AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “Consecrated brothers and sisters, wake up! Put out into the deep” Bishops say to religious in Congo

Friday, 11 March 2005

AFGHANISTAN

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

2021-12-17
Serious food crisis: 23 million people in need

Kinshasa (Fides Service)- “Consecrated life is a concrete reality in Congo today. According to statistics our country has an estimated 11,000 men and women religious among a population of 50 million, 50% Catholic. Their presence is a gift for the Church”. Jesuit Father Léon Ngoy Kalumba, secretary of the Bishops Commission for Religious in Democratic Congo said this in an interview with the local Catholic news agency DIA with regard to a pastoral letter addressed to religious by the Bishops of Congo “Consecrated brothers and sisters, wake up! Put out into the deep!” (Acts 3 3,2: Lc 5,4).
Father Kalumba said that Congolese society is experiencing a crisis which is affecting also consecrated life, adding that this is why the Bishops issued the letter to affirm the value of life in the light of the Gospel teaching, to thank men and women religious for what they represent for the Church in Congo but also to encourage them to tackle the many challenges of the present day. “Our Bishops denounced the practice of certain European religious congregations which recruit here without being present from the pastoral point of view. They called attention to other aspects such as the religious habit and religious symbols worn by former women religious who have renounced their religious life and this is misleading for the people”.
The Bishops call on all consecrated persons in Congo, Congolese and foreign, to work to inculturate religious life in Democratic Congo. The Jesuit noted that some forms of counter-witness which are spreading in the country, have in some cases, a negative influence on consecrated life. The problems highlighted by the Jesuit include: occult cults ( witchcraft in particular), regionalism and tribalism which impose themselves as the only criterion for evaluating people and situations. Father Léon Ngoy Kalumba said “these forms of counter-witness threaten to obscure the precious gift of consecrated life. The Bishops urged men and women of consecrated life to refocus their life on Christ for whom they have left everything”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/3/2005 righe 31 parole 369)