Congolese Ordination into the Catholic Priesthood

It was the weekend July 27th and the weather was just as picture perfect as it gets here in Goma. Sunshine but not too hot and nice breezes off the lake.












The altar was set with all the festive array of flowers and symbols of our Christian faith, and the people kept coming and finding places to sit.












The Ordination Mass for the Diocese of Goma which was scheduled to begin at 9am began the entrance processional at 10am.

As you look very closely in this throng of people you can see the Cross and the Holy Bible which led the procession of priests and seminarians from Diocese de Goma.













They came forward to the Altar two by two, bowing before the Cross and kissing the Altar before finding their chairs at the side as the crowd was singing, clapping, and dancing in the processional music.

And the last to find their chairs...the 6 Deacons who would become ordained in this Sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church. It will be the day they remember for the rest of their lives. The 6 sat in front of the Altar, waiting their participation in the Sacrament of Ordination.

I have been to many big Masses since my arrival here in Goma, but this one tops the list. This photo does not begin to give justice to the clergy and religious communities represented at this Ordination Mass. I just hope it gives some sense of how full and charismatic this worship was. You could not help but feel the Holy Spirit in this place.






Bishop Faustine Ngabu presided this Mass with the full joy of his office and though I have not had a chance to visit with him since that day I feel confident in saying this was a day of great happiness for him in his leadership of the Diocese of Goma. His joy in celebrating the Mass is always evident.







In this next photo you must look behind the plant in the forground to see the 6 deacons as they prostrate themselves before the Altar in the Rite of Ordination.






Here is a priest you have seen before, my friend and colleague from the Procure, Abbe Daniel Kitsa as he participates in the laying on of hands. Each priest present came forward in procession to impart this blessing on the head of each deacon. This laying on of hands is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit and also a sign of the following of Apostalic succession.









This next photo is of friend and colleague from Caritas Goma, Abbe Oswald Musoni, as he passes the work of the Holy Spirit to the new priest. Abbe Oswald Musoni is the one who wrote my invitation letter so that I might be able to arrive here and be part of this wonderful work that St. Anne and St. John are participating in with Rugari Parish.







Bishop Ngabu welcomes one of the new priests to the Diocese.








The offering of this worship was something to behold. The Buhimba Seminary where these priest arrive for their theological education makes a request of its needs for the coming year and what a response it was.

It included cooking oil,








goats,






beans, and charcoal...they will eat well.
















And of course no celebration of this magnitude is complete without a post Mass banguet.

We ate wonderful food, drank many beverages, and enjoyed the most wonderful Traditional drumming, dancing and singing that I have seen since my arrival. The presenters included artists of Traditional Rwandan song and dance as well as Traditional Nanda performers. They were thrilling to watch and listen to...a feast for the eyes and the ears.
























Now I must close with one final 150 degree image of the attendants at the Ordination Mass of 2008. Those who know my story must know that I am hungry now, more than ever for this day in my life. Pray for the leaders of our churches as they lead us in the path of our Lord Jesus!

Work Progressing at Rugari Lulenga Primary School

Sunday, July 13, 2008
What an auspicious day! Exactly 5 months ago today I arrived here in Goma and today we had what may be the first ever Catholic Mass in English. There were perhaps 13 people present, 14 with the priest, Abbe Oswald Musoni. We held this event at the Caritas Guest House, a beautiful setting with the lake in the background. Perhaps another time we will have the service outside where we can really enjoy nature. There are some who are so excited about this new venture that they are looking for this service every Sunday. We will see how it goes….exciting news for people like me who have sat for months in worship difficult to understand and now my longing for the familiar spoken Word has been satisfied just a touch!!!

Now onto the topic of the blog for this week, I seek to tell the story of the ongoing work at one of the Rugari Primary Schools. This is the school of Lulenga where we are helping to finish the construction of two classrooms. We are progressing, but the work had stopped because they ran out of cement and “Kohash” to mix the cement. We hope to deliver the needed supplies the end of next week when the windows and doors will also be completed and take a full truck load of supplies out to the site. I will see what I can do to get pictures of the truck supply when it goes.

The first picture here is of Abbe John Fidel talking construction as we stand beside the building that is going up.

The view from the end of a long line of classrooms.

We are at the point of placing the wood triplex sheeting in the ceiling but need to get the nails delivered so as to continue this phase. I will purchase them next week. This photo also shows the small window openings on the mountainside of the building. I can’t imagine that they will close this space with a solid window of glass, it would be a shame to lose the fresh air. Well, I will ask more about that next week.

The floors are being prepared for the final cement topcoat; they are being leveled with rock to fill in and level the floor. One of the problems I have noted in the construction here is that cement is often applied too thin in an effort to cut costs and then the floor spoils easily. Another reason for the cement spoiling easily is the poor materials used to mix, often times the sand and gravel are of poor quality, not well cleaned, and much dirt remains, decreasing the absolute strength of the cement. I am in conversation with the engineers for the building of the Gisiza Secondary School about this problem. When we build it must be in materials of high quality so that this will be a school that lasts the test of time, to last a hundred years would be a wonderful goal.

I also thought you might enjoy a look at a three stage projection of the ongoing work from approximately the same view.

This is the project at the point of construction before we began.

This photo is from my first visit after our work commenced. Roof going up, walls finished, but voids in the peak and no framing for the ceiling in place, also no floor work done yet.

Third Stage Photo:

Looking closely you can see the progress unfolding. Notice the MONUC sentry post is no longer present, they have moved down closer to the church. The framing is present to close in the ceiling with triplex, the floors are being prepared and not visible in the photo, but a previous, the peak has been closed in with block.

This nice little structure, NOT!!!, is the latrine utilized by all the students and teachers, a rather foul smelling affair. This is the view looking down the hill from the new construction of above photos. Perhaps in their future would be the construction of a nice new latrine with a septic tank, Turkish style toilets, water to flush, and an intensive training program on the hygienic use of such a facility…I do have my dreams!!!

I must close with two photos near and dear to my heart, the first is a photo from my first visit to Rugari in February when the church was empty and there was no active ecclesia present at the site, an empty church, silent and waiting to be filled again.

Last Sunday, July the 6th, I saw the filling of this church again when I went to the first service of the morning, filled to about three-fourths with people, filled with song and prayer of praise and worship. This is the site I have been longing to see.

For now I send this as the news from Rugari of the last week I spent there, a nice report of work we ARE ACCOMPLISHING. Thank you all for your continued support in prayer and action, God Bless you all!!!

I send my greetings and love in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Jackie