AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Kindu

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 25 April 2007 appointed Rev. Fr. Willy Ngumbi, M. Afr., Bishop of Kindu (Democratic Republic of Congo), until now the Bishop elect was formator at the White Fathers Novitiate in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).
Rev. Fr. Willy Ngumbi was born on 13 February 1965 in Bujumbura (Burundi), where his parents had moved because of his father's work. He went to local schools in Walikale and then entered Our Lady of Africa major seminary Bukavu for studies in philosophy (1984-1987). He then completed his novitiate in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in Freiburg (1987-1988), and began his apostolate at Birni N’Koni, Diocese of Maradi (Niger). He then started studies for a Licentiate in theology at Toulouse (1990-1993). He made his perpetual profession on 1 December 1992 and on 1 August 1993 was ordained a priest of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. Since his ordination he ministered as follows: 1993-1994: assistant priest at Birindi N’Koni parish, diocese of Maradi, in Niger; 1994-1997: parish priest at Zinder parish, diocese of Maradi, Niger; 1997-2000: vocations animator and formator at the White Father College in Goma; 2000-2003: provincial assistant for the province of south east Congo; since 2004: Formator at the White Fathers Novitiate in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).
The diocese of Kindu belongs to the ecclesiastical province of Bukavu. It has an area of 82,883 sq km, a population of about 500,000 including 180,000 Catholics (36%) gathered in 18 parishes, assisted by 16 diocesan priests, the Spiritans have just returned to the diocese and four other diocesan priests are studying abroad, 1 is on pastoral duty in another diocese. There are 8 Brothers, 27 women religious and 9 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2007; Righe 21; Parole 299)