Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- The diocese of Inongo in the north of the province of Bandundu, in the west of Democratic Congo began Evangelisation Centenary celebrations October 2007-2008, with a solemn Mass on 14 October held in front of Saint Albert's Cathedral attended by thousands of Catholics from the 21 parishes in the diocese.
The Mass was presided by the Bishop of Inongo, Bishop Philippe Nkiere Kena, and concelebrants included Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Congo; the emeritus bishop of Inondo Bishop Léon Lesambo; Bishop Jean-Gaspard Mudiso of Kenge; Bishop Dominique Bulamatari, auxiliary bishop of Kinshasa; Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng, emeritus of Kananga and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in D. Congo.
Bishop Philippe Nkiere and Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng are members of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scheut missionaries), like the two missionaries, Fr. Emile Geens and Fr. Jules Denis who opened Inongo Mission Station in 1907 which was to become in 1953 the diocese of Inongo.
During the Mass Fr. Michel Ekonzo, Scheut Missionaries Kinshasa vice-provincial read out a message from the superior general of the congregation, Congolese Fr Edouard Tsimba. Fr. Tsimba expressed gratitude to the local people for welcoming the missionaries and for the many local young men who have since become Scheut Missionaries.
Bishop Nkiere recalled the Centenary celebrations are a time of grace but also a call to responsibility and change, and individual and collective examination of conscience.
Archbishop Monsengwo asked for a minute of silence to pray for deceased missionaries. In the homily the president of the Congolese Bishops recalled that the first missionaries came to win the people for Christ, not with weapons but with the Gospel, to make peoples of many different languages into one people. The Mass was followed by a reception and festivities including choirs of Christian confessions in the diocese who joined the celebrations.
The diocese of Inongo has an area of 100sq km and a population of 823,000 including 407,000 Catholics. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2007 righe 31 parole 370)
