Some years ago, the territory of Dimbelenge (DR of Congo, Kasayi Occidental) was under the stain and fire of occupation by the Congolese rebels and their Rwandese allies. At that time, the warlords had seized the rectory of the Katende parish and made it their headquarters. They traumatized the people and confined priests and religious while they continued their terror in the region they controlled. When an agreement was signed between the government and the Rwandese pro-rebel militia, the latter withdrew from Katende parish, leaving behind thousands of people to recover from the trauma. It is in this desperate situation that Missionhurst began a lengthy, new journey with the people––helping them to rebuild their lives and regain their hopes for a better future. Years have passed and, with the help of Missionhurst missionaries in the region, the light of hope is beginning to rise again.
The journey of CICM missionaries in Katende began in 1914. Katende parish lies between the former capital of the province of Kasayi (Lusambo) and the current capital (Kananga). In October 2014, the Katende parish commemorated its Centennial Jubilee. This celebration, which gathered nearly 3,000 people, was also a time of reconciliation and encouragement. It was a time to focus on never giving up: realizing that we can always come together with renewed hope for the social development of the region.
On the occasion of the Centennial, Missionhurst priests from other parts of the world were invited for a “missionary animation week” in various pastoral centers and communities. The brief and unique experience of journeying, listening, sharing and celebrating with the local people from different social categories and backgrounds enriched all who came. Although it was the third year in a row that I was invited to minister to the people in this area, I was still amazed to see how many people are continuing to try, by all means necessary, to rebuild their lives from nothing.
Due to the lack of roads and infrastructure, reaching some of the communities was rather challenging. My Toyota 4x4, rented from the hospital of Katende, made it possible, but not without difficulties. Though the people in this region lack everything, they try to nourish the hope that things will change in the future. Rebuilding is not an easy dream to realize due to the complete lack of the basic facilities: schools, hospitals, shops and stores, and medical care. Not unlike a century ago, people here must walk great distances (upwards of fifty miles) to buy food, salt, and other manufactured products in the nearest town. Some have the use of a bicycle, but most can only get there by making the trip on foot––that’s about a two-day walk.
Villagers typically take small products from their gardens or other labors to sell in the town, and they return with purchased goods. Usually, their heavy bundles are carried upon the head. It is commonplace to see women carrying loads up to 70% of their body weight, balanced on top of their heads. I’ve been told, “Father, we do not have a choice. If we do not do this, how can we feed our children?”
In the different villages I toured for missionary animation, I was able to gather the people and discuss the pressing issues of each place. Common to all the locations I visited was the urgent need for schools and hospitals. It’s obvious that there simply are not the resources needed for sweeping infrastructure improvements. We cannot look away from the serious consequences for the children whose futures are crippled by a lack of education.
Because many villagers spend all their resources on the survival of their families, they feel helpless regarding the future for their children who lack schooling. Before the war, the children of one village used to walk nine miles to attend their school––eighteen miles per day. But this became too risky as the rebel armies began to abduct and make soldiers of children. Schools became the target for these groups, and the danger of being kidnapped by militias left parents reluctant to allow their children to attend.
A chance meeting with the Congolese Minister of Education led me to speak with him about this bleak situation for children in Congo. He pointed out that, after more than a decade of war, insecurity and conflict, the number of children who are not attending school is on the increase. The estimates for children not receiving an education in the Democratic Republic of Congo range from 3.5 to 5 million or more.
The ravages of civil war linger especially in rural areas. Schools and teachers’ homes were used as shelters for militia leaders from all sides. Classrooms were systematically looted and vandalized while teachers, unpaid for more than fifteen years due to the bankruptcy of the state, abandoned their posts one after the other. In this miserable context, it is easy to understand that a large number of villages are still without schools. The government response to this situation is painfully slow, but the children cannot wait.
At the end of the missionary animation tour I was moved to tears when the representative of the Dimbelenge community declared that Missionhurst missionaries are their heroes! Knowing that I am one of them, the older man then added: “You are our heroes not because you are good preachers, although you certainly are! Not because you have friendly personalities, although you certainly have. We love you, Missionhurst priest, and are willing to follow you because you are so deeply compassionate. You care deeply for people, and you initiate projects that help the development of our society. With you, our hope for a better future for our children is restored. What we need above all is schools, because we understand that we will never flourish if we do not cultivate our boys and girls through education.”
With a guarded mixture of excitement and anticipation, children in the villages surrounding Katende parish are waiting for their chance to study. Their committed relatives and neighbors eagerly promise to make the bricks needed for building; but it will be impossible to realize without outside assistance.
Missionhurst missionaries are engaged; Fr. Robert Vermeersch has initiated construction plans for schools in the remote populous village of Bajila Kasanga, but he needs financial resources to realize this dream. If the situation for these children and communities touches your heart as it did mine, know that any support of our Missionhurst missionaries will bolster our opportunity to respond. May we continue to accompany the people affected by war, poverty and doubt––and may their faith and hope continue to be restored and realized.
Honoré Kabundi, cicm
Tokyo, Japan
Fr. Honoré Kabundi, cicm, is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who joined Missionhurst-CICM in 1990, was sent to Japan in 2006, and was ordained in 2010. He is currently working as the provincial secretary of the CICM Asia province, and as an assistant priest at Matsubara Church in Tokyo.
