AFRICA/CONGO DR - “Cardinal Malula's thought is relevant today and urges us to act,” affirms Archbishop of Kinshasa

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Celebrations are in full swing in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo, in honor of Cardinal Joseph Malula (1917-1989), considered the "father and founder of the Church of Kinshasa."
The Year of the Cardinal Malula, which is being held from 20 September 2009 to 20 September 2010, intends to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the episcopate of the Cardinal and the 20th of his death. In early March, in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, several conferences were held, highlighting various aspects of the Cardinal.
On March 7, Fr. François Luyeye gave a lecture on "Cardinal Malula and the Project of a Congolese Church in a Congolese State. The relevance of his thought in the Golden Jubilee of the independence of the DRC."
The second conference was given by Fr. Léon de Saint Moulin, a Jesuit, on "Cardinal Malula, Father and Founder of the Church of Kinshasa. Historical data and pastoral prospects."
Nicodème Kalonji, who works in Pastoral Ministry, gave a talk entitled: "Cardinal Malula and the Establishment of Ecclesial Base Communities (CEVB). The subjects of a new way of being members of Church." Other conferences are still underway and we plan to report on them in the next few days.
Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, said that "the theme of these days dedicated to Cardinal Malula, prophetic pastor, has really piqued the interest of participants. This interest demonstrates the relevance of the thought and work of Cardinal Malula. It is, for each of us, a legacy to preserve with care. This legacy is not a mummy, but a living thought. These conferences, thanks to the precise analysis of the lecturers, call us on to commitment.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/3/2010)