On July 3 the pastoral year ended. All the newly baptized, the scouts who already took their pledge and all the participants in the various pilgrimages attended Mass. The first pilgrimage was to Bangui for the coming of Pope Francis, and the second was to Mbaiki for the feast of the Sacred Heart. The Eucharist was quite long, lasting about three hours, but everyone was very happy.
The bishop of the diocese erected a shrine in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on a hilltop from where one can enjoy a beautiful panorama. About 250 pilgrims from Mongoumba took part in the pilgrimage. We started off on May 30 and arrived on the night of June 1. I did not get to walk, because I had to drive one of the two vehicles loaded with kitchen utensils, the food and the cooks. However, I attended the prayers and the catechesis offered during the pilgrimage and then on June 2 in Mbaiki. On the day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we went in procession to the shrine – a distance of about 4km – carrying along the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Mass was broadcast by Radio Maria of Bangui, a radio station that easily reaches as far as Mongoumba. The pilgrimage concluded with a Mass in Batalimo, one of the parish’s chapels, with a Mass and the baptism of 30 adolescents. We were able to thank God for all of us being there in good health and happy. Annia was sick with malaria and could not attend. Neither could Elia, because someone had to stay behind to take care of Annia.
School ended at the end of June with a low percentage of graduates, since only about 50% of the students passed this year. I hope we will have better results next year…
Today I am in Mbaiki. I came to bring the teachers who are taking part in a two week course mostly dealing with French, math and education. May God help them to learn well so as to better teach their students.
Annia, the recently arrived Polish CLM, is adapting well and already knows enough Sango. She studies a lot, and continues to study French. It must not be easy to learn two languages at the same time.
I take advantage of the fact that now I am freer from school to help with the undernourished children.
Elia went back on July 2 and we already miss her! May the Lord help her and that all may work out well with the arm she fractured. She suffered a lot with it! If she can return we will be very happy.
Always united in prayer. I wish you all a good vacation.
Kisses.
Maria Augusta, CLM Mongoumba
