Project of the month - October - Support the formation of 161 seminarians in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The diocese of Butembo-Beni is situated in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a crisis region rich in natural resources, on the frontier between the DR Congo and neighboring Uganda. For years now, the rebels of the so-called "Allied Democratic Forces" (ADF), originally based in Uganda, have been spreading fear and terror in the region. Thousands have been left as refugees, and massacres, abductions, rape, and looting are now regular occurrences.

During his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February 2023, Pope Francis met with some of the victims of this violence and was deeply moved by their plight. In his address to them, he said: "In the face of such inhuman violence, which you have witnessed with your own eyes and experienced in your own lives, one is left appalled. Nothing remains but wordless weeping and silence."

Despite this terrible situation, Bishop Melchizedek Sikuli Paluku assures us: "Our people retain the joy of the Gospel message and continue to hope against all hope that better times will come." One heartening sign of this is the growing number of vocations. Currently, no fewer than 161 young men from the diocese of Butembo-Beni are training for the priesthood. They are spread across various seminaries in the country, according to the stages of their formation. Eventually, they will return, as priests, to their home diocese in order to serve God and their suffering people there. As Bishop Paluku writes, "These vocations are a sign from God, and the growth in them inspires our own hope in God, Immanuel, who dwells among us and saves us. But the local Church in this suffering region of the country is still far from able to cope with the material needs — which is why I am asking for your help!"

We have set our goal for Australia and New Zealand to raise $5,000 to support the training of these 161 young men, who will soon serve as priests and bring them hope. 

Will you consider funding the training of seminarians in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the priesthood?