Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
SMA
Foya (Agenzia Fides) - "In Liberia we are in the middle of the rainy season and our people are engaged in rural work. During this period, malaria makes itself felt as every year and affects everyone, men, women and especially children. Then this year, as everywhere in the world, we have to deal with the coronavirus", writes Fr. Walter Maccalli, priest of the Society for African Missions, from the parish of St John Vianney, in Foya. "Over the past few days, about ten cases of infected people have been registered here, including the principal pastor of the Pentecostal church (the largest religious group in the city). The central hospital of Boma, has been practically closed and some doctors and nurses, who have had contacts with those tested positive, have been placed in quarantine".
"We have been authorized to resume celebrations in our churches - the missionary continues -. In reality this is the moment of maximum danger for covid-19 and we all try to respect the indications so as not to create further outbreaks. Next Sunday we will have the first meeting with the parochial pastoral Council and then we will start again to visit the Christian communities of the villages and the secondary stations".
Fr. Maccalli still talks about the activities that are slowly resuming: "in the Christian community of the parish seat, in the city of Foya, we are carrying out pastoral work with the grassroots communities. Thanks to a contribution and the generosity of our people, next week we will be able to distribute 150 bags of rice to as many needy families. It is the first duty of every Christian community to be aware of who is making the most effort and to recognize in him/her the face of the risen Christ".
"Despite the many years of mission - he adds - I still cannot help being moved by human suffering and what we have discovered in recent days. We are talking about a semi-paralyzed young man who is cared for by his grandmother who, however, cannot feed him more than once a day, a sick girl imprisoned in a mud room for years, elderly people abandoned by their children and forced to beg, young mentally ill people who wander around the city without anyone taking care of them. I believe that this must be the engine that drives us to pray and act for the most abandoned: the restlessness, the compassion of Jesus for his dispersed people".
In his testimony, Fr. Walter thanked for the support of all the prayers for the release of his confrere Father Gigi kidnapped from the Bomoanga mission 22 months ago (see Fides, 18/9/2018). (WM/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 20/7/2020)
