Something new

IN TANZANIA

"I should like to see something new: never seen before. Something that has not yet been done. By who would dare say, my God, that there still could be something new after twenty centuries of Christianity?" This was the questioning groan of a great French writer - Charles Péguy. Many of us share this questioning. But when we have the opportunity of facing realities that are so different from our day to day experience, the question can change into surprise and wonder, because the "new" does exist.

I had been offered the opportunity to visit Tanzania in connection with the official opening of the crèche of Temeke in the Stigmatine mission of Msolwa. This crèche was built partly by the contribution of my sister Gabriella, in memory of her son Federico who died in an accident. At the end of the feast she had commented not without tears: "Federico is no longer buried in Quinto of Verona. He is alive in the faces of these children". These faces do not inspire compassion. They give a charge of joy because they express humanity, hospitality, smiling… "things never see before."

The head of the village thanked us saying: "We cannot remain satisfied with what we are and have, but the formation our children receive gives us hope, because our future starts off from the school". In that context, those words too are "things never heard before".

On that Sunday 18 children have been baptised together with the First Communion, in the village of Madisini. I tried to add up all the baptisms that I have celebrated myself: I could not reach the same number. What impressed me was the offertory procession that showed sharing. All people - I say all -small and big, had formed a cue and while dancing and singing they moved towards the altar to put their own offering on the place. I was thinking of the gesture of the poor widow of the gospel.

IN SUD AFRICA

With eyes and heart full o inexpressible feelings, I moved to South Africa. It was a strong impact. From the dusty roads of the valley of the Jovi to the tarred high ways of Johannesburg and Pretoria. From the mud huts to the futurist skyscrapers.
Africa is full of contrast!
But the things that are truly "new" are to be seen in the outskirts of history and of cities. As I progressively walked through the true reality of our South African mission, I remember a Jewish story. The prophet Elijah was asked a question: "Where shall I find the Messiah?" "At the gates of the city" was the answer. "How shall I recognise him?" "He sits among the lepers" "Among the lepers, you say? And what is he doing among the lepers?" "He changes their bandages. He changes them, one by one."
Ten Morgen, Madidi, Klipgat, Bethesda… are places situated in the outskirts of the towns where one can see many little "messiahs" that bend themselves over humanity's suffering to heal, to comfort and to educate.

Passing through the clean and orderly large room where many children have been gathered by the Missionaries of Charity, of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, in Klipgat, I was struck by one two year old child affected by AIDS. His legs were as big as my finger. His eyes were wide open and his skin discoloured. When he noticed our presence he started crying. Immediately a sister picked him up on her arms and told us; "For this child there remains very little time to live, but he too has the right to be loved by God".

On Ghandi's tomb they have carved the " the seven social sins" as described by the Mahatma. "Politics without principles. Riches without work. Pleasure without conscience. Knowledge without character. Commerce without morality. Cult without sacrifice." In South Africa one can notice these social sins, but a forest of alternatives is growing, also thanks to the Stigmatines.

It is true, as that Chinese proverb says: "Better to see something just once, than to read it a hundred times". This is the opinion share by my fellow travellers, Cecilia and Valeria, who were also shocked by the true "novelties of history". Fr Gino Zantedeschi was with us too. This was certainly not his first time, because he is the "courier of charity". And we all know that the "courier" passes very often.

Novello Signorini