Bukavu (Fides Service)- “Celebrations for the centenary of our Archdiocese are involving all the parishes” said Regional Superior of the Xaverian Missionaries Fr Gianni Brentegani in Bukavu, main town of South Kivu region of Democratic Congo, where celebrations to mark the centenary of evangelisation started on 15 September. “But everyone is deeply saddened and concerned for the health of our Archbishop Charles Kambale Mbogha who is in hospital” the missionary said.
Centenary celebrations started with a pilgrimage to Nyangezi where the first White Father missionaries arrived on 15 September 1906 at 9 in the morning. During the Mass in Nyangezi the country was entrusted to God as it proceeds on the path of democracy: “May we all work to build a new Congo founded on law, peace, justice and work where all are reconciled with each other”. “In the month of October there will be special commemorations of two previous archbishops Cristophe Munzihirwa and Emmanuel Kataliko” said Fr Brentegani. Archbishop Munzihirwa was killed on 29 October 1996 in an attack during the advance of troops fighting the Mobutu regime which took power in May 1997. Archbishop Kataliko died of illness on October 4, 2000 in Rome: for 7 months the rebels would not allow him to return to his diocese.
Centenary celebrations in Bukavu will last for two years in two separate stages: stage one 15 September 2005 to 15 September 2006, during which associations, movements, religious communities, parishes are encouraged to organise meetings, retreats and pilgrimages and religious institutions are asked to produce a written history of their presence in the archdiocese; stage two 15 September 2006 to 15 September 2007, associations, movements, religious communities, parishes will commemorate their patrons and founders in the perspective of the centenary of the Implantatio Ecclesiae in Bukavu. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2005 righe 31 parole 364)