Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-20 09:00:01
Episcopal ordination ceremony with an unparalleled Rodriguan touch, be it in tone, color, or sound. Cardinal Piat: “Being a pastor is not a job, but a love story…”
The episcopal ordination ceremony of the 2nd bishop at the helm of the apostolic vicariate of Rodrigues was a tribute to Mgr Michel Moura, a man of the islands. Whether it was Cardinal Maurice E. Piat, the emeritus bishop, or Father Gérard Mongelard, who had walked alongside the new prelate of Rodrigues for a long time, one could feel the islands of the Indian Ocean at the tip of his fingers. And with conviction. The apostolic nuncio, Mgr Tomasz Grysa, will add his two cents by stating in Creole that Mgr Michel Moura is “a Rodriguan among the Rodriguans.” This is not only because of his pastoral journey but also because of his professional assignments in the islands of the Indian Ocean.
Thus, Cardinal Piat, with a touch of humor, despite the deep fervor prevailing on the occasion, did not fail to highlight Mgr Michel Moura’s intrinsic love for Agalega. “If he was asked to go to Agalega, he wouldn’t say no. It seems he loves Agalega,” said the emeritus bishop, suggesting that Diego Garcia was the only island left to add to the list. References to the islands heavy with meaning in the context of regional Realpolitik. At the forefront of the cathedral was the Prime Minister.
In any case, for over five hours, the Cathedral of Saint-Gabriel, a reference in terms of places of worship in this part of the Indian Ocean, vibrated with individual and collective emotions, signed by the legendary Rodriguan hat in the spotlight. In addition to the faithful who traveled to witness this 3rd episcopal ordination in the span of eight months in the Mascarene Islands, all the con-celebrants, bishops, and priests present were wearing this true Trade Mark of Rodrigues, the Rodriguan hat.
But it wasn’t just the Rodriguan hat. Rodriguan culture, whether in music, animation, or plain-speaking, was an integral part of this episcopal ordination program. Otherwise, how to interpret in the hour of offerings, seeing this Rodriguan woman leading the procession and elegantly carrying “a container of water” on her head, as if to emphasize the importance of water on the island, and especially to highlight the serious water supply problem facing the residents, despite promises.
This procession also highlighted the deep identity of the Rodriguan population with offerings composed of local products, including seafood, agricultural products, the Rodriguan Creole dictionary, and especially Rodriguan music, which is now part of the world heritage, as well as these artistic and historical creations, as a duty of memory.
This ceremony, with a lively simplicity, stands out for its communicative joy and sense of welcome of the Rodriguans. “We won’t stay inside the church. We prefer to be outside and let the important people take the seats,” said a mother to her neighbor as they sat under a badamier tree, in the middle of the esplanade of the Cathedral of Saint-Gabriel. It wasn’t even 1 pm yet, and all the seats inside the church were already occupied, leaving only a few empty chairs at the front, with a giant screen on the facade of the cathedral for those outside to follow the ceremony.
However, the official start of the celebration was announced from 2:30 pm. And until 6 pm, despite occasional rain showers sweeping across the island, not a single worshipper left their seat to take cover. They fervently participated in the various stages of the episcopal ordination, with an authentically Rodriguan touch.
And at 6 pm, with a unanimous sense of satisfaction, all those who had dedicated time since the announcement of the appointment of the 2nd bishop of Rodrigues by the Vatican, on December 20, to its organization, from the leaders of the liturgical dimension to the altar servers, not forgetting the Group Zom Rodrigues. Especially this choir, with over 300 participants of all ages, who captivated the congregation for at least four hours.
Yesterday, Mgr Michel Moura was ordained bishop of the apostolic vicariate of Rodrigues by Cardinal Piat, with co-consecrators Mgr Jean-Michaël Durhône and Mgr Alain Harel, the first bishop of Rodrigues and the founding father of the apostolic vicariate of the island. This ceremony with colors of Rodrigues unfolded in an unprecedented human warmth in the presence of numerous religious and civil dignitaries from Mauritius and the region, including the apostolic nuncio Thomasz Gryza, the bishop of Reunion Pascal Chane Teng, emeritus bishop Gilbert Aubry, Mgr Stenio André, bishop of the diocese of Mauritius and native of Rodrigues, and several bishops from Madagascar and the Comoros. As well as the Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, and his wife, the vice-president Eddy Boissézon, the leader of the opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, the chief commissioner Franco Grandcourt, and the commissioners and members of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, including the Minority Leader Franchette Gaspard-Pierre-Louis.
Rodrigues and the Saint-Gabriel region experienced a bustling atmosphere yesterday with the presence of several hundred Rodriguans from all corners of the island and the attendance of a large number of Mauritians from all parishes where Mgr Michel Moura had served as a priest. Each group wore distinctive signs for identification, but with the common feature of the inevitable and elegant Rodriguan hat.
The religious ceremony was marked by strong spiritual and emotional moments. Among others, there was the tribute paid by Father Gérard Mongelard to his comrade-in-arms for several years, the consecration ceremony under the guidance of Cardinal Piat. In his homily on this occasion, the latter emphasized: “Being a pastor is not a job, but a love story. It is to love the sheep as Jesus loved them, with tenderness and great patience.” He continued: “Today is a day of celebration, a day of great joy for Rodrigues, a day long-awaited. I thank you for inviting me to share in your joy and thanksgiving for your new bishop.”
The emeritus bishop of the diocese of Port Louis mentioned the seven years during which he served as a pastor on the island. “We lived together through the synod of 1997-2000, where the voice of Rodrigues was heard through beautiful contributions on pastoral care and inculturation,” he rejoices.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Cardinal Piat mentioned the visit by Pope John Paul II in October 1989, who has since been canonized. He had delivered a strong message to the Rodriguans with his call at La Ferme: “Rodrigues stand on your two feet!” Prior to that, he referenced Antoinette Prudence’s convincing appeal for autonomy in the broadest sense to Rodrigues, which was conveyed to Cardinal Tomco. She had advocated for a church that favored the emergence of Rodrigues’ specificity and identity.
“The Rodriguans did not hesitate to stand up and ask the pope to give the Church of Rodrigues a recognized canonical status in the Universal Church. This is how, on December 8, 2002, the Church in Rodrigues achieved the status of apostolic vicariate, and on that same day, I participated in the episcopal ordination of Mgr Alain Harel, the first apostolic vicar of Rodrigues,” he recalls. “Today, Rodrigues is called to experience another important moment by welcoming its new pastor, Mgr Michel Moura. Your bishop was appointed by Pope Francis, but it is the Lord who gives him to you with great tenderness for the people of Rodrigues. Let us express our gratitude to the Holy Father and offer great thanksgiving to the Lord. I would also like to thank Father Jean-Maurice Labour and Father Luc René Yong, who, one after the other, accompanied the Church of Rodrigues during this transition and long wait, not always easy to experience,” adds Cardinal Piat.
Citing Saint Joseph as an example, whose feast was solemn yesterday, he noted: “Like Joseph, the just man trusts in the Lord because the Holy Spirit who brought forth Jesus in Mary’s womb is the same Spirit that brought forth the Church in Rodrigues; it is the Spirit that gives the people of Rodrigues to believe in Jesus and gives them the courage to witness the Gospel in Rodrigues society.”
Cardinal Piat did not fail to ask the new bishop to show humility. “Learn to know this Church that is in Rodrigues, to love it as it is, with all its originality, its concerns and hopes, its joys and sufferings, its missionary impulse. Be patient with its flaws, and you will discover, hidden behind its weaknesses, the treasures of a generous humanity and a profound faith,” he advises.
“Trust the Spirit that dwells in the Rodriguan people and listen with the Rodriguans to what the Spirit says to the Church that is in Rodrigues. Walk with it; march with it. At times, you will have to walk in the midst of the flock to listen to the people, participate in their lives; but at other times, you will need to walk behind the flock, to support the weakest and ensure that no one is left behind; at other times, you will need to walk ahead to show the direction to take, help to stay on course, and give courage to those who hesitate,” proposes Cardinal Piat, who also invited the Rodriguan population to welcome the new bishop with confidence. He invited the priests of the vicariate, the laity, the nuns, and the deacons.
Addressing the Rodriguans, the cardinal said: “You also have a beautiful missionary tradition in Rodrigues, where men and women, adults, youth, children, each seek, in small groups, how they can together be ‘the salt of the earth and the light of the world’ in the concrete realities of life. A joyful creativity has thus been deployed, and you are gradually becoming artisans of a beautiful inculturation of the faith in Rodrigues society.” However, he pointed out: “Your bishop is not a superhuman. He cannot perform miracles. He comes simply as a shepherd who joins the flock where it is on its way. He needs you, as you need him, to discern which direction to take and how to move forward together.”
The consecrating bishop concluded his exhortation to the faithful by stating: “I trust that this new stage that opens before you today will be as beautiful and bear as much fruit as each of the previous stages of the journey that the people of Rodrigues have made following Christ.”
At the end of the ceremony, the apostolic nuncio paid tribute to the new bishop, presenting him as “a Rodriguan among the Rodriguans.” To conclude this ceremony marked by the joy of the islands, it was up to Mgr Michel Moura to express his gratitude to all those who worked to make it a success. Despite the rain at the crucial moment of consecration, the audience, demonstrating unparalleled discipline, did not budge, preferring to wait until the last minute to give the new bishop of the apostolic vicariate of Rodrigues his first public appearance…
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
