The COVID 19 virus that frightens the whole world has not spared Tunisia

CM Tunisia during COVID19

Here the coronavirus has affected more than 1000 people and has killed around fifty patients.

When considering Tunisia’s population of 12 million, this impact has been minimal. Certainly, it is less violent compared to what has happened in Europe. Still, daily everyone is exposed to danger.

The Government has taken defense precautions and precautionary measures upstream, so the disease is now more or less under control. The containment ordered by the civil authorities has been adopted, and the Diocese of Tunis follows that order. This is why all the churches are closed and gathering Christians together is not possible. Therefore, we have experienced our time of Lent and the Easter season in an unusual and silent way.

The confreres have remained at home, celebrating the Eucharist and serving the poor. Here at Saint Félix de Sousse Parish, I, Father Norbert (Parish Administrator) and Father Eric, have appealed to the laity to collaborate with us to help the vulnerable, namely young sub-Saharan students, migrant families and the elderly (photos).

The Tunisian Humanitarian Associations (photos) and our parishioners have answered our call. They bring donations, more specifically, food, money with which we can go shopping to buy basic necessities. We also work together with the City Council of Sousse through the Migration Commission. Under that Commission’s supervision, the Town Hall has launched an operation entitled, “Solidarity Without Borders” of which the Saint Félix de Sousse church is a part. The church community includes many Tunisian volunteers from the neighborhood as well as a doctor for the elderly. To this day continue that social apostolate, because this degree of containment is not always easy for those in certain social categories.

While we do recommend that everyone stay at home, for us that is impossible. Our Vincentian conscience won’t let us alone in the face of such a situation. The call of the poor Jesus is very strong and so we respond to him with humility. This does not prevent us from carefully observing the necessary protections such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

So, this is our situation here in Sousse, Tunisia.

We put it all in the hands of God and with the intercession of Saint Vincent de Paul!

May the Risen Christ bless all our vulnerable brothers and sisters !!!

RAHARISON Nomenjanahary Norbert, cm
Missionary in Tunisia

Translation: P. Dan Paul Borlik, cm
Western Province, USA