Sunday, January 25, 2026, anniversary date of the founding of the congregation in 1816, Reverend Father Constant KIENGE-KIENGE, Provincial Superior of the Oblates of the Province of Congo (RDC-ANGOLA), met in the parish of Saint Eloi in Barumbu/Kinshasa, former students of schools led by the Oblates in R.D. Congo.
This day of fraternity was organized to launch the project to create an association of the Oblates' former pupils. Such an association is envisaged with the aim of creating a community capable of carrying the Oblate ideal, which consists of promoting a spirit of family among members and forming a missionary body to support the educational project of the Oblates whose fruits they are the fruit. It is in this sense that, in his address, Father Constant KIENGE-KIENGE reminded his guests of this dear phrase of Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Founder of the Oblates, that » charity is the soul of the mission « . The Founder of the Oblates was so convinced of this reality that he would leave his sons as a will: » Practice among you charity, charity, charity, and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls « .
This initiative was welcomed by the participants, about fifty, including nationals of the small seminary Anuarite Bolingo of Yabwanza and of the college Y-Aïso d-Opala in the diocese of Isangi, province of Tshopo, and of the institute Saint John Bosco of the parish of Ifwanzondo in the diocese of Idiofa, province of Kwilu. The participants, former students of the Oblates who became executives of society, professors of universities, lawyers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, priests, teachers, students... undertook to carry out the project to create the association and to participate in the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the pontifical approval of the Congregation of Oblates, scheduled in Idiofa on February 8, 2026.
In his closing remarks, Father Provincial presented to the participants his best wishes for the year 2026, hoping that it would be a year of health, development, success and prosperity for everyone in their family and in their professional or formative environment.
The day had several moments. It all began with the Mass of thanksgiving for Oblate charism, presided over by the Provincial Father of the Oblates in the parish church of Saint Eloi. After Mass, a moment of exchange was organized in the room Immense Hope in the parish of Saint Eloi, during which Father Provincial presented his wishes to the participants before gathering their opinions. The day was closed by a fraternal meal, shared in an atmosphere of reunion.
Joseph Mukongo, o.m.i.
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