We are on the outskirts of the city of Bata.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is in Bome and is responsible for five other communities, each with its own chapel: Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Ambrose and St. James the Apostle are their respective patron saints.
They are attended by two priests, Father Jacinto Edú and his servant, Father José Luis Mangué.
Bome, the seat of the parish, is a heterogeneous community with a heterogeneous population: Ndowe natives, Fang immigrants, foreigners from other African countries, Chinese and Lebanese. On the other hand, it is a village of second residence, where people who live in the capital of the country come every weekend.
Religiously, we would say that it is a cold community threatened by the presence of sects. They are "the lost sheep of Israel" whom we must lead into the Lord's flock.
"We have begun to reorganize catechesis at all levels. The biggest challenge is the formation of lay people and adults."
Bome, the seat of the parish, is a heterogeneous community with a heterogeneous population: Ndowe natives, Fang immigrants, foreigners from other African countries, Chinese and Lebanese. On the other hand, it is a village of second residence, where people who live in the capital of the country come every weekend.
We arrived at this new parish, a year ago, with the experience of twenty-seven years of priesthood spent and worn out in various services to the local Church: Pastor of the Cathedral and St. Francis Xavier, Diocesan Delegate for Youth, professor at the Major Seminary and Vicar of the Clergy. In the bishop's mind is the desire to consolidate the presence of the Catholic Church there, to strengthen the faith of the people and to open it to the experiences of other communities with a longer and more extensive experience.
We have begun to reorganize catechesis at all levels. The biggest challenge is the formation of lay associations and adult catechesis.
"It means a lot to us this donation of ornaments that we have received from the CARF Foundation."
Father José Luis Mangué Mbá, from the Diocese of Bata (Equatorial Guinea), together with another priest, attends the parish of Nuestra Señora de Carmen (in the town of Bome) and is in charge of five other communities, each with its own chapel. They have infrastructure problems: there is no sacristy or premises for meetings, catechesis, rehearsal of hymns, paraliturgical celebrations, etc. The church is not sufficiently equipped either: there is no baptismal font, no holy vessels and no tablecloths. For this reason, he is grateful for the donation of sacred vessels from CARF.
We also have pnfrastructure problems: There is no sacristy or premises for meetings, catechesis, song rehearsals, paraliturgical celebrations,... The church is not sufficiently equipped either: there is no baptismal font, sacred vessels, tablecloths... Now I am taking a Stations of the Cross paid for by the Discalced Carmelites of Boadilla del Monte and last year those of San Lorenzo de El Escorial we were paid for the tabernacle.
For this reason, this donation of ornaments that we have received from the CARF Foundation means a lot to us. It will allow us to dignify our worship and provide a more evangelical service to the community. In your name and mine, I thank you infinitely.
May the Lord keep us united in his holy service and bless the works of our hands.
