AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - Towards Mission Sunday - The Bishop of Bossangoa: "Keep the lamp of hope burning"

Bossangoa (Agenzia Fides) - "The Catholic Church is fully inserted in the general context of the socio-political life in the Central African Republic. To date, it suffers from prevailing insecurity and has paid a heavy price for the crisis affecting the whole country and whose effects continue to be felt also on the structures and organization of its ecclesial communities: looting, vandalism, attacks on pastoral workers and restrictions on the use of pastoral care bring to this Church the experience of evangelical fragility and poverty". Thus reports in an interview released to Agenzia Fides, Mgr Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia, Bishop of Bossangoa and President of the Central African Episcopal Conference (CECA), speaking of next October, the month dedicated to all the world come together to support and celebrate missionary work and evangelization, celebrating World Mission Day, scheduled for 18 October 2020.
Archbishop Nestor says: "We note with concern that some faithful observe behavior that is not always adequate to Christian faith. Some no longer believe in anything or anyone, to the point of leaving their fate in the hands of unscrupulous and unethical people who shamelessly exploit them. However - he continues - faith invites us to identify the signs of hope and to be involved in the positive transformation of our society. Living against all hope, as Saint Paul invites us to do - explains the Prelate - is an essential step for Christians in situations of conflict to become factors of change: being a Christian in such circumstances means continuing to keep the lamp of hope burning, of love, forgiveness and reconciliation".
The Catholic Church in Central Africa, despite the many social problems it faces, is courageously engaging in evangelical witness by accompanying the faithful on their spiritual journey. "The Platform of Religious Confessions in the Central African Republic (PCRC) - reports Mgr. Aziagbia - is also the place where the commitment of the Catholic Church is expressed alongside the Muslim and Protestant communities for social cohesion, respect for others and universal brotherhood".
As for the missionary month of October, the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies has already established a program of appointments that will take place in the various dioceses located nationwide. "Starting from October 2020 - reports Mgr. Nestor - a radio entertainment activity will begin as well as the production of animation notebooks; a prayer campaign for the missions and the production of a video on the subject of the Holy Father's message for this year's World Mission Sunday: "Here I am, send me" (Is 6,8). "This special time dedicated to the missionary world - he concludes - always represents an important occasion to remind all the faithful to renew their baptismal commitments in the proclamation of the Kingdom of God". (ES) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2020)

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