Lomié – Cameroon: Pastoral visit of the general Superior in the District of Central Africa

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

The collecting of the general Superior’s passport at Chad Embassy delayed our departure from Yaoundé to Lomié. We got to face the 275 km that separates the two cities at 11: 00 am. Half of the journey is done on a forest track and we met frequently logging trucks heavily loaded. One of these behemoths that was overthrown and blocking the passage forced us to stop for a long time in the heart of the forest. A forest track, made even more dangerous by the rain, always has a few surprises for the most careful driver. That is why the visitor, Br Blaise, despite his dexterity with the steering wheel, could not spare us some violent shaking. When the night fell, driving became even more difficult. We arrived all the same smoothly after more than six hours on the road.

Despite the night, a small rain and the long wait, we were surprised at the turn leading to the Community to see a hedge of palm leaves erected, stressing the importance given to the visit of the general Superior. A hedge of children in uniform took the relay of the palm leaves. Clapping their hands and singing, these children cheered the Brother Superior and wishing him a warm welcome. Closing the hedge of children, just at the end, a troupe of dancers with bells on the Feet vibrated to the bewitching pace of a drum. The superior greeted the children after alighting before being led toward a traditional Baka hut in which he was invited to sit down for a few minutes… Before entering in the community where Brothers and lay partners were waiting for him, he did as the rite recommends that the guest offer something to the dancers and singers. On this eve of the commemoration of the deceased, the Baka, pejoratively called Pygmies, presented to the superior the spectacle of a funeral dance performed by a mysterious creature…

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

From 8:30 am, the morning was devoted to individual interviews. Over the course of these discussions the essential points for the life of the district came up clearly: a quality community life demanding Brothers to share their spiritual life nourished by spiritual readings and the Word, a mutual accompaniment between Brothers and also by the Brother Director and the Brother Visitor, A good communication in the district, the existence of a vocation pastoral program, the appointment of a person totally dedicated to this pastoral assisted by open communities of Brothers who know how to be close to the young, a continuous training program for the Brothers, the Lasallians Partners …

At the end of the morning, the general Superior was pleased to meet and acquaint himself with the team of De La Salle Complex in Bertoua, composed of Roberte Youkoutouo, Director of the nursery school, Elanga S. Alain, Director of the primary school and Dissey Georges, Director of the Center for professional training. A power point presentation was given on the three educational works. Br Robert Schieler noted with satisfaction that there is a real responsibility given to the Lay and collaboration with them in the district. The three responsible shared with him, each in turn, their concerns regarding each of the educational works. For example, there is a strong demand for vocational training of young refugees from the Central African Republic hunted by the war… One of the members of the team shared how he had been encouraged and motivated in the mission of education in the service of the poor by the humility of some Brothers and by their desire to share…

At 3:00 pm, the individual interviews continued with Lomié community Brothers o… This community, through Br Ghislain, is responsible for the home that welcomes 29 children whose age varies from 9 to 22 years. The dominant concern in the animation of this home is to introduce children to the values of family life and to broaden their horizons by allowing them to consider another life style instead of life as it is in the village. The superior met with all the Brothers present in Lomié after the visit of the students’ home. He invited the Brothers to undertake a genuine spiritual revolution. A symbolic gift by the Community for the general Superior ended this meeting with the Brothers.

Wednesday, November 2,  ended joyfully with a dinner to which were invited the supervisor of De La Salle Basic Educational Center, two priests from Saint John-Baptist parish, three religious women in mission in Lomié…