Church News

Our editorial team joins all the faithful of the Diocese of Kikwit in wishing Monsignor Timothée a happy birthday and our wishes for good health to continue shepherding the people of God who are in Kikwit.

“Let us think of everyone, let us think of the marginalized, of those who are far from the joy of Christmas in these days. Let us think of everyone with the kindness of God. Remember these words: the kindness of God… Let us ask ourselves then, on this Christmas Eve: do I want to let myself be enveloped by the shadow of the Spirit, by the sweetness and gentleness of God, making room for him in my heart, drawing near to his forgiveness, to the Eucharist? And then: for those who are alone and in need, could I be a shadow that restores, a friendship that comforts?”

Since his appointment as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Molegbe, Monsignor José-Bernard Likolo, Bishop of Lisala, set foot for the first time on the soil of Zongo, which is part of the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Molegbe. On a pastoral tour with his Vicar General and his Chancellor, Monsignor José-Bernard made a gesture of courtesy that moved the Archbishop of Bangui, Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga.

In the tradition of the Church, there is the possibility of singing the Calendas (Kalenda) at the beginning of the celebration (like the Exultet on Easter night). It is after this announcement that the Child Jesus is placed in the manger. The church bells can also be rung during this moment. Here is the text of the Church in Latin and French.

In the Church of Bangui in the CAR, particularly in the Cathedral, there is a custom where the faithful propose the theme of the crib. There is not a nativity scene that comes back with the same face every Christmas. This is why this year, the theme adopted by the rector of the Cathedral of Bangui is the mission given that the Archdiocese of Bangui has been deepening this theme for several years.

On November 11, 2023, while the Church was celebrating Saint Martin of Tours, a date that recalls the Patron Saint of Mueka where Monsignor Libère had received his baptism, the Vatican had announced through a CENCO press release the appointment of Father Libère Pwongo as Bishop of Basankusu. This news sparked the joy of more than one. Nothing was long in coming, a few days after the announcement, the date of his consecration was made public.

We live in an era where information travels at a cruising speed. Everyone with a smartphone in hand, the appetite for information, verifiable or not, haunts everyone. It is in this wake that the announcement of the death of Father Pol FEYEN was spread on social networks before an official announcement by his congregation.

From November 30 to December 12, 2023, COP28 is being held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates while the papal delegation remains until December 6. On behalf of the Church of the DRC, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), and Monsignor Sébastien-Joseph Muyengo, Bishop of Uvira, President of CERN/CENCO (Episcopal Commission for Natural Resources) and Focal Point of REBAC (Congo Basin Ecclesial Network/SCEAM). Cardinal Ambongo joined Dubai on the afternoon of this Thursday after the time difference of the planes.

Liturgical Year A ends with the feast of Christ the King of the Universe and liturgical year B begins with the first Sunday of Advent. To do this and to better live our liturgical year it is important to know it better.

Meditating on the famous phrase “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” the Holy Father invited the faithful to be good citizens while knowing that they belong only to God (Matthew 21:15–21): “In reality, Jesus wants to help us to put Caesar and God in their rightful place. To Caesar – that is, to politics, to civil institutions, to social and economic processes – falls the care of the earthly order; and we, who are immersed in this reality, must render to society what it offers us through our contribution as responsible citizens … yet man belongs to God …

The Synod that opened in the Vatican in the sixteenth General Assembly on October 3, 2023, closed its doors with the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, October 29, 2023. All the reflections, in prayer, were presented this Saturday, October 28, 2023 in the form of a report of more than forty pages. We briefly suggest the three parts of said report: Listening to all, starting with victims of abuse, Laity and families and formation.