VISIT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT OF VMY TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Bangui, from July 12 to 26, 2007

 

 

Yasmine Cajuste

VMY International President

I discovered Bangui on the morning of July 12. An early arrival that announced a very intense days of encounter, dialogue and interchange. Few hours later, we had an interview with Mgr. Paulin Pomodimo, Archbishop of Bangui. The dialogue dealt around the Association and the Vincentian Family. He announced to us the next establishment of the Lazarists in the Parish of St. Ana, with the hope they can advise the different branches of the Vincentian Family, present in this country.

In the afternoon, we celebrated the official opening of the activities of the President in Central African Republic, a simple cheerful party that allowed vincentians to meet each other as well as praise the Lord together. After that, we celebrated a mass, thanking the Good News of the arrival of the Lazarists to this country. The mass was presided over by Fr. Delplace, Visitor of the Province of Paris, and Fr. Guillaume Leukemo, Superior Regional of Cameroon.

During the rest of the visit, the formation of young, leaders and advisors had a privileged place. Specific VMY topics such as: Spirituality, Formation Processes, Internationality, Marian Consecration, and role and functions of advisors, were dealt. A lecture open to all the young people (“Witnesses and Prophets”) was presented; the wide participation of young people of different confessions allowed me to Know and share the worries, ambitions and difficulties of the young from Central African Republic. Finally, we carried out two formation sessions with all the Vincentian Family: “The Systemic Change: experience and challenge” and “With a lay spirituality, we share the mission” These different moments, gave us the chance to reflect together about the Mission of VMY and the Vincentian Family in the complex social economic context of this country and the way of creating closer links of collaboration and mutual support.

On July 18, united in prayer with VMY around the world, we celebrated the first Marian Consecrations of VMY Central African Republic (about 40 young) and the Marian Promise of 4 members in the cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. We finished our joyful celebration to the rhythm of the Magnificat and sharing a fraternal lunch. The following day we visited the “Centre of the Mother and the Child”, an orphanage of the State that welcomes orphan and abandoned children. We assisted the present babies and children and we cleaned the facilities. This service experience opened new apostolate perspectives for the VMY groups in the capital.

On July 20, some cultural activities such as sports, dances, contests, etc., were organized. From July 21 to 23, together with Fr. Elysée Guedjandé, former National Advisor, we travelled to Yaloké, a city located 225 km far from Bangui, to meet the new group created in the Parish of St. Joseph. This trip inside the country helped us to meet each other and to deepen in the social economic problems of the Republic. In our return we visited the Boali falls, a landmark with a stunning beauty.

 

During the visit I had the chance to meet two Central African Republic Ministers (Youth and Social affairs), and I made the most of this opportunity to present the Association. The media (radio and TV) showed a very big interest in the activities we carried out during the visit; they offered us a privileged space for the diffusion of the VMY activities.

 

On Wednesday, July 25 we meet to evaluate with the Diocesan Council and some leaders from different parishes. In the afternoon we close the visit activities with the presentation of the awards to the winners of July 20.

 

The visit to VMY Bangui has been a very enriching experience for the Association and the Vincentian Family of Central African Republic. We hope the shared material, the offering formation and the reflection made all together, helps to the consolidation of VMY in the Diocese of Bangui, in order to build a young church, servant of the poor and builder of a peace and justice world.