After almost two years of contact and discussions between the Bishop of Mananjary, Bishop José Alfredo CAIRES DE NOBREGA, and Fr. Alphonse RAKOTONDRAVELO OMI, Superior of the Madagascar Delegation, and after deliberation and reflection with all the superiors and treasurers of the Delegation, we decided to respond positively to the bishop’s invitation and establish a missionary Oblate community in Mahavoky. It is worth noting that two preliminary visits by the Oblates were made prior to this installation.

Geography and Population

Mahavoky is a commune located 60 km Northwest of Mananjary. It is a mountainous and rainy region on the East coast of Madagascar. The people and their way of life are similar to those in Mahanoro, Masomeloka, Ambinanindrano, and the southern part of the Diocese of Toamasina, where we have been working for some time. The landscape and environment are also similar, with significant deforestation.

It is an isolated locality with two access routes:

• Whether by car or on foot, access is via a secondary road that is very poor and barely passable during the dry season (October, November, December) and practically inaccessible during the rainy season, which lasts for most of the year. Generally, there are no cars or motorcycles servicing the area. Only local merchants with large vehicles or trucks can navigate the route.
• Alternatively, access is possible by river using a canoe, which is available year-round except during cyclones. This journey takes almost an entire day, depending on the weather. This mode of transport is commonly used by people traveling between Mahavoky and Mananjary and vice versa.

	Dry season		Rainy season

Mahavoky is made up of a farming population that is very poor. To sustain themselves, the people used to grow rice, pepper, and bananas. However, nowadays their main source of income has shifted to gold mining, using traditional methods.

Unfortunately, this gold mining activity makes them even poorer. On one hand, their traditional methods are outpaced by the modern methods used by the Chinese. On the other hand, corruption allows others to exploit these poor people. In the end, it is the foreigners who become wealthy. Apart from the harmful economic effects on households, there is also a significant impact on health. The water becomes undrinkable due to the mining activities, leading to severe health issues such as diarrhea, tuberculosis, and bilharzia.

Evangelization

Evangelization in Mahavoky began in 1970 with a priest from Fianarantsoa named Zacharie, followed by the MEP (Paris Foreign Missions Society), who served for about 10 years. The MEP missionaries established and resided at the mission in the strict sense of the term. However, from 1984/1985, the mission was without a priest or missionary. It was only in 1989 that the SVD (Society of the Divine Word) arrived, remaining until 2012. Afterward, the diocesan clergy of Mananjary took over, until the arrival of the Oblates. There are 87 Christian communities in Mahavoky, divided into 11 stations, each under the responsibility of a lay visitor, with one or more catechists assigned to the station. The Sisters of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St. Paul have been working in Mahavoky for several years, focusing on the school and the dispensary.

The Arrival of the Oblates

Before the Oblates arrived, two cyclones ravaged this district: houses, schools, churches were destroyed or completely wiped out. However, the bishop promised to repair the church and the workroom of Mahavoky before our installation.

Two Oblates with pastoral experience volunteered for this mission: Fr. François de Sales RATOVONIRINA OMI, with 18 years of priestly life, a former missionary in Ambinanindrano and Masomeloka, and most recently the parish priest of our St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish in Fianarantsoa; and Fr. Nicolas ANDRIANJAFIMAHENINA OMI, with 13 years of priestly life, a former missionary in Marolambo and chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea in Toamasina.

The two left Fianarantsoa on Tuesday, September 3, to travel to Mahavoky via Mananjary. They were supposed to arrive in Mahavoky the next day, Wednesday, but unfortunately, they only arrived on Thursday, September 5, due to poor road conditions and heavy rain, which forced them to spend a night sleeping in the truck before returning to Mananjary and taking a canoe. What a truly arduous adventure !

Bishop Alfredo and Fr. Alphonse OMI arrived with difficulty on Friday, September 6, by 4x4 vehicle, after a 7.5-hour journey.

As planned, the installation of the Oblates took place during the annual district pilgrimage, traditionally organized for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. Since this date fell on a Sunday, the bishop began the celebration on Saturday, September 7, with a morning conference for the pilgrims, confessions in the afternoon, a prayer vigil, and a procession in the evening.

The official day of the installation was Sunday, September 8. At the beginning of the Mass, Fr. Alphonse OMI summarized the history of the Congregation and introduced the two Oblates to the 1,500 Christians in attendance. He also thanked the bishop for his trust and called for sincere and fraternal collaboration from everyone with his two fellows. After the bishop’s homily, the Oblates made their profession of faith. The bishop thanked the Congregation and the two Oblates and wished them a fruitful mission. He and Fr. Alphonse OMI departed Mahavoky after the meal.

We thank the bishop for his trust in us, the Oblates. Our gratitude also goes to our two fellow oblates, who from the beginning have demonstrated their zeal, enthusiasm, and missionary readiness. We also extend our thanks to Fr. Damascène, a diocesan priest, who oversaw pastoral care for a year before the arrival of the Oblates and prepared for their welcome.

We are proud of Fr. François OMI and Fr. Nicolas OMI, who, through evangelization, "bring progress to the Christians and the inhabitants," and through education and leadership training, inspire advancement and development among the people. We assure them of our prayers and fraternity. There are many challenges ahead, but they are ready with God's grace. Good mission, dear Fr. François and Fr. Nicolas !

Fr. Alphonse Rakotondravelo OMI
Fr. Nicolas Andrianjafimahenina OMI