Liturgical and Theological Literature for Seminarians in the Congo

Twenty young men from the Diocese of Bokungu-Ikela are training for the priesthood in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This diocese, which covers an area of over 15,000 square miles, is almost as big as Switzerland or the Netherlands, but with barely a million inhabitants; it lies in a tropical rainforest, in a poor region of the country that has sadly seen many armed conflicts. And since the diocese does not have a seminary, the seminarians must travel several miles, by boat and by motorcycle, to reach their places of study. 

But the diocese still covers their training, upkeep, travel costs, and everything else they need, since their families can contribute little or nothing themselves. This is a massive challenge. But Bishop Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu is delighted by the number of vocations. He writes, “With the young men currently in training, in the years to come, our diocese will have a plentiful number of workers in the vineyard of the Lord.”

Last year, the seminarians from Bokungu-Ikela wrote to us, explaining their need for religious literature – Bibles, breviaries, catechisms, and other theological writing – and requesting our support. “We face great financial problems in pursuing our studies, since we are almost all from very poor families. And so we are addressing this request to all people of good will, seeking help to obtain the vital liturgical and academic literature that we require to deepen our formation. Please look kindly on our appeal! Fraternally united with you, in Christ.”

As always, our benefactors responded generously to their appeal, and we were able to send them $16,400. Several large parcels of books have now arrived, and one of the seminarians, Léonhard, has written to us on behalf of them all: “We are immensely grateful to you for all you have done for us. We send you our heartfelt thanks for this great gesture of charity toward us, and we beg the Lord to bestow upon you all the graces you need.”

Code: 115-02-89