AFRICA/CONGO DR - “The erection of the hierarchy in our countries is an important event in salvation history," Archbishop of Kinshasa says

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – "An important event in salvation history" is how Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, described the establishment of the Catholic hierarchy in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Rwanda, during the opening Mass for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the hierarchy in the 3 African countries and for the 25th anniversary of the Association of Central Africa Bishops' Conferences (ACEAC). The celebrations were opened in Kinshasa (the capital of the DRC) on November 30 and will close Sunday, December 6 (see Fides 30/11/2009).
The opening Mass, presided by Archbishop Monsengwo was celebrated in the parish of St. Joseph by 54 Bishops from the 3 countries, gathered in the Congolese capital for the double anniversary. Archbishop Monsengwo paid tribute to Pope John XXIII (during whose papacy in 1959, the hierarchy was established in the three states, who were preparing to become independent) and asked for prayers for Pope Benedict XVI, for peace, and for justice and reconciliation in the Great Lakes Region.
In his homily, Archbishop Simon Ntamwana, Archbishop of Gitega (Burundi) and President of the ACEAC, said that it was providential that the celebration of the jubilee of the three countries took place on the feast day of St. Andrew. Archbishop Ntamwana paid tribute to the region's first native bishops: Bishop Joseph Nkongolo, Bishop of Luebo (now Mbuji-Mayi) in DRC, Bishop Michel Mons Ntuyahaga, Bishop of Usumbura in Burundi, and Bishop Bigirumwami, Bishop of Nyundo in Rwanda. The Archbishop of Gitega thanked the missionaries of the various congregations who evangelized the region and paid tribute to the martyrs of the local dioceses.
After Mass, Archbishop Jan Dumon, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, read the message of Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which encourages the three churches to continue the work of evangelization.
The celebrations continued with a series of lectures at the Catholic University of Congo. Opening the conference was Archbishop Ntamwana, who read the message sent on behalf of the Holy Father by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State. In his message, the Holy Father assured of his blessing for the participants and invited the baptized to become leaven of renewal and to follow in the footsteps of Our Lady of Africa to receive the Savior. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/12/2009)