Page 87 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

In my village, part of this diocese, is found one of At times, their salaries are not even declared to
the largest mines of Burkina-Faso. The people of the the proper authorities. This is unjust. Thus I am an
village like to say: “Here in Sabce, we walk on gold.” exploiter. I believe that I, myself, must change so as
True enough, they walk on gold and they lack every- to change the world. Therefore pray for me that I may
thing! The peasants of Sabce cannot afford to buy change.
an egg. And small cubicles were built for families that The second matter that comes to my mind is the
can hardly hold two people, And all the silver, all of pastoral benefit I derive from this week of forma-
the gold, go elsewhere. I don’t know where. tion: The way the Pilgrims of Saint Michael carry out
I feel that we are being exploited. Gold produc- their teaching can be applied to the pastoral field in
tion in Burkina-Faso was discussed at the Bishops spreading the Good News. The Pope invites us to go
Conference on several occasions. Our country is out of our way. You give us the example of how to
overflowing with gold! There is gold everywhere. go far and wide. In the diocese, we have many Cath-
Gold everywhere. And in my diocese of Koudougou, olic Action movements, we have the Catholic Charis-
not only is there gold but we also have zinc. And the matic Renewal, from the oldest to the youngest, etc.,
people are just but often, we re-
as poor as ever main between
before. ourselves, we do
School is not go to the out-
taught under a skirts.
hut, as we say. At present, all
Children are of our villages are
schooled under invaded by Prot-
the trees. Chil- estants. I once
dren do not have paid a pastoral
desks, so it is in visit to a Protest-
the Sahel region. ant family that
In many schools, lives close to the
they sit on the bishopry. There
ground. And was a university
as we say back scholar in the
home, every- family. And when
one has his own I began pre-
hole. Children senting myself,
put an elbow to he said: «I know
the ground and Bishop Ouedraogo surrounded by our directress, Therese Tardif your village!» and
lie down on the and our director, Marcel Lefebvre went on to say
ground to write. that on weekends
After a while of putting an elbow on the ground, and holidays, the Protestants universitarians divide
everyone has burrowed a hole, and if you change the villages of Burkina Faso between themselves and
holes, your elbow won’t fit. And when the time comes go out to evangelize them, to carry out pastoral visits.
to pass their certificate, they are taken to town. They And I ask you, what do you do? We remain amongst
don’t know then how to sit at a table. They ask to be ourselves, we do not reach out to the outskirts. Your
allowed to sit on the ground to write. And this goes pastoral method inspires me a great deal and upon my
on in a Burkina-Faso that is overflowing with gold! return I wish to share this with my collaborators so as
So, we are exploited. I am exploited, and I find to truly spread the Good News.
this revolting. You have made me aware of this fact. And for the benefits I received, for these ques-
I say that I am, also, an exploiter. And this is the tions and for the calling into question that this visit
very thing that kept me awake after listening to Mr. de has brought upon me, I extend a simple thank you!
Siebenthal. I am an exploiter when I am silent before There is a saying in my country: One cannot
an injustice. We do not have the right to remain si- pick flour up using only one finger. You need two fin-
lent. I am an exploiter because of my attitude towards gers to scoop up flour. This is a call to unity in action
money and earthly goods. And I ask myself the fol- so that, bit by bit, we may raise up this world, and
lowing two questions: that we may bring a lot more justice to our society.
l As a Bishop, how do I see the poor? This is what I wanted to share with you. May
l How are the employees in my missions treat- God bless you!
ed? Bishop Joachim Ouédraogo

www.michaeljournal.org 2015 session 87