Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples on 14 April 2007 appointed Rev. Yvon Bienvenu Mabanza, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Brazzaville, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Republic of Congo for a five year term (2007-2012).
The new National Director was born in Brazzaville on 4 October 1966. After primary education he went to the minor seminary at Mbamou (1980/1983) and then to St John's intermediate Seminary (1983/1986). He studied philosophy at the Catholic Faculty in Kinshasa (1986/1989) and after a year of teaching at Saint John's intermediate seminary (1989/1990) he studied theology at Kinshasa (1990/1995). He was ordained a priest on 7 August 1994. From 1995 to 1998 he held various diocesan positions. From 1998 to 2005 he studied in Rome: in 2000 he obtained a Licentiate in the theology of matrimony and the family at the John Paul II Pontifical Institute for Matrimony and the Family and a doctorate in 2005. In 2004 he was appointed parish priest at Moungali and 2005 since he has been head of the diocesan commission for pastoral care. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/6/2007 - righe 14, parole 194)
