AFRICA/MALI - Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception on the outskirts of Bamako: welcoming mothers in difficulty

Thursday, 4 February 2021 evangelization development healthcare

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Badalabougou (Agenzia Fides) - "The Covid-19 pandemic is slowing down all our activities. We have suffered as a result of the closure of churches and the cessation of various activities. This time of forced rest was long", write to Agenzia Fides Sister Benoîte and Sister Martine, Missionaries of the Immaculate Queen of Peace (SMIRP, also called Pianzoline, by the founder Fr. Francesco Pianzola) who work in the parish of Sainte Monique de Badalabougou in the Kalaban-Coro district on the outskirts of Bamako.
"Ours is above all a mission of presence and accompaniment in general (through visits to families) and in particular to the various movements of the community. We do catechesis, follow the Choir, the Legion of Mary, the group of Servants of the Mass called 'Samuel', the Friends of Kizito. Outside the community, we also operate in a reception center for young mothers in difficulty. We teach them to cook and hold literacy courses for inmates in Bolé prison. There are more than 100 women including 20 minors and, even with them, we try to do small jobs to give them the opportunity to earn something".
"Unfortunately, this year is a special year, marked by the health crisis - tell the missionaries. In March, we heard about the first case of Covid-19. Suddenly, all activities were interrupted, including Mass. At first we were scared but then we thought: why not take care of ourselves right now? We did not go out all day and we strengthened our fraternal relationship. The first apostolate is in community and since the external activity proceeds slowly we carry out our main activities in the community".
Sister Benoîte and Sister Martine explain to Fides that at this moment, certain activities are blocked but, in a contained way and following hygienic standards in terms of distancing, catechesis, choirs and the formation of altar servers and other pastoral activities continue.
"This year, we started the French literacy course for women in the Saint John XXIII community of N'golobougou. To respond to the government's call, summed up by the slogan “one Malian, one mask”, we are making washable masks for the faithful of our different communities.
Here the Catholic community is suffering because of the containment measures since other religions do not take these measures seriously. Some of the faithful no longer come to the celebrations. Those who continue to attend protect themselves only to enter the church. The real challenge is how to make them understand that they must protect themselves everywhere for their health and that of others. For a good resumption of activities we started by sensitizing the faithful who until now did not believe in the existence of the virus".
The nuns carry out their pastoral activities within three basic communities of the parish, namely those of Christ the King located in Kalaban-Coro, Notre Dame du Rosaire in Kabala and St. John XXIII of N'golobougou, where a new community is being born in a village called Kourale.
"Through our pastoral activity, we try to give a concrete presence within the four Christian communities in which we are present. We work together with the laity who teach us true availability for their community", added Sister Elisa Azzalin in mission for 30 years in Kalabancoro. (EA/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 4/2/2021)