Change A Life Program - AFRICA : February and May 2008

6^th February 2008

I attended the funeral of the grandmother of our postulant Jacqueline. It was a joyous experience, as the lady was over hundred years old. She was the 10^th wife of her husband who was the chief & had 27 wives. The coffin was seven feet long & the boys of the neighbourhood & the grandsons carried the coffin, singing & swaying it to & fro. The ladies played on the tam-tam & sang in praise of the deceased. The catechist conducted the funeral service. Here in Burkina Faso, the catechist has many responsibilities. He not only helps the priest in distributing communion & preaching the word but in the absence of the priest which is often (as one priest has six or seven parishes to look after) he organises all the services in the church – stations of the cross on Fridays of Lent, the Hiloy Hour on first Fridays, the daily rosary at the grotto, the catechism classes for children & adults, visiting the sick, taking communion to them to their homes etc. On Sundays he conducts the entire Mass except for the Consecration.

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7^th February 2008

We have a new volunteer – Marie Magdalene who helps the girls of the foyer with their lessons, prepares 11 girls of CM2 for their CEP exam & also teaches me French. She is French married to a native of this place; she is a retired teacher of History & Geography & teaches very well. She is also very gentle & generous.

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13^th February 2008

Sr. Consuelo returned from Spain. She is much better but she needs to go regularly to the physio-therapist for exercises for her arm. Now that we are three, it will be a bit better. She has put on a bit of weight. She brought things for us – cheese & ham & things we do not get here. She can use her arm to stitch & she is changing her old habit & stitching according to the new pattern. She said she will stitch one for me too.

22^nd  February 2008

Mother General arrived in Burkina Faso with her councillor Carmen Maria. They reached here at 5.00 p.m. We had been waiting for her since 12 noon. I believe she made many stops admiring the nature, speaking to children & the poor etc. Two vans full of sisters came along to participate in the vows ceremony of our novice Beatrice.  We all gathered at the gate & the few girls that were at home sang a welcome song ‘Soyez le BIENVENUE’ & after she wished the sisters & girls she went to the chapel & we sang a hymn to Mary. The chapel was beautifully decorated but we did not put too many flowers as it is lent. Then after a cold drink & snacks & chatting a bit with us, they proceeded to Nasso.

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23^rd February 2008

We went for the vows of Bea. The ceremony was very touching. There was such a big crowd of people. Her parents & family members & a large delegation from her village were there. Mother General received her vows. The arch-bishop presided. The singing was superb. The girls from the foyer of Nasso danced the entrance dance & also at the offertory. Our girls of Bobo danced at the Gloria. Bea herself sang & danced her offering to the Lord. A grand lunch was served to more than 250 people. The food was cooked at home. A big 75 Kg pig & a goat were killed. After that there was singing & dancing.

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24^th  February 2008

Here the people observe Lent very strictly. Prayer, fasting & sharing is taken seriously. In the community, we do a special reading on Lent during the time of examen.. We have the stations of the Cross with the girls of the Foyer once a week. We fast every Friday just as if it were Good Friday. The money saved will be given to a poor family. I conduct the stations of the cross one each day with the girls of the Centre of Promotion. Also we pass around a small box & the girls put in their mite. The girls are very poor; they make some snack at home & sell it here during break & thus collect their pocket money.

25^th  February 2008

The cost of things is going up day by day, not just doubling but trebling the prices. As a result the people went on strike. The police tried to stop them & naturally they resort to violence, burning shops & public facilities, cars & motor cycles. Schools & offices had to close down for three days. Even now the situation is not very calm.

26^th  February 2008

Mother General came here in the evening. All the girls of the Centre & the few hostel girls that were at home waited at the gate dressed in their ethnic costumes. They sang a welcome song in French & Diula & then gave the traditional welcome offering water in calabasses. Mother General said a few words & then we took her to the chapel & sang a hymn to Mary.

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28^th  February 2008

We had a mass in the hall with all the girls of the Centre, of the foyer & also the monitrices & volunteers. The hall was packed. It was beautifully decorated. Our cook Severine prepared the hymns. He is a good choir master.

Then we had a cultural programme. There were songs & dances & drama. Mother General was able to see how our girls are influenced by the current problems. Then she spoke a few words. Sweets were distributed to all. She mingled with the girls & spoke to them & we took some photos. She met the monitrices & collaborators & had a word of kindness for each one.

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29^th  February 2008

We visited an orphanage. There are 13 little ones. The person who was in charge of them was receiving aid from France but he was not taking proper care of them. They were completely neglected. The workers finally informed France & the man in presently in prison & another group of persons are taking care of the kids & now things are a bit better.

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MAY, 2008

 FEAST OF VICENT MARIA