Three motorcycles for two parishes
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide $11,620 towards the purchase of three small motorcycles for the Franciscan Fathers running two parishes in the south of the country.
Located in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Archdiocese of Kananga covers part of the southern Kasai region, which in 2016 and 2017 witnessed terrible and gruesome violence. Thousands were killed and mass graves are still being discovered to this day. The parish of San Remy, which is run by the Franciscans, covers a large area in the bush country. Its eight outstations lie up to 63 km from the parish centre along rough and difficult roads that are made even more dangerous by roaming bandits. It is also a tropical area, and rain, heat, and exhaustion add to the challenges faced by the priests.
As a result, we helped them through the purchase of two motorcycles. Father Albert Ntumba, the parish priest, sent his heartfelt thanks to all our benefactors, writing: “It certainly was not easy before to reach all the parishes for Sunday Mass. Owing to the shortage of transport, some of our Christians even missed the Christmas Midnight Mass and the Easter Vigil. We could not fulfil our pastoral ministry properly or bring the Body of Christ to our sick parishioners. But now that we have the two motorcycles, our pastoral work is so much easier.”
The Holy Family parish in Mwene-Ditu is situated in the neighbouring Diocese of Tshilomba. The outstations are likewise up to 63 kilometres away and the roads equally difficult. Until recently, it was not possible to regularly visit the faithful in the villages, and sects are also very active in the region, making pastoral outreach all the more important. Once again, thanks to your help, we were able to provide a motorcycle, and Father Jean Paul Ntumba, assistant priest at the parish, also wrote to thank us: “I am honoured to be able to write to you on behalf of all my fellow Franciscans, to thank you for your wonderful and fraternal gesture in sending us this motorcycle. May the Lord bless you and all your benefactors! This vehicle will help us greatly in visiting the remote and distant communities in the parish, since it is ideally suited for the bushland tracks and strong enough to cope with the rough roads. And so, despite the swamps and the hills, we can now visit all the villages and settlements where we celebrate Holy Mass and administer the other sacraments. This motorbike is vital for our ministry in the bush country, and we are delighted to have it, since we no longer have to rely on other people for transport or cope with breakdowns on the way.”
Thank you for making this possible!
NOTE – Please pray for the eastern region of the DRC!
This success story from ACN was scheduled for publication a week ago, long before the latest horrific news we received from the city of Goma (see this information): https://www.aciafrica.org/news/13981/amid-reports-of-worst-escalation-of-violence-in-eastern-dr-congo-catholic-bishop-calls-for-respect-for-human-life.
