VISIT
TO THE CONGO-ISIRO REGION
September 28 – October 14, 2004

November 15, 2004

My Dear Missionaries,

I am sending you this letter a month after I concluded my visit to the Congo-Isiro Region and I want to express once more my thanks to the Lord who allowed me to spend three weeks with you. For various reasons the visit had been cancelled twice in the past but this time we were able to bring it to a successful conclusion with a visit to each community and the participation of all the missionaries.
My thanks go to the Regional Government for their preparatory work and generous cooperation at the beginning and the end of the visit. And my special thanks go to Father Rinaldo Do for his efforts. He made it possible for me to meet our confrères in each community as well as representatives of the three dioceses in which we work.
This visit was different from others: it covered only the north (Isiro) in the recently reunited Region. The three weeks I spent with you were not really a canonical visitation they were more like a fraternal visit with a purpose:
to provide the General Government with a detailed, first-hand view of life and work in your region;
to focus the region’s attention on several subjects to be considered in future planning sessions;
to make our confrères, both in the Capital and the north, think seriously about the consequences and implications of the recent reunification.
Circumstances surrounding the visit may have made long-term decisions impossible but we were able to indicate methods and procedures to be used in the next regional conference.
This letter is intentionally brief: it covers observations that came up during the Isiro regional assembly and thoughts occasioned by my meetings with local communities. The letter is being sent to you and to our confrères in Kinshasa as well since they are now part of the unified Congo Region and many of the topics deserve their consideration. The letter begins with a brief description of what is going on in the country that might well interest missionaries in other regions.

1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo Today

I reached Isiro on September 28 and was met by our missionaries. I spoke to the Director of the Airport who welcomed me and said, “After years of darkest night a new dawn is finally rising here in the Congo. It is already upon us.” I discovered the truth of this statement during the time I spent here. I found the country at peace and eager to restore normal living conditions: security in the cities and on the roads; improved communications throughout the whole country; old schools reopened and new ones being built; commerce and artisan work flourishing and a renewed emphasis on reconciliation and coming together.
The national transitional government is preparing – if somewhat hesitantly – general elections that will take place next year. Elections can affirm the legitimacy of those who govern and fill definitively the power vacuum that exists in so many areas of the country’s life.
Some months ago the Congolese Permanent Bishops’ Committee addressed a letter to the country’s faithful and all men of good will. The letter praised ongoing peace-making efforts and the many signs of hope for the future; it also denounced phenomena referred to as “dark areas.” The letter provides an objective overview of the current situation in the country with an emphasis on the recurring problems the government and citizenry must face and resolve.
- People had so much hope for the transitional government. The government is making progress but it is slow and uncertain. Politicians are not always successful in concealing their power plays. People expect much more from those in power.
- There are dangerous and dramatic social contradictions. Opportunists have cornered the country’s meager wealth leaving the majority of the population destitute. The reforms so noisily announced by the government are slow to get off the ground and corruption is spreading in many areas of national life.
- Long years of war have deprived the country of an effective governing class. The bishops decried the incompetence of authorities which bodes ill for the future. The bishops complained about the many politicians making efforts to prolong this transitional period – something that will really harm the general population.
- The negligence and unprofessional attitude of those in charge of social services have resulted in many accidents that endanger the lives of innocent people. It would seem – the bishops state – that the value and sacredness of human life are not accorded the respect they deserve in a civilized society.
- A sense of responsibility, commitment and ethical conduct should distinguish the leaders of the country. Rather they seem to nurture a hostility that enflames antagonism among the people.
In this fragile, delicate yet hopeful situation, the Church reaffirms its mission to join with all men of good will to serve people through collaboration with public educational projects. The bishops declared that education – not just in the area of religion – is part of the Church’s mission of evangelization. They repeatedly emphasized concepts such as: democracy, reconciliation, respect for human rights, respect for life, dialogue and the common weal. The conclusion to their February 14, 2004 communiqué is worth quoting:
“Brothers and Sisters, the destiny of the Congo need not necessarily be tragic. In this regard the Transition should raise our hopes. There must be a real political will to accelerate the process. We, your Pastors, exhort you once more to grasp our destiny and bring democracy to the Congo. Let us not slacken our efforts – we must be ever watchful (Cf. 1 Peter 5, 8-9). Let us hasten the coming of the kingdom of peace, justice, truth and love of country. With the Lord nothing is impossible (Cf. Luke 1,37).”

2. The reunification of theRegion

The Congolese political situation in 1999 made it advisable to divide the regional community into two separate groups (Congo-Isiro Region and Congo-Kinshasa Delegation). The situation is decidedly improved today and the General Government has seen fit to reunite the two groups. The reunification took place on October 1, 2004; the two circumscriptions have been joined into a single Region with a transitional Regional Government. After the General Chapter the situation should return to normal. Our confrères will then choose a new regional Government in ways they will themselves determine.
For the past five years these two circumscriptions have been entirely independent in all areas. During this time it was impossible to exchange personnel or cooperate in missionary work and permanent formation. It should be pointed out that this independence has in no way diminished the missionary commitment of the two groups. Quite the contrary. After five years separation, personnel, communities and missionary projects have all flourished in the Region.
In my opinion you face the following tasks in the upcoming months if reunification is to conclude successfully:
- Launch efforts to harmonize activity in the two groups: coordinate your programs and develop common guidelines for mission work. You will come to the Regional Conference with two distinct personalities – but like a united family your differences should be complementary. You share the same goals: the common good and the success of missionary work in the region.
- In the coming months you must begin thinking about a headquarters for the region. The final decision rests with the Regional Superior and his council but the implications of this decision are serious and deserve the discernment of the whole region. We should note that during the past six years significant steps were taken to locate the headquarters in Kinshasa – especially because of our formation centers.
- Since the region’s two constituent groups have been independent for the past five years the next regional conference must give serious consideration to regional planning. We should begin now to practice careful, realistic and far-seeing discernment with regard to this subject. It is of enormous importance for the future and well-being of the region.

3. Impact of the Community Life Plan (PCV).

It was comforting to discover that each community has a Community Plan of Life that is reviewed and updated every year. The plan may be only a means to an end but we believe it has a beneficial effect on community life and the apostolate if it is conscientiously reviewed and followed.
You admitted frankly that the Community Plan is often little more than an agenda of community or apostolic activity. It does not satisfactorily address the community’s weaknesses nor have the desired impact on our pastoral programs and activities. Every community prepares a Plan annually – often in the presence of the Regional Superior – but the Plan pays no role in our periodic reviews of life and work.
I urge you to prepare your Community Plan of Life with great care. Give it all the time it deserves and take advantage of all the aids provided by the General Government (Cf. Consacrazione e Missione, pp. 725-741). Consult the Plan regularly especially during your weekly community meetings. From time to time review and update the Plan when necessary. It is both flexible and effective if used frequently.
Let the Community Plan of Life play a role in your community prayer. Usually local communities can only meet twice a day for prayer. Cherish them and engage in these encounters with calm and serenity – your prayer will be more meaningful. Renew your commitment to monthly days of recollection with other confrères where and when this is possible.
The Community Plan of Life should include weekly community meetings (Cf. Const. 25.1) that are carefully planned and cover those areas of our lives that require consideration and discussion. It is up to the local superior to prepare and convene these meetings. To be successful these meetings must combine revision of life with pastoral planning and the frank discussion of pastoral concerns with programs for the ongoing formation of missionary personnel. The Community Plan of Life can become an indispensable instrument for promoting community dialogue. It can cover so many aspects of our lives: health care and relaxation; subjects of interest to the Congregation; sharing pastoral plans; ongoing renewal and improved communications within the community.
One last thing that came up during the visit comes to mind. To make the Community Plan of Life effective the community must have sufficient personnel. The desire for new foundations or greater effectiveness must not undermine our efforts to guarantee the presence of at least three members in each community. We must never forget that the witness of community life is our best contribution to the Church and the people. This sort of witness can only be provided by communities with several members who live in peace.

4. Vocations

The reunification of the Regions should give new impetus to vocation recruiting. Currently the Region hosts both a theology and a philosophy seminary; there is the preparatory (propaedeutic) course as well as aspirants practicing discernment in several missions. The number of candidates seeking admission to the Congregation remains constant and shows some signs of increasing. In this context there are certain aspects that came up during the visit that I would like to discuss.
Many young people seeking admission to religious life or interested in ordination need careful direction. They need insightful councilors who can help them discern the real motivation for their vocational choices. Discernment must begin not when the candidates are already in houses of formation but at the time they make their first contact with us. This discernment is a service to the candidate and ensures that our formation houses are not filled with young men who have no genuine vocation to the religious or missionary life. We must help young people undertake that journey of faith which is the only way to discover God’s will for them and respond to his call.
Each of us must be engaged in the vocation apostolate through youth work, involvement in our formation communities and a willingness to provide young people with spiritual direction and training in a life of faith.
During the visit other questions came up that deserve the attention of all the Region’s members. These are only a few:
- All the young candidates in the north go to Kinshasa for formation. Would it not be advisable to establish a preparatory (propaedeutic) course in Isiro as well?
- Some candidates come from dioceses where the Congregation is not present. Should there not be serious discussion on whether this practice should continue?
- Would it be possible to make the recently established “Maison Oscar” in Isiro a center for mission/vocation promotion? Should we not give serious consideration to assigning a confrère full-time to this work?

5. Evangelization, promoting human welfare, justice and peace

The country’s precarious political and social conditions have limited us to performing emergency work. It looks like the time has come to engage in a deeper sort of evangelization. These are our pastoral priorities: formation of leaders; guidance of catechists and catechumenates; attention to the numerous groups and movements; concern for young people and education.
I noted that each parish displays characteristics that are peculiar to itself. These characteristics derive from the parish’s human and social situation, the needs of the local Church or the creative efforts of the missionaries involved. We must now promote a return of pastoral work to the framework of the local parish. Charity, health care, work with specific ethnic groups and educational projects must involve the whole parish community. Gradually the parish community must assume responsibility for these activities and assure their continuity and future.
Consolata interest in the apostolate to the pygmies is the reason the Bayenga parish was established. They are relatively numerous and are gradually becoming integrated in the Bantu population. Parents are now more willing to send their children to school. The Bayenga Parish’s “Projet pastoral IMC pour les Pygmées,” includes a plan for intensified work among these people. Allow me to underline two indispensable pre-conditions for work among ethnic groups: learn the language and spend prolonged periods of time in their midst.
Social and welfare work are once again moving forward and flourishing. We must be patient and resist the temptation to jump the gun; we must take the time necessary to engage the people in this work. If we ignore the need to involve the people in our welfare projects we run the risk of working in vain and misusing the funds provided by our benefactors. All the projects – and you are involved in so many – must be discussed and approved by the local Church and the regional Government. Even if it is the responsibility of a single missionary every project should be discussed and planned by the local community. This will preclude a host of problems and the all too frequent paralysis that occurs when the individual responsible is transferred to another community.
Given the situation prevailing in the country it is clear that discussion and formation in areas of justice and peace are absolutely necessary. Our missionary communities must follow the directives of individual bishops and the Congolese Church scrupulously. Efforts to publicize oppression and injustice should involve lay people as much as possible. Their voice is freer and their action will be more effective than ours.
In this context we must mention the precious service the Consolata Hospital in Neisu provides to patients in a wide area. We all know the troubles this institution faced after the death of Father Oscar Goapper and on behalf of the General Government I thank you for the courage you displayed in that difficult time – your commitment to the sick never flagged. Continue to support and maintain the hospital: it is the crowning work of our apostolate of consolation in the Congo Region.

Conclusion

I am concluding this letter on the day our Congregation remembers all its deceased missionaries. I entrust each of you, your missionary work and the future progress of the reunited region to the intercession of Father Oscar Goapper and Father Ivano Magnani. Both these missionaries live in your memory – and in the memory of so many other people. May they share with you the apostolic zeal and dedication to the missions that marked their lives.
Blesseds Isidore Bakanja and Anuarite Nengapeta are the protectors of your region. Imitate their thirst for holiness and the missionary zeal that led them to make the ultimate sacrifice. I leave the example of their lives with you as a parting gift. All of this could be synthesized in the words of our Founder: “Missionary work requires great sanctity. Mediocre sanctity is not sufficient. I want you to be saints, and as missionaries – superlative saints.”
I pray for each of you and entrust you to the care of Our Lady, the Consolata.
In the name of the General Council I greet you fraternally.

Father Piero Trabucco, IMC
(Father General)