After the Renewal Visit to the Vicariate of Our Lady of Grace in India, the Prior General, accompanied by the Assistant General for Africa, Father Edward Daleng, and the General Treasurer, Father Franz Klein, traveled to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the Augustinian brothers for their latest ordinary chapter of the Vicariate.
During this chapter, Father Olivier Gondola Bawa began his journey as the new Provincial Vicar of the Vicariate of Saint Possidius of Calama in Congo. Together with his leadership team, he aims to continue fostering and supporting many vocations during his term.
Part of a federation formed by the provinces of Germany and Belgium, the Vicariate currently consists of four communities, two schools, 70 friars, and over 30 years of pastoral and social work in one of the most challenging countries in Southern Africa. It faces various forms of internal displacement caused by droughts, famines, and tribal and jihadist terrorism, in addition to the country's ongoing instability.
An Augustinian School with Over 2,500 Students in the Heart of Africa
“The chapter was carried out peacefully and calmly among the friars, with a key underlying theme: exploring how we can be more supportive and how we can create ministry opportunities that allow these regions—where vocations are flourishing the most—to continue growing and become economically sustainable,” said Father Alejandro upon his return to Rome. “We want our Vicariates to be strong so that we can help those in need.”
The days of the chapter provided an opportunity to deliberate on how to make ministries viable, organize the Vicariate’s structure for the coming years, and carry out the Augustinian mission in educational centers. In Kinshasa alone, the Congolese capital, the Augustinians operate a school that serves over 2,500 students. This school, which has been running for nine years, “is working very well,” noted the Prior General. “The children and teachers welcomed us there with immense joy, and what we most desire is to strengthen the school with the presence of friars there.”
“We want more missions to help our brothers share the Gospel. Hopefully, we can open a new school because we have friars and new vocations, although we must keep in mind that these facilities require a significant initial investment. We need to find a way to do it properly and expand the mission beyond traditional locations.”
A Land of Augustinian Mission
Today, the Augustinians work closely with the local population in Boko, Matadi, Dungo, and Kinshasa, as well as in the Diocese of Buta, where, a year ago, Augustinian Bishop Martin Banga Ayanyaki took possession of this disadvantaged territory.
“We always want to help our brothers organize themselves to have a mission where the Gospel can be proclaimed with love, charity, and fraternity,” emphasized the Prior General. “We Augustinians must go out into the world from within the community, convincingly demonstrating communion among ourselves so that, seeing us, people might say, ‘Look at how they love one another.’ This is what we desire. This is the purpose of our visits.”
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