(ANS – Nyinenyang) – On Saturday 30 March, Salesians in Ethiopia were celebrating the opening of a new church at the Nyinenyang mission. There was a lively and numerous participation of the faithful from local nearby villages. “Now we have God's house here at Nyinenyang, God has come amongst us to stay and we are very happy about that” one villager said.

The community, which has spent two months preparing for the event, increased its efforts a few weeks ago in preparation for a banquet, and providing welcome for neighbouring villages, choir practice up to the last moment…

Saturday morning – still mid-Lent for the Nyinenyang community which follows the Orthodox Julian calendar – saw the arrival of most of the faithful, many of them coming in trucks. “We all went off the the village entrance to wait for the Vicar Apostolic of Gambella, Bishop Angelo Moreschi, whom we all call ‘abba Angelo’. Many of the local clergy from the Vicariate came with him, and many Sisters” said Fr Filippo Perin, Italian missionary in Ethiopia since 2009.

Mass began after visitors were welcomed. Fr Perin continues: “It is not an everyday matter opening a new church; there was so much to do. First we processed around the church three times, singing and rejoicing, while the Bishop blessed the church. Then I had the task of the rite of opening the front door, then finally all the faithful came in. Then the bishop blessed the walls inside, anointed them with holy oils, and did similarly for everyone inside. There was about 300 inside, and a further 200 outside!”

In his homily, Bishop Moreschi spoke of what it means to have God's house in the village and bring the community together like this. 16 adults also received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
 
The festivities continued under the shade of a large tree, with official speeches, gifts for the Bishop, dances and traditional songs. Many of the songs were hymns of praise and thanks to God for the gift of this new church. “We can now go to church every day and speak with God, pray, listen to what He has to tell us, seeing that he lives here with us!” one catechist said.

In the afternoon, following the expansive banquet, there were soccer and volleyball competitions between villages and final prize-giving. Many returned to their villages in the evening, some on foot, others by truck and some with Fr Perin, in his vehicle.
 
“The day after in Nyinenyang we thanked the Lord for this beautiful feast and promised to keep up our involvement with the parish groups by preparing for the next big feast which was Easter” said Fr Perin. He finished by thanking “all our benefactors, so many of them, who have and continue to contribute to Nyinenyang. Our task is to bring God to these people but also wells, education, food, the oratory…”

Published 05/04/2013