Help for the Training of Seminarians in the Congo 

The Diocese of Butembo-Beni is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies in a crisis region between the Congo and Uganda, and is rich in natural resources. For years now, the rebels of the so-called Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), originally based in Uganda, have been spreading fear and terror there. Thousands have left as refugees, and massacres, abductions, rapes, and lootings are now regular and repeated occurrences.  

During his visit to the DRC in February 2023, Pope Francis met with victims of the violence and was deeply moved by their plight. In his address to them, he said, “In the face of such inhuman violence, which you have witnessed with your own eyes and experienced in your own lives, one is left appalled. Nothing is left but wordless weeping, and silence.“  

Despite this terrible situation, Bishop Melchizedek Sikuli Paluku assures us: “Our people retain the joy of the Gospel and continue to hope against all hope that better times will come.” And one heartening sign of this is the growing number of vocations in the diocese. They currently have no fewer than 161 young men training for the priesthood. They are spread across various seminaries in the country, according to the stages of their formation. Eventually, they will return to their home diocese as priests, in order to serve God and their suffering people. As Bishop Paluku writes, “These vocations are a sign from God, and the growth in them inspires our own hope in God, Immanuel, who dwells among us and saves us. But the local Church in this suffering region of the country is still far from able to cope with the material needs – and this is why I am asking your help!” 

We are offering $37,500 to support the training of these young men, who will soon serve their people as priests and work to bring them hope. Will you help them?

Code: 115-02-79