Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
SMA
Dosso (Agenzia Fides) - Father Rafael Marco Casamayor, a religious of the Society of African Missions (SMA), has been a missionary in Africa for more than 50 years, more than 30 spent in Benín and currently in Níger, first in Tera and Gaya and recently in Dosso.
"We arrived at full speed, accompanied for security reasons by the imposed escort, who was in a hurry to return to Niamey, I was accompanied by René, a young SMA seminarian, and another boy from the Dosso mission".
Thus begins the story of Fr. Rafael to Agenzia Fides in which he describes his new path of evangelization in mission land. "On the way - he continues - we met our companions Habib and Jolidon who had left before us and who would have continued in Dogon Dutchi, another mission. Two teams of missionaries willing to travel along the roads of a confined country, I said to myself as I contemplated the youth and humor of my brothers; we both started the missionary adventure anew".
"The escort dropped us off at the entrance of the city and once we entered the mission of Dosso we were warmly welcomed by the Burundian nuns. In this itinerant vocation of ours, we find ourselves breathing new air, contemplating every detail, every gesture, the house, the patio, the trees and the dust. The solemn reception took place on Sunday during the Eucharist. Fr. Gabriel introduced us to the community and welcomed us. An elder from the assembly gave me a mat as a gift, to 'welcome, listen, talk with your new people and dialogue with your flock amdist the grass of the field and the dust of the road'; then a pair of sandals so that you can go out, walk in search of the lost sheep; and finally also a rosary 'to pray and teach us to pray' ".
Fr Rafael says that the ceremony was emotional, joyful, captivating, simple and profound. "Over the next week, I received visitors and, of course, listened to advice, complaints, resentments that seemed to indicate a sense of abandonment forged in absence. The truth is that they had been without a priest for too long, without a real coordination or project, entrusted only to good luck". "They welcomed me and today I am part of the community with which I made a pact. I understood that they felt abandoned for a long time and I am inviting them to abandon resentment and bitterness, precisely to restore energy to our community. We all come from very different backgrounds and God gathers us to be witnesses of his love for him here in Dosso".
"The project belongs to everyone and together we will make it come true. Our community, our family, can be reborn from our ability to give and sacrifice; and of God's grace", concludes the missionary. (RMC/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 21/12/2021)
