Thanks to the help of our benefactors, we have raised 8,300 euros that have enabled the Franciscans in the Democratic Republic of Congo to acquire three motorcycles that will facilitate their pastoral work in two parishes in the south of the country.
The archdiocese of Kananga belongs to the impoverished Kasai region, which was the scene of veritable orgies of violence in 2016 and 2017. Several thousand people were killed and mass graves are still being found today. The parish of San Remo, served by the Franciscans, spreads over a vast bush area. The eight branches of the parish are up to 63 kilometers from the parish seat, and the roads are difficult and dangerous due to banditry. In addition, the priests suffer from rain, sweltering heat and exhaustion. For all these reasons, we have financed the purchase of two motorcycles for them.
Albert Ntumba, who is very grateful to all the benefactors, writes: “In the past, it was certainly not easy to reach all the parishes for Sunday Mass. Due to the lack of means of transportation, Christians even missed Christmas Mass and the Easter Vigil. Moreover, we could not do our pastoral work well, nor could we bring the body of Christ to the sick believers. Even the anointing of the sick was a problem for us. Now that we Franciscans have motorcycles, pastoral care is much easier here in the Congo.
The parish of the Holy Family of Mwene-Ditu is located in the neighboring diocese of Tshilomba. There, too, the branches are up to 60 kilometers away and the roads are very bad. Previously it was not possible to visit the faithful in the villages on a regular basis, but since the sects are very active in the region, it is essential to carry out intensive pastoral work among the Catholics. Thanks to the help of our benefactors, they have also been able to buy a motorcycle there. The parochial vicar Jean Paul Ntumba writes: “I have the honor to thank you on behalf of all the priests involved in pastoral work in the parish of the Holy Family of Mwene-Ditu for this commendable and fraternal gesture towards us. May the Lord bless you and all your benefactors. This motorcycle makes it easier for us to travel to the remote communities of the parish because it is suitable for the bush and robust enough to withstand the bad condition of our roads. Despite the muddy roads and mountains, we can now reach all the places or villages where we celebrate mass and administer the other sacraments. This motorcycle is of utmost importance for the pastoral work in the bush. We are very happy to have it because we no longer depend on third-party vehicles and because we no longer have breakdowns on the road.”