Kokossa – On Sunday, June 7th, the Ethiopian Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. The Kokosa small community, belonging to the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe, celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation for Christians—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist—especially for young people and adults.
“God is choosing the last!!!! The last in every sense. Important only in the eyes of God and the Church. This mystery is great and beyond comprehension.” This was the heartfelt comment shared with Fides News Agency by Father Angelo at the end of the celebrations.
Father Nicola, a Fidei Donum priest from Padua who has been serving in the mission for over seven years, recounts the special day experienced by the community and also shares the progress made by the community over the years.
“We celebrated nine baptisms, five of adults and four of children,” the missionary wrote to Fides News Agency. “Furthermore, nineteen adults and young people were welcomed into the Catholic community through the sacrament of Confirmation and participation in the Eucharist. Those who were baptized also received the sacraments of Christian initiation. In total, twenty-eight people thus made their entry into the Catholic Christian community.”
“To tell the truth,” continues Father Nicola, “these are people who have been involved in the life of the community for some time. It hasn’t been a quick or straightforward process: most of them have been coming for several years. Only one family and a woman joined us last year, whilst all the others have been involved for some time. Over the years, we have offered formation open to the whole community, seeking to give everyone the chance to prepare properly for this important moment.”
The Kokossa community was founded almost ten years ago . “The Apostolic Prefect of Robe reminded me of this during one of our return journeys from the mission: this community has existed for nineteen years. It is a relatively young community, in the sense that it does not yet have a long tradition, but it has grown thanks to a constant missionary presence. Initially, the ministry was entrusted to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. A small itinerant community would stay for a few months, accompanied by a priest who celebrated the Eucharist. Around this presence, the first community was formed, consisting of a few elderly people, some families and a few adults. Later, when the sisters left, the community was supported by Father Angelo and a catechist who played an important liaison role, visiting people even when the priest could not be present.”
Over the years, there have been other significant moments, notes Father Nicola. “In particular, I would like to recall that, years ago, our Bishop Emeritus of Padua, Antonio Mattiazzo, took this community particularly to heart . He loved it, supported it, and celebrated the sacraments there for some twenty or thirty people. That generation of faithful now forms the core of the community we found when we arrived seven and a half years ago, together with the missionaries, Father Stefano and Elisabetta, as part of the Diocese of Padua’s commitment to supporting the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe. Since then we have reaped these fruits and continue to accompany the community, paying particular attention to charity, which here represents a very clear sign and a pressing need. This focus, however, is always accompanied by care for the faith: the weekly celebration, moments of prayer, formation and pastoral animation help the community to grow.”
As the missionary’s account shows, the response from the people has been positive in recent years. “Certainly, many come to us seeking practical help, but the journey does not end with a request for material support. We strive, in fact, to combine human development, charity and solidarity with evangelization, through catechesis, prayer, liturgical celebrations and visits to families. These visits involve simple moments of prayer, but also opportunities to get to know one another and strengthen bonds. People thus feel accompanied by God, by our missionary and pastoral service, and by our sincere desire to be part of their lives. We try to respond not only to material needs, but also to the needs of the spirit. It is a discreet, often hidden, but very valuable work.”
“Among the mission’s priorities is certainly a focus on poverty, on the needs for food, health and dignity,” explains Fr Nicola. “It is not so much a matter of guaranteeing well-being, but rather of helping people to live without those worries that can lead to misery and despair. We are a sign of solidarity supported by our communities and the Diocese of Padua, but also of a solidarity that the local people live and share. When the time comes to help someone, everyone tries to offer something, however little. It is a significant gesture that demonstrates the community’s involvement and sense of belonging. When we arrived, partly at the request of Bishop Emeritus Mattiazzo and in keeping with the approach of the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe, we coordinated the construction of a nursery school in response to a request made by the local community itself. The school has been operational since 2021 and welcomes around 150 children aged between three and six. It is a small but important sign of educational commitment. The children receive a basic education that enables them to be better prepared for their subsequent entry into state school. The school is a commitment that still requires a great deal of effort: we need suitably trained teachers, teaching materials and financial support for families struggling to cover the costs. Furthermore, for some children, we are able to provide bread and tea, which often constitute not only breakfast but also lunch. This too is a simple yet tangible sign of care and continuity. It is not so much a question of imparting solely religious values, but rather of promoting the value of education and the importance of children, who are the future of the community. We therefore seek to coordinate this aid with a broad focus on charity, because often people do not even have the bare necessities for life. Sometimes it is necessary to intervene even to build a hut or to meet other essential needs.”
Among the projects carried out over the last two years, Father Nicola highlights one that is proving particularly rewarding: the project dedicated to the empowerment of women. “Women play a vital role in the family and in raising children. It is not uncommon for us to encounter women who have been abandoned or forced to bear the burden of the family alone, whilst the men have other families or do not fully assume their responsibilities. For this reason, the project involves the purchase of a sheep or the necessary equipment to start a small business. In this way, women can generate an income, gain greater independence and avoid constant reliance on external aid. We have found that the beneficiaries respond with great commitment. They feel the trust placed in them and the responsibility required. The value of the initiative is not merely economic: a sheep is certainly an important asset, but what matters most is the recognition of the person’s dignity. Above all, we wish to highlight the role of women, who are the backbone of the family and a fundamental pillar of the community. Their presence and participation were also very significant during the recent celebration of the Sacraments. Women express their contribution to community life with simplicity and strength, and demonstrate every day just how important it is to support and accompany them.”
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