The Fr. Miguel Segura, L.C., has been doing missions during Holy Week in Equatorial Guinea for several years. This year, he was accompanied by 10 young missionaries. It is a six-hour flight from Spain, followed by another stretch until entering the jungle in the mission territories, where the priest reaches some places, at most, once a year.
We offer an interview that Lo+RC conducted with Fr. Miguel, where he explains some details of his missions.
What is the most impactful thing a young Spaniard finds upon arriving in Guinea: poverty, lifestyle, people’s faith…?
They have what we don’t have in Europe: for them, God is important, and even for those who do wrong, it’s not unusual to pray or express their faith. And, indeed, in the areas we visit, poverty, simplicity, joy, and nature also make an impact. And of course, faith: there were people, even children, walking kilometers and kilometers to attend the evening celebrations.
Perhaps what impacted us all the most was when a Muslim asked us for baptism. Two days later, he asked for it for his son, and the next day, for his mother. God acts if we allow Him to. It is a gift that He Himself wants to give us; to be able to collaborate with Him in His work of salvation.
What are the most important needs of the people you have been with?
The parish priests ask us for pastoral support to visit the sick in hard-to-reach areas, organize catechesis, activities for youth, invite those who have abandoned the Church for some sect, and welcome them back… This is common in Youth Missionary, but they also ask us for priestly replacements: there are areas where Mass is celebrated only once a year. We need to substitute the priests by celebrating paraliturgies, which requires prior preparation.
How do priests organize themselves in their parishes to reach all or almost all the places where they have to preach or celebrate services?
They don’t. In many places, they only celebrate one of the holy days. There are not enough priests; they celebrate as often as they can, considering canon law, distances, and transportation. Gathering to celebrate faith is a joyful event for all villages. They are not used to it, as we are.
We run the risk of considering ourselves the great missionaries who bring faith to people, but from what you tell us, surely the Guineans have also evangelized our youth…
I believe they have learned to publicly manifest their faith, and by expressing it, they revitalize it. In all the groups I have led, there is a profound impact when touching on simple faith, the ease of prayer, and especially the generosity in offering what little they have.
There is also Regnum Christi there, how has the collaboration with them been? Is their experience very different from ours here in Spain?
It’s a wonderful collaboration; I don’t think they have a different experience from here. They gather for the Encounter with Christ, nourish their intimate relationship with Christ, and seek formation with the means at their disposal. Everyone wants to be men and women of worth for the future. So, essentially, it’s the same as here.
With information from Lo+RC
