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The capital of the Democratic Republic is Kinshasa, which is where the MSC first began their mission. Today the MSC have one parish in Kinshasa, where they work to help the people who come to the city from the villages. Many of these people are running away from areas controlled by rebels.
Pictured right is a Health Center near the MSC parish in the Archdiocese of Mbandaka which was recently built by a Belgian MSC Brother. The prices of medications at this health center are very low, which gives access to medical treatment to poor people in the area.
The MSC have established several schools in villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including a boarding school for young women in Bokote, which was looted by militias after the war. (Today the boarding school is run by diocesan sisters and is home to 70 young women.)
In addition to schools, the MSC have also founded an anthropology library in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is one of the best in Central Africa. Today scholars from all over the world go there to conduct their research.
MSC also bring information by organizing showings of films, documentaries, educational programs (and occasionally soccer matches!) in rural areas. Such showings are important local events since most people, even those living in the villages, do not have access to a TV.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere! Click here to see more pictures of MSC mission in Africa. |
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart began working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1924. The MSC mission includes building schools and health centers, providing training for youth, fighting against illiteracy and discrimination and providing material and emotional support to those fleeing from the war.
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One of the many challenges MSC face when working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is discrimination. Pygmies are a minority and live apart from and are considered inferior to the Bantu majority. The MSC have a parish in Bamanya where they work to improve the living conditions of Pygmies. Pygmies are traditionally excellent dancers and are shown left dancing for the arrival of Father General when he visited the Bamanya mission. Through social activities such as soccer matches, the MSC are working with the younger generations and trying to mingle the two tribes (Pygmy and Bantu) in order to overcome discrimination and intolerance and promote respect for each person.
Another great challenge that MSC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face is the poor condition of the roads. To the right is the national road from Mondombe to Bokungu which the government does little to maintain. The MSC are trying to rebuild some of the bridges along this road. Many villages are separated by more than 50 miles and often a Catholic mission is the only place villagers can find assistance. Due to the condition of the roads, MSC frequently use bicycles and small boats to travel between villages. The distance is so great that some villages only have Mass once every three months. Many villagers are affected by the war and violence and one of the primary projects of the MSC is to help them rebuild their lives, both materially and emotionally. MSC help villagers rebuild their homes and give them a basic farm "kit" so that they can replant their farms. They also use the spirituality of reparation to help people find healing despite the negative and traumatic emotional impact of the fighting.