1 From the desk of fr. ken mazur

Dear Readers, This day and age, the time of the Coronavirus, is unprecedented in any of our lives. None of us have experienced something like this - none of us would have ever expected it - the house quarantine, masks, gloves, continually washing our hands, or the grocery store shelves empty of some of our basic needs. Especially for we Christians, I think that the fact that we cannot gather together to worship is one of the most heart-wrenching things we are experiencing. A few weeks ago, right before Easter, I was reading the comments on social media about not being able to go to Church, not receiving Communion, not praying, and not singing together. While reading these comments, my thoughts went to the “Kakure Christians” of Japan. “Kakure Christians” means “Hidden Christians.” The Emperor of Japan outlawed Christianity, closing all churches and shackling them shut. The clergy were expelled from the country, forced to renounce their religion, or persecuted and martyred. There was no Mass and no Holy Communion. The Martin Scorsese movie “Silence” that came out a few years ago portrays the situation rather dramatically. Christianity was outlawed for over 250 years. They could not publicly worship or gather, so the Christians did so in hiding; for over 250 years, they kept their faith alive. They had no sacraments, no priests, no churches, but they knew that God was with them. When Christianity was eventually permitted again in Japan, the missionaries were surprised to find that the faith had not only continued but had even flourished in many places. We will not be locked out of our churches for 250 years. We will be able to gather together again, to worship, to sing, to receive Holy Communion and the Sacraments. We do not know when, but it will happen. The longing that we have in our hearts and souls will be met with gladness and rejoicing. We will celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of which comes after the suffering and the death because we know that God is with us. Yes, even during this pandemic, when we could rightly question “Where is God?” God is good. We continue to pray for all of you and your loved ones. Please pray for us as well; for our missionaries and the people that they serve for they, too, are suffering. We cannot only be concerned for ourselves because God is good. In Christ,

Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME US Superior

2 Mission World INSIDE May // June 2020

“We tried to open their ON THE COVER eyes so that they could see Organizations like “Friends Without what it means to face such 26 Borders” are unique ways for the a thing in a country where 12 Missionaries of the Immaculate to there are no structures capable promote dialogue among young of caring for the sick.” people in Algeria. Mission Featured Virgin and Child with Saint Bernadino, Fr. Franco Cagnasso, PIME, 20 Saint Jerome, and Two Angels by adapts a program for a new Sano di Pietro educational need in Bangladesh. 08 Fr. Daniele Criscione reflects on Missionaries working in the the current quarantine, and, having 24 Amazon comment on the Apostolic faced this before, the grace that can 22 Exhortation “Querida Amazonia.” come from it.

Publisher: PIME is present in the following parishes Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME in the United States: Executive Editor: St. Ann & St. Lucy - Harlem New York, NY Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME San Francesco – Clinton Twp., MI PIMEMISSIONARIES SINCE 1850 Translation: St. Rosalia - Regina Pacis - Brooklyn, NY Fr. Dino Vanin, PIME St. Mary of the - Monroe, MI Editing & Design: (313) 342-4066 Patrick Carroll U.S. Mission Office Mailing in Canada: Proofreading: 17330 Quincy St. 980 Louis Avenue [email protected] Stacey Bentley Detroit, MI 48221-2749 Windsor, ON N9A 1X9 www.PIMEusa.org Brooke Grobbel 3 Featured Holy Week services in Tripoli often draw large crowds.

waiting for By Chiara Zappa The Easter Vigil will be celebrated in the afternoon so that it will be over before dark. Life for Catholics in the former Italian easter colony must come to terms with instability and violence. “There are few of us, but we are not invisible,” says the Apostolic in tripoli Vicar, Monsignor Bugeja.

4 May // June 2020 waiting for easter in tripoli

t will be a normal Easter Triduum, with cumbersome presence of the many external the church full of faithful and the rites actors who do not want to miss an opportunity animated by the four parish choirs, with to grab their slice of the Libyan pie. The result justI one change. “I will celebrate the Easter of all these ingredients is a lethal mix whose Vigil at 4:00 p.m., so people will have time to product is chaos and instability, which affects go home before dark. You know, there’s always everyone, Christians in particular. a degree of fear for their safety.” “After the Copts and Orthodox of various Bishop George Bugeja’s clarification denominations left following the crisis of 2014, immediately suggests that, in reality, there only we Catholics were left, along with a small is very little “normal” in the daily life of his community of Anglicans and Pentecostals,” faithful, to whom he has been Pastor for five Bishop Bugeja explains. If in 2010 there were years now. In the district of Dahra - the heart of 150,000 baptized, today there are around three Tripoli sits a small church - dedicated to Saint thousand, out of 6.3 million inhabitants. Francis, where everyone can meet the Maltese bishop in his humble habit. Bishop Bugeja, who makes up your flock? The church is the only one active in the “We are 100% foreigners, especially Libyan capital since the times of the “green Filipinos, who are employed as nurses in revolution” of Gaddafi. It was 1969 when the hospitals; Africans mostly from Nigeria and power was taken by force with a coup d ‘état Ghana, as well as a few from South Sudan; under the banner of national socialism and the and then Pakistanis and Indians. At their side expulsion of foreigners. Church property was in Tripoli, it is just me, another Franciscan confiscated, and places of prayer (39 total in the Friar, Magdy Helmi, and eight Sisters of city) were closed, including the Cathedral of the Mother Teresa engaged as volunteers in two Sacred Heart. The Catholic Church was adapted government institutes at the service of Libyan to Islamic worship after some architectural citizens with mental problems. Some years ago, retouching. Today, it is the great mosque that there were also the Daughters of Charity who stands in Algeria Square. worked in a facility for needy minors, but then Bishop Bugeja, born in 1962 in Xaghara, they left for security reasons. Malta, has been the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli In Benghazi, the seat of the other Vicariate, since 2017. Two years earlier, the Pope had called the situation is even more precarious. A him to join Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, bombing to drive out the ISIS members who who passed last December, as coadjutor of the had established their headquarters in the area Vicariate. “At the beginning, it was very hard,” destroyed the church. All of the nuns are gone, the bishop admits. His Libya is one of the post- and only two friars remain, plus a third in Gaddafi-regime after he was killed in October nearby Al Beida. The community is made up of 2011. A country with out-of-control violence a group of Filipinos and sub-Saharan Africans and attacks against religious minorities, with who gather for the celebrations in a small hall the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians at the of the Children’s Hospital. There, they have to hands of the ISIS militants in 2015. A Libya of start all over again.” the long “Battle of Benghazi” to free Cyrenaica from extremists and then the institutional What is daily life like for the Church in stalemate that now sees the country formally Tripoli? divided between the authority of the government in Tripoli led by Fayez Al Serraj, “Our activities all take place within the and the militia of the strong man of Benghazi, parish boundaries. The Sunday liturgy is Khalifa Haftar. celebrated on Fridays, a feast day for Muslims. Between two extremes, the balance of power We have two Masses, one for the Filipinos and is linked to the influential local tribes and the one for the other communities. Each of these Libya 5 waiting for easter in tripoli usually draws between 400 and 500 faithful Organization for Migration if they want to participants, although the turnout depends on return to their country. We also have a small the situation in the city. When there are clashes first aid clinic, where a doctor and two nurses or unrest in the surrounding area, people operate. When we have a serious case, we rely lock themselves inside their homes. In the on a few NGOs through which we can admit afternoon, there are catechism classes for the the sick person to the hospital. In the case of children run by the nuns, while the adults are single mothers with problematic pregnancies, followed by some trained lay people, supported we can count on the intervention of the Danish by me. The Africans then organize Bible study Refugee Council. In regards to material support, meetings, choir rehearsals, and moments of we try to give a hand to those who need to cover mutual help in a community spirit, to support the cost of rent, and we help students to pay the needy. They know the individual situations their school tuition. However, we must always well, and they know that they can come to be careful in giving money, because some could me for support with anything they need. On use it to pay human traffickers with the illusion Fridays, there is also a small self-managed of being smuggled to Europe.” market, where they can find clothing and food.” Do you have any personal experiences with What are the features of this community? the situation of the notorious migrant detention centers? “It is constantly changing because people are here for work, and only stay as long as “A few years ago, our ‘Social Service’ office their contract lasts. Even those who have a was authorized to visit people in camps and fairly stable job, such as Filipino nurses, leave inmates in prisons to distribute food and to pray after a few years. Not to mention that many with them. Today, this is no longer possible. are in transit and would like to reach Europe. Among our parishioners, some citizens of sub- Instability is the norm for the community, as Saharan Africa have been in these detention there are not many families here. Households centers and who have managed to get out, are often divided, with the father in Tripoli perhaps because they paid off someone to do and the mother in the country of origin. Yet, so, or because they were sick. Now, these people despite everything, every month, we have six or who have had traumatic experiences feel that seven baptisms of children of African origin! the church is a safe place where they can meet However, when the little ones reach the age of some fellow countrymen; a place where they five or six, their parents generally send them find comfort and protection. Libya is going back home to live with their grandparents through a challenging time for the local citizens because they would have to attend private themselves, imagine for foreigners!” schools and pay tuition in Libya.” Is it for them that you decided to stay? What can you do for the needy of the community? “Ours is a Church of limited presence. Sure, it gives courage to Christians who can face these “We have a small Caritas office, with a lay ominous difficulties. The fact that we stayed coordinator, which opens on Tuesdays and when everyone else left is also appreciated by Fridays through which we try to lend a helping the government authorities, who consider us as hand to anyone who comes to us. Those who the official emissaries of the Vatican. The Holy come to ask for support are mainly Eritreans, See re-established diplomatic relations with Christians, and Sudanese Muslims. If they are Libya in 1997. Our community, though small, is not registered with UNHCR (the United Nations officially recognized and not invisible. On the High Commission for Refugees), we help them contrary, before Christian holidays, we often to register, or we direct them to the International receive visits from the local media who ask 6 Mission World Bishop Bugeja baptizes a man on the Easter Vigil. for an interview and take photographs. These Libyans would like to find a political solution images are diffused in Libyan society, showing on their own, but the foreign powers involved that the country also welcomes non-Muslim refuse to take a step back. The problem is that presences.” international agreements are often in vain. The embargo is a farce. Arms continue to arrive How will you celebrate Easter in Tripoli? undisturbed while Europe does not speak with one voice, but rather each nation proceeds “On Good Friday, we will hold two haphazardly pursuing its own interests. If the gatherings, one for Filipinos and one for UN is trying to mediate between the factions, it Africans. It is necessary for spatial reasons will take a long time to see concrete results. Yet, since we expect 600 or 700 faithful at each I remain hopeful. Peace will come, and we will celebration. Parish choirs, run by the different be here to welcome it.” communities, one in French and three in “Of course, many people decide to leave. English, will animate the Easter Vigil. Inside the “Until a few years ago, Poles, South Koreans, church, these feasts are quite alive and deeply Italians, Maltese, and Arabs frequented our felt. However, as soon as the faithful set foot church. The celebrations were divided over the outside, they step into a different world. The whole weekend because otherwise, there was country is completely Muslim, and Easter is a no room for everyone.” Today, this is no longer day like any other. When Mass is over, people the case. Yet, life in the city center goes on quite exchange best wishes and then go home, where normally, offices and schools remain open even everything ends. It was tough for me to get used when clashes occur in the suburbs. Of course, to this.” there are serious inconveniences to endure. There is a lack of electricity for eight to even Do you think you will finally be able to see twelve hours a day, especially in summer, when Libya at peace? the temperature reaches 120°. Some people have “The original sin of this country is that to face enormous problems on the economic it’s so rich! They all want their share. The front as well as the human rights front.” Libya 7 Featured

Fr. Franco Cagnasso, PIME, with scholarship recipient Lucy.

delicious. I enjoyed it.” I press Send Our Kids to him, though I know the answer, “You don’t see much meat, do you?” He responds shyly, “I always eat rice and potatoes; sometimes even a tomato.” College Four years earlier, Michael had appeared before me for the first time, lost and tense. He By Fr. Franco Cagnasso, PIME leave him in front of had been told that Fr. Franco a beautiful plate of was helping many students. In Bangladesh, a new chicken and a full bowl Originally from a remote village project guarantees scholarships of rice,I I come back after only of Aboriginal Tripura in the to help disadvantaged young a moment, and both the plate South of Bangladesh, he had people to access university-level and bowl are empty. “Wow, studied in Dhaka at the seminary education: a way to continue you polished off everything of a religious institute. Though the activity of Support from a in record time,” I say to him in Michael left after completing Distance. good spirits. He smiles, “It was high school, with what little 8 May // June 2020 Send Our Kids to College money he had scraped together, he enrolled in immediately. Trisna and Trisha are shy, nice, good a university and found lodging in a state-run girls, and desperately eager to study. hostel, but he could not continue. After two long PIME was thinking of organizing a new chats and the necessary checks, I understood that system to help all students. Sponsorships at a he was telling the truth. I committed myself to Distance is excellent for children, but if we don’t give him a small monthly sum for his education. go beyond that level in places like Bangladesh, A short time later, he started to phone me looking little or nothing can be accomplished. One cannot for more money, always tired and troubled, let them “taste the cake of education,” which gives asking for money for textbooks, for the bus, for them dignity and open new possibilities, and then medicine, for rent. “Rent? Weren’t you staying at take it away high school. the hostel?” I asked. “Those of the youth section of It was from these needs that the idea of the Awami political party kicked me out, saying, scholarships was born. Instead of offering ‘This is our place!’ a fixed monthly Now, four of us rent a contribution, the room, far away from He confided in same for everyone, the school where we sleep scholarship provides on the floor, and we help measured by the do our own cooking.” me, anguished, needs of the student. At every meeting, It is the student who Michael would ask has to prepare the for more funds, and that his village real project itself. I would get upset What kind of school, trying to make him for how many years, understand that he was a hell, and with what kind had to find a part-time of a budget? The job. He would listen missionary usually silently, and then he ravaged by gives the amount to would come back and him or her, who then ask again. Until one has to account for day, I discovered that alcoholism, to how they will spend there was a scam. Yes, it, monitoring their he was giving lessons results. My friends and doing some work, which his father in the PIME Mission but with what he was Center in Milan has getting from me, was a victim. encouraged me to file and the little he was a request. They soon earning, Michael was found a donor, and I, trying to support the studies of his two younger having secured the scholarship for Michael, put sisters, but he had dared not tell me. No wonder my resources at the disposal of his two sisters. he considered eating a tomato to be a luxury! He They now study in peace at the Sisters of Charity confided in me, anguished, that his village was a hostel, encouraged by Sr. Assunta, a Santal, who hell, ravaged by alcoholism, to which his father understands the problems of an Aboriginal in was a victim. He said that he was willing to do Dhaka. anything not to leave his sisters in that corrupt Michael has now graduated, and he is looking and violent environment, destined to marry some for a job. I, too, am looking. For what you ask? A old drunkard. donor to offer a scholarship to Trisna, the older Could I tell him that he had lied to me? Send of the two, accepted into a school where she can his sisters back home? Stop helping him? I got become a good midwife. However, there is also to know the two “accomplices” of his crime, and Dipa, Suvo, James, Koly, Proshanto, and the list if I ever had such a temptation, it disappeared goes on. Countless names, faces, and stories of Bangladesh 9 send our kids to college

Michael, with one of his sisters, Trisha, both are benefitted from the scholarship program.

young people, who have been threw in the towel and realized with a scholarship. Those of able to study, and with whom that technology is not for her. us who know her are amazed, the scholarship has allowed me And Mitra? Her family is holding our breath, will she to make new friends, share in unable even to guarantee her make it? secrets, some tears, along with a daily meal, but she wants to Scholarships are an dreams, and hopes. become a doctor. She is looking investment in youth and an Rita, a petite girl full of and looking, and she has finally injection of hope that so many energy, became a nurse and found someone to give her credit young people deserve. now works in Bogra. Proshanto so that she can enroll, another married Dipa (whom he first one who provides her lodging, had introduced her as his and a third who supports her sister), they have a little girl at home, and they host a small tribe of nephews and cousins so that they can study too. James, a young priest, graduated in law to defend the outcasts of his diocese. It must also be said that not everything goes according to our plans. Lacki found an obstacle - love! She got married, and her husband covers the expenses instead of relying on a scholarship. Ema, in her stubbornness, insisted Scholarship recipient, Roby, on enrolling in the Computer does classwork at his computer. Engineering course, but she 10 May // June 2020 MISSION DEVELOPMENT Rice for hungry children in Taungngu Hostels Rats once again devastated the rice crops of the Taungngu Diocese earlier in the year, which means that students in several states in Myanmar will be without a meal as this pandemic ravages their country. Replacement food is urgently needed. $12,173 will complete a comprehensive plan to feed the tribal children of the diocese. PROJECT #10083 $12,173 STILL NEEDED clean water for myanmar catholic families With the Coronavirus spreading through the country, clean water is needed in rural areas like Mong Pan now, more than ever. 80 Catholic families inhabit the city, and all source their water from the brook near the chapel; a creek used for drinking, bathing, and even for thirsty cattle. $4,595 is still needed to dig a well and build a storage tank, as well as plumbing for the priest’s house and two hostels, eliminating the PROJECT #10093 $4,595 STILL NEEDED need to drink this contaminated water.

emergency COVid-19 relief fund COVID-19 has spread across the world, and many countries are already struggling with rapidly growing numbers. The poor of these countries are threatened the most by this virus. Funding allows for food aid in India, Brazil, the Philippines, and Bangladesh as well as healthcare aid in Myanmar, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, and Cameroon. Donations are desperately needed PROJECT #10096 FUNDS NEEDED for these projects, as the situation is continuously changing. *Upon receipt of your contribution, if your project is already funded, we will direct your donation to another needy project. Projects 11 Cover Story

by Anna Pozzi t is not easy to be a Christian in Algeria,” relents Sr. Rita Manzoni, Missionary Sr. Rita Manzoni has lived in the Algerian capital of the Immaculate. At 75 years of age, for ten years. She is in charge of the Maison she “Ipossesses over 45 years of mission experience Diocésaine, a place of welcome and encounter therefore, this concept is something that she between people of different origins, cultures, and knows well. She spent the last ten years in this religions. vast country in the North of Africa, where she was among the pioneers of an institute presence that 12 Mission World house), the heart of the Church of Algiers. The Maison Diocésaine is a place of meeting, prayer, and exchange open not only to Catholics, but to all. It is a place of inter-religious dialogue that is formed by building new relationships with solidarity. Originally from the town of Gorgonzola, near Milan, Sr. Rita spent over 30 years in Cameroon, from 1978 to 2010. Over a considerable portion of that time, her African experience was linked to a Church full of young people, enthusiasm, and initiatives. However, Sub-Saharan Af- rica - even the predominantly Muslim one like the Far North region of Cameroon - is very different and far from the Alge- rian one on the Mediterranean Sea and not only in a geographic sense. “Here in Algeria, many have never seen a nun. They discover one for the first time when we meet; in general, they are positively impressed. It’s just another world, another way of creating new relationships,” Sr. Rita explains. The missionary sister faced The mission in Algeria is a unique one, a radical change of perspective primarily focused on meeting others by volunteering to go to Algeria. in witness of the Catholic faith, and in Growing up in a country like dialogue with others. Italy with a strong Catholic tradition, then as a missionary in a country like Cameroon with a significant presence of Christians, Sr. Rita has found herself back into the mix in does not stop growing, despite found herself where there was a setting like Algeria. Here, the difficulties. nothing, and she had to start Christianity is a very small Sr. Rita would never admit from scratch. minority, making up about 1% it, but between her discreet, In Algiers, she and her of the population, with a clear shy manners and her practical fellow Sisters, Giovanna Magni, predominance of Protestants. ability to adapt, she always Gabriella Tripani, and Teresa Among the Catholics, the wound up where she was Gomes are the pillars of the majority are foreigners; many needed the most. Often, she Maison Diocésaine (the diocesan French, Europeans from Algeria 13 Algeria my home

Missionary Sisters Gabriella, Rita, and Julia witness the faith in this North African mission.

different countries, some Latin American, and different people, cultures, religions, and worlds.” some Asian however, more and more, however, Inside this large house and its vast courtyard, are sub-Saharan, both students and migrants. many people are constantly coming and going. In short, a little bit of Africa has also found “There are Christians, of course, but they are itself in this large desert country, where the not the most numerous. Some of the faithful climate, not only that of the atmosphere, is not attend Mass daily, while a slightly larger number forgiving. “I was in Italy at the General Assembly goes there for the Eucharistic celebration on of our congregation when it was decided to open Fridays, which in Algeria is festive, or on Sunday a new mission in Algeria in 2010,” she says. “Sr. evenings.” Serena De Stefani and I, both with previous “They are almost all expatriates,” the experience in Cameroon, were there, and we Missionary of the Immaculate says, she is the said that they could count on us. Then, Sr. administrator of the structure that also offers Lourdes Santos from Brazil, who had also been hospitality and meeting spaces to Algerian in Cameroon, joined us.” These three religions associations and groups. “They come here for represent the vanguard of the presence of the meetings or training sessions. It is always a good Missionaries of the Immaculate in the country. opportunity to get to know new people and to They followed a PIME presence, which began in interact with them. We are very much in demand, 2006 in the city of Touggourt, in the south-central but we only accept groups that have humanitarian part of the country. Today, it has extended to the purposes, for example, women’s promotion, civic city of Algiers, with five missionaries and a family training, services for the disabled. We are cautious of PIME Lay Association (ALP) missionaries. The that they do not have any political connotations.” religious number has more than doubled in total, One can never be too careful, especially in a with 11 divided into three different missions. The critical and evolving situation like Algeria, where missions being Algiers, Hassi Messaoud, in the for over a year now, and despite the elections, diocese of Lagouat-Ghardaia, and Mascara, in the protests have not stopped (see box on p. 15). diocese of Oran. Two other sisters are preparing to “Much attention is given to teenagers and join them, while three are already in Tunisia, the young people,” Sr. Rita is keen to emphasize, sister mission in North Africa. “Here at the Maison “especially through the Youth Group, in which Diocésaine, we have the possibility of meeting Sisters Giovanna and Totò are engaged.” many people. It is a Carrefour, a crossroads of Last year, in particular, the “Foyer des Jeunes

14 May // June 2020 - Amitiés sans Frontières” (Youth Hostel - Friends Without Borders) saw significant participation. “We could accept about 40 registrations, more than that, and it is not possible due to a lack of space and resources. The children are all Algerian and Muslim, both male and female. At the same time, the eight counselors are of different nationalities - Algerian, Central African, and Italian - and among them, there are also some Christians. Already we can see some values that we want to instill: welcome and respect for others, rejection of racism, openness to knowledge, and encounter with others. We try to convey to them the conviction that diversity is rich and should not be feared.” The children typically meet on NEW PRESIDENT Saturday afternoons at the Maison Diocésaine, where many activities such as music, drawing, OLD PROBLEMS cooking, gardening, and acting are offered. “There is always ample time for playing games, To change everything so as to change which offer important educational opportunities nothing? Many people are asking themselves such as respect for the rules, team spirit, and the this question, which stems from noticing the possibility of working together,” Sr. Rita added. signs of unwillingness to change anything. It A central theme on which they continue to is proposed in the face of the Algerian socio- work is that of the environment, its protection political scenario, which has been marked, and promotion, which is still seldom felt even since February 2019, by events of enormous among adults. Then, they propose visits and magnitude. An unprecedented mass protest excursions so that they can get to know their (renamed hirak), the cancellation of the beautiful country better. “We have had field trips candidature of former President Abdelaziz to Tipaza and Cherchell, two beautiful Roman Bouteflika, the death of the very powerful cities, with important and fascinating remains. Chief of Staff Gaid Salah, and the elections We also visited some fascinating areas of the of December 12, 2019, won by Abdelmadjid city of Algiers, such as the Casbah, recognized Tebboune. as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or the Jardin However, the new president – Bouteflika’s d’Essay, the botanical garden.” former prime minister and considered Sr. Rita, however, also visited another extremely fascinating and evocative place, the aligned with the old regime - was challenged hermitage of Charles de Foucauld at Assekrem, in by the hirak.” Nonetheless, he gave mixed the deep South of Algeria, not far from the town signals both of rupture with the past and of Tamanrasset. “For security reasons, it was not reconciliation. Rupture, for example, with possible to go there for a long time,” she says, the former ways by overtures to his political “but now you can climb to the top with a military opposition, but also dialogue and willingness escort. I have been there a couple of times for to listen to the demands of civil society. spiritual exercises. It is a unique place, really close Many open challenges raise concern. First to heaven.” of all, the management of oil production on which the country’s economy is based, as well as the better distribution of wealth to a population that still lives mostly in conditions of poverty and backwardness even today.

Algeria 15 Featured that children can go to school from the first grade until the end of high school. Although, they do this among a thousand difficulties, “The public schools in the peripheral areas of Bangladesh do not work very well, and do not stimulate the children to study. I have to go Education has always been a primary to the headmaster once a week focus for PIME Missionaries serving in to protest against teachers who Bangladesh. do not show up. If our boys have to go to school to do nothing, I prefer to keep them at the hostel impossible dreams to really study.” Studying is already done from 7 to 9 a.m. before classes begin at school. All students come true take two hours of lessons with the educators hired by the by Gabriele Monaco causing frequent flooding,” Fr. missionaries. “Without this Almir explains. “But above all, additional support, the students Even if the bridge over the river is it makes it difficult to pass from would not be able to pass their still a work in progress, Fr. Almir one side of the city to the other. final exams.” Once they have Azevedo, PIME, has already The only connection is a boat overcome that obstacle, many managed to draw many boys to driven by an elderly ferryman, decide to continue their studies, school in the northern part of but it is not very reliable. When I and that is the real miracle. Bangladesh. go to the river on my motorbike, The boys go to the Novara I always fall down the muddy Technical School run by PIME, want to build a slopes that form after flooding.” and the girls go on to a college bridge over the A bridge over the Tangan or university. “With a technical Tangan River. I would be useful to many, “On diploma, young people have always“I fall in the water on my one side of the river PIME a guaranteed job with an motorcycle, and I am sick of has dispensaries where, every above-average income. Girls it.” Some people have been Monday, a doctor comes for free are not forced to marry when playing with the meanings of visits. Those who live on the they are 18, so they can make the words of the PIME acronym other side of the Tangan cannot an independent living. The for years, expounding that the pay for the ferry; therefore, mentality is finally changing “pontifical” in PIME means they cannot reach it.” Building a in parents as well. Instead of “bridge builders.” It seems that bridge, however, is not an easy sending their children to work Fr. Almir Azevedo, a Brazilian task. “I know I’m a dreamer,” right away, they have realized assigned to do missionary the missionary admits. “In the that investing in education work in Bangladesh in 2011, meantime, I am telling everyone pays off in the long term with took it literally. His mission in that the bridge will be built, so a higher income. A victory for Moeshpur, in the north of the the dream becomes a little closer education such as this is a great country, is cut in two by the to being real.” A dream that is achievement, not only for us Tangan River, a waterway just finally coming true, however, is who are in Bangladesh, but under 550 yards wide that flows that of education. The student also for all the missionaries on a sandy bottom. hostels, which are present in who preceded us, and made it a “The Tangan often widens practically every PIME mission, prime objective of our presence and narrows due to rain, work at full capacity to ensure here,” Fr. Almir concludes. 16 Mission World 17 May // June 2020 mission & art The goal of this project is to approach works of art as ways of furthering our faith through a series of six themes, explored through six works of art that are present in the collection at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA). Our focus is to bring together PIME, Detroit, and our readers to encounter Jesus Christ anew.

1405- Sano di Pietro (or 1428- Sano di Pietro Ansano di Pietro di Mencio) appears for the was born in Siena (Tuscany first time in the list – Italy). He was one of the of painters active the artist most prolific and successful in Siena. Formed “Sienese” painters, the head artistically at the of a workshop that satisfied “Sassetta (Sienese) Sano the demands of civic and religious institutions. School” of painting. di pietro

1481- He died. 1460- Sano di 1456- He painted 1444- Although he 1440- He created Sano is still Pietro joined the the “Apparition was already listed two frescoes on regarded as one of Virgin and Son of the Virgin to in the guild of San Bernardino, in the most popular with the figures of Callisto III.” The Sienese painters, Piazza del Campo Sienese painters of Saints Bernardino work recalls his work is well and in Piazza San the Renaissance. and Catherine of the famine that documented in Francesco. Both Siena offering the afflicted Siena in its various stages are considered opportunity to 1455. starting from 1444 masterpieces, explore the “new” onwards. and as historical Sienese saints. documents.

DID YOU KNOW? Saint Bernardino of Siena preached with a tablet baring the monogram of the name of Jesus (JHS inscribed in a circle with 12 sunbeams). Sano di Pietro was one of the most authoritative “Saint Bernardino’s iconographers.” The Saint’s popularity is attested by the countless paintings that portray him with his tablet, even before he became a saint. The monogram of the name of Jesus, previously used in codes and coins, was now spread through altarpieces and sacred objects.

Art & Culture 19 commissioned by the city of Siena. The front panels portray a large enthroned and Christ child with saints, angels, and a predella of the Childhood of Christ with the prophets above it. On June 9th, 1312, after a procession of the work around the city, the painting was installed in the cathedral of Siena. The base of the panel has an inscription that translates to read, “Holy Mother of God, be thou the cause of peace for Siena and life to Duccio because he painted thee thus.” After 100 years, the Virgin Mary is still the pivotal point of Sienese faith, culture, and art. In this period, shapes, colors, and the material used all have meaning; there is a symbolism behind everything. The Virgin Mary, from the incarnation to the death of Jesus, plays a central role in the life of the Church. She knew from the beginning that her Son came from God and had a mission to accomplish. In this painting, Sano di Pietro depicts this mystery in Mary’s facial expression. We could Virgin and Child with summarize this mystery with a verse from Luke’s Gospel, “And Saint Bernardino, his mother kept all these things in her heart,” (LK 2:51). Mary’s Saint Jerome, and “yes” was an unconditional yes, from the to Two Angels the Passion under the Cross. She is the Mother of God and By Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME won the battle of Montaperti, the . In a freeing itself from the dominion certain sense, she is the Mother The fourth theme we will explore of Florence and establishing its of each one of us. We are part of is Mary, the Mother of God. autonomy. The city attributed this mystery, through Mary, “the its victory to the intercession of Word became flesh, and made his he viewer must first the Virgin Mary, who became dwelling among us,” (John 1:14). understand the history the principal patroness of Siena. “For the Son of God became man of Siena and the role In 1308, Duccio di Buoninsegna so that we might become God,” thatT the Virgin Mary played to painted his most famous work, the (CCC 460). understand this painting. On Maestà. An altarpiece composed Let’s take a look at some September 4th, 1260, Siena of many individual paintings details.------20 May // June 2020 Color code: The background is gold, the sign of the light and eternity; this means that we are looking at another dimension. Mary’s blue mantle is a sign of her humanity, while the red robe she donned is a symbol of divinity she hosted in her womb. The blue of the mantle is dark, almost a black, symbolizing the mourning for the Passion, foreshadowed by the grapes. Jesus is dressed in red, and His divinity is at the same time revealed and veiled by His flesh. The Angels: Their expressions are full of sadness as they too, know that the child will be crucified. Their gaze is that of the same as God’s, who looks down with compassion.” The Posture: Mary is the sedes sapientiae (Seat of Wisdom). Mary is the Throne where Jesus is seated because he is the King, and He reigns!

The Veil: The veil that emerges from Jesus’ knee is stunning, through Mary, God revealed Himself. In Latin, the verb “Revelatio” means to reveal. It is an interesting verb because it can mean “to vail” or “to unveil” at the same time. Through the Incarnation the veil has been removed and God has been seen. “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life for the life was made visible. We have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us what we have seen and heard, we proclaim now to you,” (1 John 1:1-3). The Star: In the Christian tradition, the star represents the virginity of Mary. In the classic iconography, Mary has three stars: one on the left shoulder, one on the forehead and one on the right shoulder as in our case. They represent Mary’s virginity before, during and after childbirth. The Red Grapes: Jesus holds red grapes in his hand; a Eucharistic sign of His passion, His mission, and His blood shed for humanity. His future is in His hand. In these two symbols- the star and the grapes- we have a synthesis of the mystery, from incarnation to Passion. The Faces: The face of Jesus touches the face of Mary. This detail makes this painting as referred to as the “Madonna of tenderness.” In Greek, it is Madonna Ἐλεούσα = Tenderness or showing mercy. Jesus is nestled against her cheek. “έλεος”= Mercy/ Tenderness. The Gazes: Mary’s face is full of sorrow and her gaze goes beyond Jesus as she already sees the future, the Passion of her son. Jesus looks at her with sympathetic eyes, knowing how much all of this will cost her; He blesses her with comfort. The Blessing Hand of Jesus: Jesus’ compassion for her is extended to all humanity. He blesses with two fingers, a sign of his dual nature. Jesus is true man and true God.

Saint Jerome: Saint Jerome represents Tradition, primarily he wrote about the mystery of the Virgin. He anticipated the council of Ephesus, capturing the redemptive sublimity of the verb “incarnated” in Mary’s virginity. One mystery beginning in Bethlehem and ending in Golgotha. The virginity referred to the mystery of the mother of the savior, revealing the divinity of the Son and signifying its new existence, inaugurated with the redemptive Kenosis. Born of woman (Gal 4:4).

Saint Bernadino: Saint Bernadino represents contemporary thinking and preaching of the mystery of the Virgin Mary. He is skinny, a sign of penitence, and he wears the brown habit, a sign of poverty. He is holding the tablet with the monogram of the name of Jesus. Surely Sano di Pietro must have known Saint Bernardino, and his face must be close to the real one. Art & Culture 21 Featured

“Querida Amazonia” is a reflection on the current situation in the Amazon, and what the future could hold.

yet one that in some ways managed to unsettle those who expected a simple yes or no to specific questions. Such as the proposal, formulated by the bishops, THE HEART to proceed with the priestly ordination of married men to give the most isolated communities the ability to celebrate the Eucharist. The Pope instead of “Querida chose to comprehensively reflect on the Amazon, reconnecting with the integral ecology that had been featured in his encyclical Laudato Sì’ five years ago. Amazonia” “Pope Francis has shown us how not to betray the Amazon, and the first step is to have this 360-degree look that puts the whole topic of Evangelization at By Giorgio Bernardelli its center,” comments Bishop Giuliano Frigeni. The Bishop of the Parintins Diocese had been a PIME The following are the comments of the Priests and Missionary in Brazil for more than 40 years. “One Sisters of PIME on the Apostolic Exhortation, Querida can see it well in the ministries of the Church. It is a Amazonia, published by Pope Francis after the Synod challenge that cannot be solved by marrying priests, of Bishops dedicated to this crucial region of the world. but by rethinking what a community is.” The Apostolic Exhortation begins with the o transform its social wounds, encounter pressing social issues that are present in the Amazon its true cultures, welcome the beauty today in answer to which the Church is called to of its nature, and to implement an take a prophetic attitude. “The Pope says this clearly ecclesialT conversion built not so much on canonical in paragraph n. 25,” Bishop Frigeni continues. dispositions. These are four great dreams that “We cannot go to bless companies that cut down genuinely tell the Amazon story. A transformation thousands of trees and then allow them to wash their that starts here, “What facial features do the saints conscience clean with a donation to the Church. In of the communities in the heart of the forest have?” recent weeks, President Bolsonaro has introduced a Perhaps one can summarize the fundamental bill that would allow for the exploitation of mines coordinates of Querida Amazonia, the Apostolic in indigenous areas. It’s nothing new, previous Exhortation written by Pope Francis, by starting governments have done it secretly in many places, from the reflections that emerged at the Synod in but now President Bolsonaro is saying it openly. The October. The assembly focused attention on this environment that is being created is worrisome. In region of Latin America that is so strategic for the my diocese, I have two priests that were threatened future of the world. It was a much-anticipated text, by local politicians simply because they are openly 22 Mission World the heart of “querida Amazonia” opposed to projects of this kind. These people Amazonian dream. It is a ministry that I live, along think that everything is allowed now; it is terrible. with our team on the Amazon River, by visiting the Here, in Querida Amazonia, the Pope is truly siding indigenous communities that are more isolated. At with the defense of the least.” Another thorny the Synod, Sister Arizete Miranda Dinelly of the issue is that of enculturation and the relationship Sisters of Saint Augustine recounted this type of with the indigenous peoples. “We still have a long experience, and the Pope was very impressed. ‘I’ll way to go to prepare truly ‘Amazonian’ rites,” The quote you,’ he had told her, and indeed he did. The Bishop of Parintins explains. “They have been itinerancy is essential above all, to set out with these suggested repeatedly, but after a few centuries of peoples and to forge ties at the Pan-Amazonic level,” evangelization, we have not yet been able to discover Sr. Laura elaborates. and appreciate them. It is a work in progress to What does this new document of Pope Francis which Querida Amazonia introduces us. A work that say to those who live in different parts of the world? does not erase anything of what the Synod has Another Sister of the Immaculate who carries out produced. The challenge for us is now to work on it.” her ministry in Brazil, Sr. Laura Cantoni, signed “It invites us to embrace the communicative the introductory commentary to Querida Amazonia genre chosen by Pope Francis,” says Sr. Laura in the booklet that contains the full text of the Valtorta, Missionary of the Immaculate in Alto Apostolic Exhortation. Among the themes that she Solimões, Brazil. “The title itself speaks clearly; stresses, there is the idea of a close link between our Querida Amazonia stands apart from traditional lifestyles and safeguarding the great “green lung.” documents. It is more a letter of affection, even “Accepting the request for help from the peoples before being a document of the Magisterium.” Even of the Amazon, without paternalism but as a friend going so far as to develop the reflection around and sister,” writes Sr. Cantoni. “The Church desired four dreams was appreciated by the local people. by Pope Francis draws close and becomes a fellow “An indigenous woman here said that it is a kind traveler on the road, sharing the social dream of of look on life that the Indios feel particularly ‘an Amazon that integrates and promotes all its close to as if it were part of their culture,” Sr. Laura inhabitants so that they can live a good life’ (n. 8). reveals. “Indeed, for them, dreams are not a distant Faced with a drama that is both ecological and desire, but something that is already coming true. social, it does not help to shut our eyes and pretend ‘The Pope has become in tune with us,’ this woman that the situation is not so dangerous and that commented, ‘he is speaking our language.’ I believe we do not live in the same world. Even if one is that this is an excellent example of enculturation.” not among the great exploiters, one can no longer What about the controversy on not opening a remain unconcerned or indifferent: ‘One must be path to ordain married men, or recognizing specific indignant,’ says the Pope, ‘as Moses was indignant, ministries for women? “My opinion,” the Missionary as Jesus was indignant, as God is indignant before of the Immaculate began, “is that the Pope has not injustices’ (n. 15).” given in at all to pressure, but has made a ‘political’ “One is to be indignant, but with the awareness choice. If on the subject of ministries, he had inserted that change requires a commitment on the part of the following suggestions from that final document everyone. Because the message of Querida Amazonia of the Synod into the Apostolic Exhortation, people is that ‘we cannot say: I have nothing to do with it,’” would have spoken only of these things. Instead, concludes Sr. Laura Cantoni. “It is imperative that he was concerned that attention should remain on everyone feels involved in the ongoing processes the good that can already be done currently in the and assumes his or her share of responsibility on Amazon. For that matter, there is no final word in the path towards a new concept of development. Querida Amazonia. Reflection on those topics can be The serious social and environmental crisis in the resumed. As a shepherd, Pope Francis understood Amazon can teach us to change course and embrace that prudence was needed not to end up blurring out new lifestyles. The Pope writes, ‘There will be no everything else.” healthy and sustainable ecology, capable of changing Among the new works that Pope Francis something, if people do not change; if they are not encourages, there is one that is particularly dear urged to adopt a less voracious, more serene, more to the missionaries in the Amazon. “I found it respectful, less anxious, more fraternal lifestyle,’ (n. beautiful that the Pope picked up the theme of 58).” itinerancy in the part of the letter dedicated to the The Amazon 23 Mission Even they could only do so by dressing in a gown, gloves, hat, and mask. When it came to visitors, I could only receive one person per day, for an hour, through a window conversing solely by phone. I was lying in bed, artificially fed, artificially hydrated, linked to therapeutic machines. This is how my journey began. Loneliness is not emptiness, but rather it is fullness. In reality, we are never alone; at least we are with ourselves; it is through ourselves that we can find the path to God. I am not just referring to our mind or our spiritual life, but rather about our corporal dimension. Yes, I am talking about our bodies. There is no spiritual life without St. Isaac turned to self-isolation a body because we are embodied to better see the path to God. souls. Jesus reached us through the incarnation and, incarnating in a real body, by becoming man; He touched all of humankind. The imprint of God lies in our humanity, and this is the reason why we can only reach God Grace through through our humanity. He has also given us the intuition, the strength, and the perseverance that we call Grace. Grace, which isolation is the life of God in us, does not work without our bodies. Mary is “full of Grace” because her Grace By Fr. Daniele Criscione, PIME friends of the PIME Spiritual was the Word of God incarnated Cancer Support group. in her. It is because of that same “Get away from the whole “Get away from the whole Grace that the Word of God still world with your body. Join the world with your body,” is the first wants to be incarnated in us. Each whole world with your heart.” step. Isaac retired to the Persian of us has the opportunity “to give [Isaac of Nineveh]. desert to find his path to himself flesh” to the Word.St. Paul tells us and God. In a certain sense, this this in his letter to the Romans, “I n these days of the period of isolation can become appeal to you, therefore, brethren “Stay at Home ‘’ an opportunity for each of us to by the mercies of God, to present order, the words of find our way to ourselves and your bodies as a living sacrifice, Isaac of NinevehI come to mind, God. This is not the first time I holy and acceptable to God, which “Get away from the whole world have been in quarantine. I find is your spiritual worship,” [Rom with your body. Join the whole my thoughts going back to the 12:1-2]. Our spiritual worship is world with your heart.” I have months I spent in a sterile room. the offering of our bodies. been home for 40 days now and Hardly anyone could enter my This is such a precious time my thoughts drift to my dear room, only nurses and doctors. to offer our bodies as a living 24 May // June 2020 grace through isolation sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, especially for wash my hands continuously, for at least a minute. those who are suffering in body and spirit. As Pope I soon learned that I really did not want to wash Francis told us, during his meditation at Urbi et my hands for one minute and decided to make it Orbi, praying for the end of this pandemic, “The more manageable when I realized that one minute storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those was the equivalent of five Hail Mary’s. So, I started false and superfluous certainties around which we praying while washing my hands. I learned to have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, make sense of every little gesture, and everything our habits, and priorities.” We have the opportunity slowly became a ritual. Staying at home, washing to look at ourselves as we are, through this time of our hands, avoiding any unnecessary risk, they all difficulty. Being isolated is a familiar experience protect our loved ones and us. Acting intelligently for me; no food, no drinks, no walking, but only also means respecting all those who risk their lives morphine, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants. at the forefront of this disease. When we make wise It was me, myself, and I. In short, there were no choices, we do it for them, too. So, by changing our distractions. I met myself as I am, and, honestly, I habits, we widen our hearts and welcome others. did not like everything I saw. However, I realized The third step is to help others. An ancient that it was me. Then, the mercy of God, the powerful proverb says, “Nobody is so rich that he has mercy of God. That is why Saint Paul says, “by the nothing to receive, and no one is so poor he has mercy of God, present your bodies.” The mercy of nothing to give!” So, no matter what our condition God transforms lives, “Get away from the whole is, where we are, or what we are going through, world with your body.” even in our poverty, we can help others. Even my “Join the whole world with your heart.” How can priestly ministry in this situation has undergone we do this? A three-step journey comes to mind: a remarkable change. Since the beginning, I asked Prayer, act intelligently and help others. myself, how can I be a priest? How can I be a The first step is prayer. I find that I experience missionary in all this? The answer did not take long a great deal of comfort and spiritual closeness with for me to find. I never thought that I would have to others through prayer. When I pray the rosary, I sleep with my cell phone on and the booklet of the remember one person for each Hail Mary. This helps Last Rites on my bedside table. me to keep 50 people in my mind and my heart. It is I found myself waiting for the nurses’ shift fascinating to discover who spontaneously comes to change, to be able to recite prayers over the phone, mind. Another critical moment is the Intercessions trying to reach a person who could no longer breathe during the Morning and the Evening prayers. This and was losing their fight against the COVID-19. is crucial because it allows me to ask the Lord for The sound of that labored, difficult breathing brings what I care about the most. Although, we all know me back to before my bone marrow transplant when that the most beautiful and most important act of I got a lung infection. I remember that the oxygen prayer is indeed the celebration of the Mass. The in my blood was low, and the nurse came to put an celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is a time and oxygen tube on my nose, which soon became a mask. space to thank God for everything. Even though I That mask became a helmet like the ones we see on know that every “liturgy” is an “action of the people” TV these days. All this creates a sort of communion. as that is the meaning of the word liturgy, I really When you have crossed the same path, this brings miss celebrating with people. I discover more each you closer to others. I hope that I helped these people day how much we priests are blessed in having the by getting close to them in this terrible moment of gift of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus always with solitude as a priest. I pray to God that at least my us. We cannot take it for granted because that gift is voice helped them feel less alone as they prepared not for us but for the whole of humanity. to meet Him. These people have helped me as well, The second step is to act intelligently, meaning helped me to understand what I have experienced to make choices based on science, as well as on our and myself. I believe that they were sent by God to faith. The two are not in opposition to one another. make me know how much God loves us and turns I still remember the first time I entered a sterile everything for the better. room. They gave me a booklet of rules to follow “Get away from the whole world with your body. because my immune system was so weak that every Join the whole world with your heart”. rule was necessary to protect me. I remember them very well, as I carefully followed each and every single rule. For example, one rule was to thoroughly USA 25 Featured

The Edimar Centre would see about 100 young people daily before its closure due to COVID-19.

Cameroon. Which, like all of Africa, has been hit by the Coronavirus epidemic. The data is alarming, COVID-19 in although underestimated due to the lack of swabs. After the heavily impacted countries of North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco) and South Africa, which are the most affected on the continent, Yaoundé Cameroon follows closely with high numbers of affected. Its capital city, Yaoundé, especially suffers, By Anna Pozzi having almost four million inhabitants, many of whom live in conditions of extreme poverty. The They are the most vulnerable, and now they last among those here are street children- who cannot even count on the Edimar Centre, a shelter number in the thousands- do not even have a shack founded by Fr. Maurizio Bezzi, PIME, which had to for refuge. For them, as for many others who live in close due to the pandemic. Despite the closure, the very precarious situations here, it becomes nearly operators continue to support the street children impossible to comply with the prohibitions imposed and accompany them on the road, even in this by the COVID-19 emergency. challenging moment. Today, many of those who used to attend the Edimar Centre, founded by Fr. Maurizio, no longer he situation in Yaoundé is really even have this safe place for help, comfort, to take a problematic. The street kids are at shower or study. “We have been forced to close the risk not only for the virus, but the Centre, in compliance with government regulations. pandemic“T adds to conditions of extreme poverty However, alongside our educators, we still try to and precariousness, for them as for many others.” follow the children, especially the youngest ones, by Fr. Maurizio Bezzi, a PIME Missionary, has going out into the streets or to the places where they worked for about 30 years with the enfants de la gather. When it is possible, we help them to return rue (street children) of Yaoundé, the capital of to the village or to join some relatives,” Fr. Maurizio explains. 26 Mission World Covid-19 in Yaoundé

The Edimar Centre is located go back home to their village ways because they often are right in front of the Yaoundé train or a family member,” Mireille drug users. They are the most station, in a strategic and very continues. “Many accepted this vulnerable because they are accessible point. Since it opened, proposal, and in the first two exposed to everything. “With it has always been full of life and weeks of lockdown, we guided the Edimar staff, we frequently activity. That is until a few weeks many of them home.” Five of returned to the streets or places ago. It seemed impossible that it them, who had no such options, where we found these vulnerable would ever be closed or empty. are currently housed in a house in children. We also try to raise “On average, about a hundred the country where they do small their awareness, to protect them young people would come to the farm jobs to earn some money in from contagion,” the Centre head Centre a day,” the missionary the meantime. details. continues, “they could participate During these weeks, many Finally, there are the former in many activities, and they were have kept in touch. They would street boys and girls who have also offered much grown up and had space for personal “We tried to open their children of their own, and group dialogue. but continue to live in It was a way to inhuman conditions. make them reflect eyes so that they could Mireille and the operators on themselves of the Edimar Centre try to and their futures. see what it means to reach them as well, and to We wanted to bring what help they can, accompany them face such a thing, in a especially food. The prices through friendship of food in this emergency to change their health situation, with lives.” country where there its transport difficulties, “As soon as the have grown out of control. Prime Minister are no structures “They live in of Cameroon challenging conditions,” announced the capable of caring for says Mireille, “asking measures to contain them to stay at home is not the Coronavirus, possible. Not because they we immediately the sick.” don’t want to, but because took action to make they cannot. They have to go and the street children aware of the call Mireille and the other do some work or sell something gravity and urgency of what educators to tell them about at the market because otherwise, was happening,” Mireille Yoga, their lives and the difficulties they cannot survive. We have the current head of the Edimar they encounter. Those who are given them bags of rice, and we Centre tells us. “We tried to open back in their villages experience continue to track them to support their eyes so that they could see the familiar anxiety of scraping them with food. Then we stressed what it means to face such a thing, together even a few cents a day. the need to wash their hands and in a country where there are no Some are frustrated and would made them aware of the need to structures capable of caring for like to return to Yaoundé. “We beg wear a mask. As for those who get the sick.” them to stay,” says Mireille, “the sick, it is especially complicated For many of them, it was situation in the capital is critical. because the hospitals are full, and hard to learn that even the We tell them that they must wait it is impossible for them to treat Centre, which was often their for this horrible monster, who is themselves. It is all very difficult only access to food and shelter, capable of taking so many lives, for everyone. We really hope that would be closed. “We gathered to leave.” this monster will leave as soon as the boys and girls and said that Then there are all those who possible.” we could evaluate the possibility had to return to the streets. They for those who could do so to are the most “difficult” in some Cameroon 27 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

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Although the situation in the US With your help, PIME seeks to spread is a serious one, COVID-19 stands to aid and awareness across 3 different decimate countries around the world continents. Our comprehensive plan due to their infrastructures not being will ensure that the impoverished of the equipped to handle this pandemic. The tightly packed areas of Bangladesh or the already marginalized populations of extremely rural areas of Brazil receive these countries face an even more tragic care packages so that their families outcome without outside intervention. can still eat. Check out our Mission Often already lacking food or clean Developments page (Page 11) for water, the Coronavirus stands to make a more information. complicated situation a grave one.