Fr David’s mission among Muslims
by Simone Cantarini
Fr. David Carraro speaks of the first years of his priesthood in Touggourt among Algerian Tuareg and his study of Arabic in the Egypt of the Jasmine Revolution. Bearing witness to Christ with his life and faith in countries where it is forbidden to proselytize. Priest: "The only service that we ask the Algerian Muslim farmers is for prayer, not money or food." Dialogue with Islam is only possible within a human relationship that enriches lives.
Rome (AsiaNews) - "Becoming a friend of the Muslims I saw that you can bear witness to Christianity through your life and not only with the great works”, Fr David Carraro tells AsiaNews. The young missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), spent from 2009 to 2011 studying Arabic in Egypt and on mission for PIME in the oasis of Touggourt (Algeria), where he has already spent the first years of his priesthood. Returning to Italy for a short time, the priest recounts his years in Algeria, where proselytizing is forbidden, and the impact of the Egyptian Jasmine Revolution.
"The PIME mission in Touggourt - he says - is about 600 km from Algiers, and there are no Christians in the area, only Muslims. In a place where it is forbidden by law to evangelize, we must be close to the people as men and priests, giving importance to small encounters and prayer. " The priest said that meetings with Muslims are often occasional and mainly related to daily life. The fruits of the mission are hidden in this form of relations: "Without this awareness - he says - I would feel useless, because unlike other missions we do not do social work. Our task is to live our faith in silence among the people. "
Fr. Carraro said that the Tuareg population of the Algerian desert, respect the priests: for them they are men of God, who pray and work. " The local farmers - he says – ask my confreres to pray for their families. These meetings take place in a discreet way, many Muslims are wary and afraid to be alone with a Christian priest. However, the only service that we ask in return is prayer, we do not expect money or food. " According to the priest, "our presence surprises these people, in a place where Christians are not welcome and there are no special requirements to be fulfilled." "In Algeria – he highlights - there are situations of poverty just like in the Philippines." This obliges us to live our mission as priests, witnessing to Christ with our lives and our faith. "
Before returning to Algeria, Fr. Carraro spent three years in Cairo (Egypt) to study Arabic. "At the time - he says - I lived in protected environments. I was a foreigner, a Christian and a Latin rite priest, which led to various difficulties, especially for the establishment of relations with the Egyptians, including Coptic Christians, most of whom are traditional and Orthodox; they tend to isolate themselves and have little contact with the Latin Catholic community. " "The only place where I had some freedom to meet and talk – he continues - was in my Arabic class, attended only by Muslims. Being the only Christian in the class forced me to break down cultural barriers, which often increase the sense of loneliness and alienation. " His friendship with some fellow students and professors helped him understand that "a dialogue with Islam even on religious issues is only possible within a human relationship that enriches their lives."
The contact with Muslims allowed Fr. Carraro to experience the Egyptian and Arabic Spring firsthand: "For me it was very important to follow the Jasmine revolution, the liberation of the Egyptian people after decades of the regime. It was hunger that led the Egyptians to revolt and want a change: the average salary of a worker is around 100 euros, but a kilo of sugar costs about one euro. What struck me above all in those days was the calm in the streets near the site of the demonstrations. I went to Tahrir Square several times, but I was never afraid, and all the Egyptians, Christians and Muslims were united in their desire to change the country and I saw with my own eyes the young Christians protect Muslims during prayer and vice versa ".
Fr. David points out that now the atmosphere is tense. The instability of recent months has increased poverty and corruption. The relationship between Muslims and Christians is still characterized by hatred and mistrust, and according to the missionary a revolution is not enough to overcome them. "The fear has increased with the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in the November elections - he notes - they have come to the fore after years of repression by the regime. However, the Coptic Christians, Catholics, Egyptians and foreigners must use this moment to open up and understand these movements, which are not only formed by Islamic extremists. "
"The PIME mission in Touggourt - he says - is about 600 km from Algiers, and there are no Christians in the area, only Muslims. In a place where it is forbidden by law to evangelize, we must be close to the people as men and priests, giving importance to small encounters and prayer. " The priest said that meetings with Muslims are often occasional and mainly related to daily life. The fruits of the mission are hidden in this form of relations: "Without this awareness - he says - I would feel useless, because unlike other missions we do not do social work. Our task is to live our faith in silence among the people. "
Fr. Carraro said that the Tuareg population of the Algerian desert, respect the priests: for them they are men of God, who pray and work. " The local farmers - he says – ask my confreres to pray for their families. These meetings take place in a discreet way, many Muslims are wary and afraid to be alone with a Christian priest. However, the only service that we ask in return is prayer, we do not expect money or food. " According to the priest, "our presence surprises these people, in a place where Christians are not welcome and there are no special requirements to be fulfilled." "In Algeria – he highlights - there are situations of poverty just like in the Philippines." This obliges us to live our mission as priests, witnessing to Christ with our lives and our faith. "
Before returning to Algeria, Fr. Carraro spent three years in Cairo (Egypt) to study Arabic. "At the time - he says - I lived in protected environments. I was a foreigner, a Christian and a Latin rite priest, which led to various difficulties, especially for the establishment of relations with the Egyptians, including Coptic Christians, most of whom are traditional and Orthodox; they tend to isolate themselves and have little contact with the Latin Catholic community. " "The only place where I had some freedom to meet and talk – he continues - was in my Arabic class, attended only by Muslims. Being the only Christian in the class forced me to break down cultural barriers, which often increase the sense of loneliness and alienation. " His friendship with some fellow students and professors helped him understand that "a dialogue with Islam even on religious issues is only possible within a human relationship that enriches their lives."
The contact with Muslims allowed Fr. Carraro to experience the Egyptian and Arabic Spring firsthand: "For me it was very important to follow the Jasmine revolution, the liberation of the Egyptian people after decades of the regime. It was hunger that led the Egyptians to revolt and want a change: the average salary of a worker is around 100 euros, but a kilo of sugar costs about one euro. What struck me above all in those days was the calm in the streets near the site of the demonstrations. I went to Tahrir Square several times, but I was never afraid, and all the Egyptians, Christians and Muslims were united in their desire to change the country and I saw with my own eyes the young Christians protect Muslims during prayer and vice versa ".
Fr. David points out that now the atmosphere is tense. The instability of recent months has increased poverty and corruption. The relationship between Muslims and Christians is still characterized by hatred and mistrust, and according to the missionary a revolution is not enough to overcome them. "The fear has increased with the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in the November elections - he notes - they have come to the fore after years of repression by the regime. However, the Coptic Christians, Catholics, Egyptians and foreigners must use this moment to open up and understand these movements, which are not only formed by Islamic extremists. "
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