The Superior General visits the Comboni Province of Congo

Fr. Enrique Sánchez, who just arrived in Kinshasa on January 29, has been able to visit two Comboni communities: The one of the Center Afriquespoir (CAE), dedicated to mission promotion, in  Lemba, and the community of Kimwenza, where he also met with the group of seminarians from the Postulancy. Accompanied by the provincial superior of Congo, Fr. Eliseo Tacchella, he went to see a small oasis of the parish, the center “Congo Skill,” a working and meeting place for many young students, and especially the Internet Café.

On Friday, February 1, Fr. Enrique Sánchez, Fr. Eliseo and Fr. Bayo Mata Enrique – secretary for mission promotion – left the capital of Kinshasa to go to Isiro. The next day, early in the morning, the three missionaries left for Mungbere on three motorcycles. “It was a trip of 140 km on a road that no longer exists. It has been two years that cars and trucks do not travel that way. So the motorcycles had to make their own way. The superior general behaved like an expert biker. He did very well, even though he was not used to it,” says Fr. Eliseo, who often has to make this trip.

At Mungbere they celebrated Sunday Mass. They found a crowd in a festive mood to thank God and to greet Fr. Enrique Sánchez for having returned to the mission where he worked many years ago. “Many people still knew him,” said the provincial superior. In the afternoon, Fr. Enrique met with the group of the Cenacle of Missionary Prayer, the Comboni Lay Missionaries and finally with the community. On February 4 after Mass they returned to Isiro.

From Monday until next Sunday, in Isiro, the superior general will preach the spiritual retreat to about 30 participants. During the closing ceremony of the week of prayer, the scholastics Edmond Dimonekene Sungu and Charles Kabuayi Tshibi will make their perpetual profession.

The following are also part of the program of the visit of the superior general in the North of the country: participation in the provincial assembly (February 11-15), that will be attended by other confreres as well; the visit to the remaining communities of the North-East, in the area of Kisangani. On February 18, Fr. Enrique will return to Kinshasa, where it has been decided to hold a small assembly for the confreres living there, due to the distances and the exorbitant prices of air tickets – a round trip Isiro-Kinshasa, costs $1,100 per person (815 Euros). He will then visit the communities in the area of Kinshasa and will then conclude his visit with a meeting with the Congolese provincial council. His return to Rome is foreseen for February 28.