Silver Jubilee of the Parish of Our Lady of Good Help in Kinshasa

In his homily, Rev. Clet-Clay congratulated the parish community for its journey and commitment, encouraging it to continue the work of evangelisation with the same fervent dedication, in a spirit of communion, in the love of Christ, and in service to the poorest. He also thanked the Comboni missionaries and other religious congregations active in the parish for their missionary work. Rev. Clet-Clay then urged the Christians to live the Jubilee as an occasion of thanksgiving for the wonders the Lord has accomplished over these 25 years, following a path of conversion and reconciliation among the members of the parish community.

Finally, he invited the community to look to the future with hope: “After these 25 years, let us face our future without fear and move forward together in hope, so as to make the life of our parish ever better.”

The community originated as a Christian community in 1992 through the pastoral efforts of the Xaverian missionaries and the local clergy. The parish was officially established on 22^nd October 2000 and entrusted to the Comboni missionaries. The first parish priest was Fr. Antonio Aparicio. On that memorable date, Mons. Daniel Landu, of revered memory, celebrated the Eucharist in the presence of local school pupils, and Christians from Bibwa, Wungu, and neighbouring parishes: St. Angela, St. Lucy, St. Matthew, and St. James.

According to Mr. Macaire Eyupar, vice-coordinator of the Jubilee Organising Committee, the community is very satisfied with the work carried out by the Comboni missionaries: “They arrived here when there was nothing. The good work they have done in Bibwa is visible to all: the construction of the church and parish facilities, the accompaniment of the Christian community, the building of the school, the digging of wells, assistance to malnourished children, and much more.”

The parish of Bibwa has grown to the point of giving rise to three new parishes: St. Paul VI and Blessed Pauline Jaricot, entrusted to the Comboni missionaries, and Saints Peter and Paul, entrusted to the diocesan clergy.

Since its establishment, the parish community has felt itself on a journey, inspired by the words of Cardinal Joseph-Albert Malula (1917–1989), of revered memory: “Your faith will become mature when expressed in concrete acts of charity, sustained by hope in God, who cannot err nor deceive us. I urge you to participate actively in the life of your parishes, living ecclesial communion within your base communities, taking part in the Eucharistic celebration, which is at the heart of all authentic Christian life, and carrying out the pastoral duties entrusted to you by our Mother Church.”

Rev Clet-Clay invited the parish community of Bibwa to respond courageously to the many challenges it faces: by equipping itself with good parish, school, and health infrastructures; by fostering a sense of belonging and communion; by living synodality and prioritising ongoing formation; by reducing the poverty affecting the majority of the population; and by ending the insecurity caused by young delinquent gangs in the district (called kuluna).

Fr. Séraphin Adobo, parish priest, is confident that, with God’s grace, the community will face these challenges through prayer and by intensifying the formation of young people and members of the various groups and committees.

The Eucharistic celebration concluded with the blessing of the new statue of the Virgin Mary, the new toilets, and the new podium, entirely funded by the contributions of the faithful. 

Brother Kakule Silusawa Lwanga, mccj