortunately have not succeeded, for now, thanks to the efforts of the Russians, Rwandans and Blue Helmet soldiers, as well as the army. But how long can they last?

Also, in Bouar, on Saturday, there was fighting between rebels and the army. For now, the rebels are quiet in the city, and the army and various soldiers of other countries are waiting ... But until when?

Here in Baoro it is quite peaceful. Every so often the rebels come by, shoot a little and then leave. For now there has been no major damage. But until when?

As always, it is the population, the simple people, the poor who pay for all this disruption. Since Saturday, about 6,000 refugees have poured into the various Missions in the city of Bouar. They are in the Cathedral, the convent of the Poor Clares, the Sisters of Charity, the convent of the Capuchins and in ours, the Carmelites. For now the situation is difficult but manageable, but if it gets worse, what can be done?

These days we are trying, when there are no major risks, to reopen schools. The young people of our Mechanical School have resumed their courses, and also some students of some other less populated schools (the kindergarten "Il Germoglio" and the nuns' school here in Baoro, some village schools, and our schools in Bozoum). But ... until when?

These days, looking at the collapse of a country that is heading towards yet another disaster, I make this reflection: a person from Central Africa, if he is under 30, has never known anything but wars, coups d'etat, violence.

And then I reread Psalm 11, which says:

When the foundations are shaken,
what can the righteous do?

But the Lord in the holy temple,
the Lord has the throne in heaven.

His eyes are open to the world,
his pupils scan every man.

The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked,
he hates those who love violence.

He will make it rain on the wicked
embers, fire and sulfur,
burning wind will be their lot;

Righteous is the Lord, love the right things;
upright men will see his face.

Courage!

La Missione di Baoro: casa dei padri, atelier meccanica, scuola meccanica, aule catechismo
La Mission de Baoro: la maison des Pères, atélier méchanique, école mécanique, salles de catéchisme

Casa delle suore
Maison des soeurs

Asilo "Il Germoglio" di Baoro"
Ecole Maternelle de Baoro

Parrocchia di Baoro
Paroisse de Baoro

 

 

Let's get off to a good start!

 

Ribelli a Bozoum
Les rebelles de 3R à Bozoum

Let's get off to a good start!

2021 has begun, here in Baoro, quite quietly. Due to the presence of the rebels, there was no music or dancing. Here in the parish we celebrated a Mass to give thanks on the afternoon of December 31, praying and hoping! The night passed quietly, and in the morning the news spread that the rebels had left the city.

The Parish of Baoro is dedicated to the Child Jesus, and the feast is celebrated on the day of the Epiphany. Saturday afternoon there was a beautiful procession that crossed various neighborhoods, and ended in the church where we blessed the children. This year, surprisingly, the Bishop of Bouar was also with us.

While the festivities continued in the city, on Sunday morning I took the car, hoping not to have any bad encounters, and I went to Balembe, a village 48 km away. Here I celebrated Mass in a small chapel covered with palm leaves.

In the afternoon there were some games here in the parish.

There is a lot of tension in the air, also in part to the expected provisional results of the presidential and legislative elections, which took place on December 27.

The elections did not go very well. In many cities it was not possible to vote due to rebels who were shooting, in order to intimidate the population. In other cities, the completed ballot papers were burned by other rebels. In actuality, only 38% of those entitled actually voted.

The results were announced on Monday evening, with the current president being re-elected, as expected, despite the very low number of voters.

We feared major riots at the announcement of these results, but for now everything is quite calm, at least here in the area (but on January 7th, in Bouar there were clashes between rebels and the army, with gunfire from 10am to 3pm).

On Tuesday morning I took advantage of the calm to go to Bozoum, occupied since December 18 by the rebels of the 3R group. I passed through Bouar, where I picked up the Bishop, and around 9 we were in Bozoum.

We visited the communities of the Fathers and Sisters, and then we went to meet the rebels, who have settled right at the entrance to the Mission, very close to the schools. They welcomed us warmly, with some weapons. Since they were relaxed, taking turns smoking from a hookah, we took the opportunity to speak with them.  We asked them to change locations so that the children and young people can go to school.

While the bishop went to greet the Blue Helmets (where the local and state police have taken refuge ...), I went to the city. I was impressed by the warmth of the people, who were happy to see me. At the market they welcomed me with applause, and this allowed me the opportunity to encourage everyone, and to invite them to send their children to school.

When we left, in the early afternoon, we passed by the rebels, who actually moved somewhere else!

There is hope!

Balembe

P.Stefano

Mercato: banco della carne
Marché, le boucher

Peace on earth ...

 

Sr Solange e i preparativi del Natale
Sr Solange et les travaux de Noel

Peace on earth ...

Christmas has finally arrived!  Even here in Central Africa, in spite of everything. 

There were no comets or flashing lights, but a lot of tension because the country is heading, once again, towards civil war.

For a few weeks no cars or trucks have been able to pass, because the road (the only one that connects the capital Bangui with the port of Douala in Cameroon) has been blocked by rebel groups who try, if not to take the capital, at least to block the arrival of goods.

This has been to block the presidential and legislative elections, which were scheduled for December 27th.

Many cities have been invaded by rebel groups. Among these, also Bozoum, Bouar, Bossemptele, Bossembele, Yaloke, Boali, Mbaiki, Bocaranga, Baboua. I have to stop because the list is too long!

Despite the tension, we managed to prepare for Christmas. On the 24th and 25th, together with Fr Michael, we left for the most distant villages, hoping not to have any disastrous meeting along the way!

On December 24th we left around 6.30, arriving in Igwe around 8.30. it is a small village 50 km from Baoro, but we covered the last 15 kilometers in first and second gear.

The arrival was a feast, and after confessions we celebrated Christmas Mass, that of midnight, but at 9.30 in the morning! The chapel is made of straw, low, and perhaps for this reason it seems a lot like Christmas. After Mass I gave some candies to the children and a balloon, which was very much appreciated!

We left around 11.30, but we had to go back and walk another 50 km to get to the next village, which was only 15 km from Igwe (but the road was blocked by some fallen trees, and we could not walk it).

Around 2 pm we arrived at the second village, Bayanga Didi. We calmly prepared for Mass, during which we celebrated 13 baptisms of small children!

It was dark when we left. We arrived at around 9 pm in Yoro, another large village. The program was to finally go to rest, but the people had been waiting for us, and at 10 pm we began the third Mass of the day. We ended the day with songs, dances and games. We were so tired that we fell asleep immediately!

On Christmas day we celebrated Mass in 2 villages. Father Michael stayed in Yoro, while I went to Sinaforo. There were 7 km of road, and this time I covered them in less than half an hour!

Sinaforo is a small village. The church, covered with metal sheets obtained from bins, was full, and here too it was nice to see and touch the feast that God, made Man, brings.

In the afternoon we returned to Baoro, where the situation seemed calm.

Sunday 27, the day of the vote, was announced badly. In many cities, no one was able to go vote because the rebels started shooting and boycotting the elections. In Baoro we voted but few dared to do so. What's worse, the rebels arrived during the night and burned most of the ballots!

At 5.30 on Monday 28 December, the gunshots were our wake-up call! For an hour you heard shooting all over the place (and I assure you it's not a nice alarm clock!). Around 8, everything calmed down. The rebels seemed to have headed south, and the rest of the day went by quietly.

Of course, there was no protection for the people. The local police and officers have long since fled, while the Blue Helmets pass by in the afternoon, when everything seems calm ...

At 6.30 pm, 2 armed rebels arrived, who  climbed over the Mission wall and forced the sentry to call us. I left the room, and found them in front of me ... I asked them "kindly" to leave our house. They were looking for the motorbikes of the ruling party. I told him we don't have them. They threatened the sentry, they also threatened me, but then I managed to take them to see some classrooms, where there were only school desks ...

Since the motorbikes were not there, they continued to threaten us, but I slowly got them out of our concession without theft or shooting ...for the time being!

Thinking back to Christmas, it was nice to hear the song of the angels: "Peace on earth ...".

We prayed and had hope, because without the help from above and a little good will from below, there will be no Peace. Maybe it's time to figure it out. Especially here in Central Africa. Where the prayer for Peace never fails. Too often, the will not to give in to violence, the will to fight against corruption, the will to refuse shortcuts, the will to put the common good and others first, requires courage!

Courage!

Happy New Year!

Igwe, l'offertorio
Igwe, l'offertoire

Tam tam e tanica, gli strumenti del coro
Tan tam et herricane, les instruments de la Chorale

 

 

P.Michael e i battesimi a Bayanga Didi
P.Michael et les baptèmes à Bayanga Didi

Sinaforo

 

Sinaforo

Messa a Sinaforo
Messe à Sinaforo

Folla a Baoro, dopo il passaggio dei "ribelli"
La foule à Baoro, après le passage des rebelles

Le macchine di Polizia e Carabinieri locali, nascoste alla Missione
Les voitures de la Police et des Gendarmes, cachées à la Mission

Passaggio dei Caschi Blu
Les Casques Bleus de passage

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Even though it's been a trying year, it's Christmas!

Even if, you with Covid, and we with the war, we have both struggled a lot, but alas it's Christmas!

The birth of Jesus still remains the only Hope for humanity.

I wish you all the best with a beautiful story taken from the stories of Don Camillo. I wish each of you "to feel the warmth of the holy baby in the hollow of your hand".

Merry Christmas, and happy 2021.

Fr Aurelio

 

It was now Christmas and it was necessary to urgently take out the figurines of the Nativity scene, clean them, retouch them with color and repair the dents.  It was already late, but Don Camillo was still working in the rectory. He heard a knock on the window and, shortly after, he went to open it because he saw it was Peppone.

Peppone sat down while Don Camillo resumed his chores and both were silent for quite a while.

Don Camillo began to touch up St. Joseph's beard with white paint, then he moved on to touch up his robe.

"Do you have much longer?" Peppone inquired with fury.

"If you give me a hand it will move faster and I will finish quicker."

Peppone was a mechanic and had hands as big as shovels and huge fingers that struggled to bend. However, when someone had a stopwatch to fix, they had to go to Peppone, because it is the big men who are made to fix the very small things.

“Imagine! Now I'm going to paint the saints! " he muttered.

"You didn't take me for the sexton!"

Don Camillo fished at the bottom of the box and pulled up a pink thing, the size of a sparrow, and it was the baby Jesus himself.

Peppone found his statuette in his hand without knowing how and then he took a brush and began to work.

He on this side and Don Camillo on the other side of the table, without seeing each other because there was, between them, the glare of the lamp.

“Nobody can be trusted if one means something. I don't even trust myself ”said Peppone.

Don Camillo was very absorbed in his work: the whole face of the Madonna had to be redone, Tedious work.

"And do you trust me?" Asked Don Camillo with indifference.

"I do not know".

"Try to ask me something, so you can see for yourself."

Peppone finished the eyes of the Bambinello: the most difficult thing.

Then he refreshed the red of the lower lip.

"You are scared?"

"I have never in this world been afraid!"

“I do, Peppone. Sometimes I'm afraid "

Peppone dipped the brush.

"Well, sometimes I am too" said Peppone and just heard Don Camillo sigh as well.

Now Peppone had finished the baby Jesus' face and was going over the pink of the body.

By now the baby Jesus was finished and, fresh in color and so pink and clear, he seemed to shine in the middle of Peppone's huge dark hand.

Peppone looked at him and thought he felt the warmth of that little body on his palm.

He delicately placed the pink baby on the table and Don Camillo placed the Madonna beside him.

"My baby is learning Christmas poetry," Peppone proudly announced. “I feel that every night his mother passes it over to him before he falls asleep. It is a phenomenon ”.

Don Camillo, near the Madonna bent over the baby Jesus and placed the statuette of the donkey.

"This is Peppone's son, this is Peppone's wife and this is Peppone" said Don Camillo, touching the donkey last.

"And this is Don Camillo!" Peppone exclaimed, taking the statuette of the ox and placing it near the group.

"Bah! Among beasts we always understand each other ”concluded Don Camillo.

Leaving, Peppone found himself in the gloomy night of the Po, but by now he was very calm because he still felt the warmth of the baby Jesus in the hollow of his hand. Then he heard the words of the poem that he knew by heart ringing in his ear. "When, on Christmas Eve, he tells me, it will be a wonderful thing!" He rejoiced.

The river flowed placidly and slowly, just a few steps away, under the embankment, and it was also a poem that began when the world began and that still continued.  It took a thousand years to round and smooth the smallest of the billions of stones at the bottom of the water, and  only in twenty generations will the water have smoothed out a new pebble.  In a thousand years, people will run at six thousand kilometers an hour on super-atomic rocket machines and for what? To get to the end of the year and be amazed in front of the same plaster baby that, one of these evenings, comrade Peppone painted with a brush.