White Fathers Algeria Anselme Tarpaga In the desert, I seek your face 20 - 27 March 2010 Retreat Journey on foot in the desert. On Friday the 19th March 2010, in several towns of Algeria, some young students were preparing their backpacks. The long-awaited D-day had finally arrived with just a few hours to go. In fact, these young people had registered at the beginning of January for a spiritual experience in the great Algerian south entitled ‘In the desert, I seek your face.’ . Placed right in the middle of Lent, this event intended to give young people the opportunity to discover the desert, to pray and meditate around the biblical personalities who had had a desert experience. In this way, for a week, a small group consisting of about thirty young people from 13 African countries danced to the tune of the Holy Spirit. They dissected the biblical texts on Abraham, Moses, and the People of God, wandering in the desert after the Exodus - Elijah, and Jesus. . This reflection was sustained by a very thorough liturgical pattern. There were 4 prayer times a day with the Psalms, 2 hours of silence daily, even during the walks, plus daily Mass always preceded by 15 minutes of silent meditation in common. In addition to a specially thought out prayer manual, each participant kept a personal prayer diary to record the graces of this wonderful spiritual experience. There were also times for the young people to address other topics in complete freedom through the questions they would have. . The input was provided by Br. Bernard Bussion, Little Brother of Jesus, and José Maria Cantal, MAfr. As the organiser, I exempted myself from giving a talk as I was very taken up with the practicalities of running this retreat. We also had the benefit of Salesian Sr. Bernadette Razafindrasoa from Tizi Ouzou and of Vincent Kyérerezi, doing his apostolic experience at Oran, to reinforce our team of spiritual counsellors. In addition to this deep spiritual experience, the young people also experienced very meaningful involvement with the local population of south Algeria: contact with the personnel who helped in the camping and during the walk; contact (although minimal) with the population of Timimoun and life under canvas, which was quite extraordinary for many among them. For the majority, their time in Algeria was a discovery and an unparalleled experience. It represented walking thirty kilometres or so in the sand, among the dunes and under a boiling sun, some astride camels (there were fifteen camels), the other camel-drivers and many others still pilgrims, ‘seeking the face of the Lord.’ There were times of meditative silence lasting at least an hour. People were equipped with chilled water for refreshment and digital cameras to immortalise the events for posterity. All these things were a source of wonder in the contemplation of the grandeur of God. It’s unbelievable but true! ‘We are never alone in the desert!’ Some of those taking part admitted to having heard ‘someone speak with them’, especially in the times of meditative contemplative silence. The Algerians and tourists who saw us were impressed by the diversity of the group and the origin of the young people. There were Portuguese-speaking, English-speaking and French-speaking students (not to mention the African languages) from different study courses in Algerian universities. There was no lack of hearing expressions such as ‘We are all Africans here!’ . We wish to thank all those who underpinned this first edition of the project. Special thanks go to the Friends of the White Fathers in Spain, to Denys and Francis, to Bishop Claude Rault of Ghardaia and Emmanuel Auphan, his Diocesan Treasurer. The White Sisters of Timimoun were very discreet but efficient and vital in preparing the logistics before the retreat. I also thank José Maria, Provincial of the White Fathers and Michel Guillaud, student chaplain at Batna, for having supported me in the implementation of this project. May God bless all of you. Photos et Texte Anselme Tarpaga, PB, Ouargla