« The history of the parish of Saint Eloi in Kinshasa is closely linked to the history of the implantation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa ». The provincial superior of the Congo, Father Constant Kienge-Kienge, recalled in his speech at the end of the Mass celebrated on Sunday 15 December for the 60 years of existence of the parish of Saint Eloi of Kinshasa-Barumbu.
Oblate history
In 1964, Oblates had left the Diocese of Idiofa in the province of Kwilu, where the rebellion led by Pierre Mulele was raging. On 22 January 1964, Fathers Nicolas Hardy, Gérard Defever and Pierre Laebens were massacred at the Kilembe mission in Gungu territory. The missionaries who were displaced in Kinshasa, in particular, came to celebrate the Eucharist at the Sainte-Anne branch served by missionaries from Scheut. The archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Joseph-Albert Malula, offered the Oblates the opportunity to found their first parish in the country's capital.
In his speech, Father Kienge-Kienge thanked Joseph-Albert Malula's successors for their trust in the Oblates. He quoted the current archbishop, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo and one of his three auxiliaries, Bishop Charles Ndaka, vicar general, who presided over the Eucharist of the Jubilee. The Oblate Bishop Louis Mbwol, Bishop Emeritus of Idiofa, concelebrated with about thirty priests, most of whom were Oblates. The current parish priest, Father Blaise Pola, thanked and presented in a special way those among them who were parish priests or vicars of Saint-Eloi parish. Some of them have experienced the parish church under different dimensions imposed by different architectures.
Adult Christians
In fact, Bishop Charles Ndaka welcomed the last change that had begun in two years. This change is one of the signs of the commitment to the faith of the Christian community, which has invested itself with contributions of money to enlarge and restore this parish church.
« Today, Saint-Eloi celebrates the 60th anniversary of the call for conversion. You will be happy if you ask the Lord the grace to do what he asks you in the gospel that has been preached to you for 60 years. The church changes when everyone thinks of the common good. This land can become a paradise on earth if we truly become convinced Christians. »
Recognition of the faithful
The president of the parish commission of the Basic Ecclesial Live Communities (CEVB), François Kasenda, spoke on behalf of the entire parish community grateful for the « 60 years of faith, hope, charity and building a community of life ». He thanked God. He paid tribute to the late Cardinal Joseph Malula, who erected the chapel of Saint Eloi in a parish by a decree signed on December 10, 1964. He also thanked the late Bishop René Toussaint, Oblate, Bishop of Idiofa in 1964, and all the Oblates who have accompanied the faithful since the foundation, who still serve the Lord according to their charism for the evangelization of the poor and who learn to « dare great as the world ».
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