Total Pageviews

Friday, March 1, 2024

A flood of love and prayers

 

 

Insieme a Mons. Aguirre
Ensemble avec Mgr Aguirre,
 

A flood of love and prayers

Friday, February 23rd was the day chosen for the official announcement of my appointment from Fr. Aurelio to bishop of Bangassou. At 12pm, the Vatican Press Office published the news, and until that time there was absolute secrecy.

The Nuncio wanted to choose our community of Carmel, here in Bangui. So I notified the community of a general visit by the Nuncio with some guests, towards the end of the morning.

At the same time, Fr Federico, our provincial superior, had summoned his brothers and friends to Arenzano to communicate the news.

The Nuncio arrived at around 11:20am, together with Monsignor Juan Josè Aguirre, bishop of Bangassou since 2000. There was also the bishop of Bouar, the diocese where I worked for more than 30 years, and the bishop of Bossangoa, president of the Episcopal Conference. Along with the young theology students, who returned from school earlier than usual. But no one knew the actual news…

We went to the chapel, where we prayed the psalms of the Median Hour, and then the Nuncio began to read the announcement of the nomination. It was a surprise for everyone!

Spontaneously one of the students began to sing the Te Deum, the hymn of thanks to God, and I hugged Mons Aguirre, the bishops, p,Mesmin, p. Cyriaque, and all the young people.

I took the floor and began... "Today, 50 years ago, a Carmelite became bishop of Bari (Cardinal Ballestrero). And today, February 23, 1952, my dad and my mom were married! From heaven they certainly are rejoicing over this..."

After lunch we quickly visited the construction site, and then with Mons Aguirre we went to the city, and we started to discuss, talk, get to know each other and prepare some plans: I am going to Bangassou immediately after Easter, to start getting to know the diocese, the priests and the people, and to visit some parishes, before the rains prevent it. It will be a very intense 2 months!

On June 9th there will be the episcopal consecration here in Bangui. Unfortunately it will not be possible to do it in Bangassou, due to the impossible roads, and also due to the lack of reception facilities.

The next day I asked to meet our seminarians. In Bangassou there is the minor seminary, but for high school and theology they have to come to Bangui.  This means leaving their diocese and family for a few years before returning. Together with Mons Aguirre, we met them in the two seminaries that welcomed them: it was beautiful to spend time with them, to see the affection that binds them to Mons Aguirre, and the desire to give themselves to God and the Church.

Sunday morning I left for Baoro. But... a few kilometers away I was stopped, then we continued, and after a couple of kilometers we met the mayor, and some young people on motorbikes who led the procession, and we entered the city.

I walked the last stretch, surrounded by the joy and enthusiasm of so many people!

In recent days I have received hundreds and hundreds of messages from many people, from all over the world!

It's nice to know that you're surrounded by so much affection and so much prayer!



Il Nunzio Apostolico legge l'annuncio della nomina
Le Nonce Apostolique lit l'annonce de la nomination










Con i seminaristi di Bangassou
Avec les grand séminaristes de Bangassou à Bangui

Il sindaco di Baoro
le Maire de Baoro



 

 

 

Sunday, February 18, 2024

The other Fair, in Bouar

 

 

 

The other Fair, in Bouar

After almost two weeks of working in Bangui, I finally returned to Baoro last Saturday, February 10th.

In Bangui I left Marco, the plumber, who completed a good part of the plumbing systems on the first floor of the new convent.

I arrive in Baoro around 11, and in the afternoon I went to Bouar, where the Agricultural Fair, which began 14 years ago, is taking place.

Here too, there were many people, many cooperatives, and many agricultural products.

On Sunday I celebrated Mass in Zoungbe, a small village on the road to Bangui.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, where we began the journey of Lent: 40 days to "return to the ways" of God, and convert. In the afternoon I went to Bawi, where I celebrated Mass, and placed the ashes on the local community.

Happy Lent!

 









Zoungbe

 

 

 

Working days

 

 

 

Working days

After the Bozoum Fair, the days continue full of work, here in Bangui.

On Wednesday last week I said goodbye to Luisella, my niece, who was returning to Italy. A very short but very fruitful visit.

Marco will remain here, and with him we continue the work on the new convent of Bangui.

He is an excellent bricklayer and plumber, and continues laying pipes and drains in the bathrooms of the bedrooms upstairs.

I work above him, under the roof, laying the cables for the main electrical line.

It's very hot, but the work pace is good, and we are satisfied with the work we do.

On Sunday we rested a bit and at the end of the morning I took him to visit Bangui a bit. From there we went to Saint Paul, the place where the first missionaries landed in 1894. Here there was a small brick church, and not far away the cemetery of the first missionaries.

The construction of the convent also continues. The company is installing the metal sheets of the cloistered veranda, while our carpenters are installing the protective grilles on the windows on the ground floor.

Gianni e Maria Elena, del CUAMM; e Marco

Pirogue sull'Oubangui


Marco Bosio





 

 

Farmer pride

 


Farmer pride

While throughout Europe thousands of farmers express their (rightful) indignation against a system that pays for not working the land, or not milking the cows, in Central Africa we experienced the great Agricultural Fair of Bozoum.

Three days of celebration, from January 26 to 28, 2024.

Last week I welcomed Luisella and Marco to Bangui. Luisella is my niece, and for years she has dreamed of coming to Central Africa. She took advantage of the availability of Marco, her companion, who came as a volunteer plumber for the new convent in Bangui.

They arrived on Wednesday, January 24. We spent the afternoon on the construction site, and on Thursday we hit the road at 5.30am towards the North. We stopped in Baoro for lunch, and arrive in Bozoum, after almost 600 km, in the evening.

Here everything was ready for the Fair, thanks to the excellent Caritas staff and the excellent students of our St. Augustin High School, who took care of the reception, marketing and collection of sales data.

Friday morning we welcomed the Minister of Agriculture, who officially opened the Fair.

There were around a hundred small cooperatives from all over the region. The furthest away have travelled 350 km to be present and to bring their products. They had a small parade, in front of the Minister, the Bishop and the authorities and guests.

After the various speeches, the Minister took a tour of all the stands. There were celebrations of colours, products, different shapes and varieties.

In the afternoon we visited the vegetable gardens of Bozoum. This year the rains lasted longer, and for this reason they bounty was a little late. Yet, one stand is more beautiful than the other. The fact that there are many young people who dedicate themselves to this activity is an element of great hope.

On Saturday morning I took the Minister, his delegation and the guests to visit the Bohoro Rice Fields, 7 km from Bozoum.

Sunday was the final day, which also brought with it the awards ceremony for the exhibitors of the fair and the vegetable gardens.

In the afternoon the winners were called, and received a diploma, a medal and an agricultural equipment prize.

The faces of the women and men, simple but proud of the work done with such humility, was the most beautiful reward given to us.

The closure of the Fair allowed us to make an initial assessment of sales, which were around 40-50 million ff CFA (between 60,000 and 75,000 euros). A little less than last year, but still a considerable amount for the country and the city of Bozoum.