Motorcycles for Franciscans in the Congo  

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to give $8,543 so Franciscan Fathers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could get three small motorcycles. 

The Archdiocese of Kananga covers part of the southern Kasai region, which witnessed terrible and gruesome violence in 2016 and 2017. Thousands were killed, and mass graves are still found today. The parish of San Remy, which is run by the Franciscans, covers a large area in the bush country. Its eight outstations are located up to 40 miles from the parish center, along rough and difficult roads that are made still more dangerous by the roaming gangs of armed bandits. It is also a tropical area, and rain, heat, and exhaustion make the lives of the priests even more difficult. So we are happy to have been able to help by providing two small motorcycles.  

Father Albert Ntumba, the parish priest, sends his heartfelt thanks to all our benefactors. He writes: “It certainly was not easy before to reach all the parishes for Sunday Mass. Owing to the shortage of transport, some of our Christians even missed the Christmas Midnight Mass and the Easter Vigil. We could not fulfill our pastoral ministry properly or bring the Body of Christ to our sick parishioners. But now that we have the two motorcycles, our pastoral work is so much easier.” 

Likewise, in the Holy Family parish in Mwene-Ditu, in the neighboring diocese of Tshilomba, the outstations are up to 40 miles away from the parish center, and the roads are equally difficult. Until recently, it was not possible to regularly visit faithful in the villages, and sects are very active in the region. So there is a real need for an intensive pastoral outreach to the Catholics here. Once again, thanks to your help, we were able to provide a motorcycle, and now Father Jean Paul Ntumba, assistant priest at the parish, has also written to thank us. He writes: “I am honored to be able to write to you on behalf of all my fellow Franciscans, to thank you for your wonderful and fraternal gesture in sending us this motorcycle. May the Lord bless you and all your benefactors! This vehicle will help us greatly in visiting the remote and distant communities in the parish, since it is ideally suited for the bushland tracks and strong enough to cope with the rough roads. And so, despite the swamps and the hills, we can now visit all the villages and settlements where we celebrate Holy Mass and administer the other sacraments. This motorbike is vital for our ministry in the bush country and we are delighted to have it, since we no longer have to rely on other people for transport or cope with breakdowns on the way.“ 

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