{"id":1127,"date":"2025-03-03T13:52:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T13:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.zrsmaria-ing.be\/the-congo-region\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:21:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:21:20","slug":"the-congo-region","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zrsmaria-ing.be\/en\/the-congo-region\/","title":{"rendered":"The Congo region"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Congo region<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

The Congo region<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]\n

Diocese of Bunia<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Chemchem 1 Bunia<\/h3>\n

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The central house, was built in 1958. Adjacent to it are the buildings of the state-run primary and secondary schools.<\/p>\n

Chemchem 2 Bunia<\/h3>\n

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In 2018, space was cleared within the central house for the regional house as a 2nd<\/sup><\/span> community.<\/p>\n

 
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Saint-Nicholas orphanage Bunia<\/h3>\n

 
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Construction of an orphanage in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n

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The sisters and more than 70 orphans started living there in 2023.<\/p>\n

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The Jacques Dufort school complex,<\/b> Bunia<\/b> is the congregation’s first self-established school, built with the support of 2 projects funded by the province of West Flanders.<\/p>\n

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The school has been operational since the 2021-2022 academic year with the start of a kindergarten.<\/p>\n

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In the 2022-2023 school year, primary school classes were already planned.<\/p>\n

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Currently, the school is systematically expanding into a fully developed kindergarten and primary school.<\/p>\n

 
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Karibu Novitiate Bunia<\/h3>\n

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In 1990, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a formation house.<\/p>\n

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In 1991, the noviciate was able to start there. Originally, the noviciate was located in Fataki.<\/p>\n

Pierre Jacques Dufort Postulancy, Bunia<\/h3>\n

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In 2006, the diocese made a house available to the congregation.<\/p>\n

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Buildings were then added to accommodate the postulants properly.<\/p>\n

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Ndibe Bunia<\/h3>\n

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\"\"In 2025, the community started living in small houses, to oversee the building of a local health centre.<\/p>\n

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This is being built with the support of 2 projects from the province of West Flander<\/p>\n

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Komanda Bunia<\/h3>\n

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\"\"There is a presence of sisters at Komanda since 2017 and a residence was purchased in 2018.<\/p>\n

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The sisters are committed to education.<\/p>\n

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Due of insecurity, the sisters fled in 2021., but they returned to the community in 2024.<\/p>\n

 
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Fataki<\/h3>\n

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Fataki is the foundation house in the Diocese of Buma.<\/p>\n

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In 1930, the 1st<\/sup><\/span> sisters left for Fataki to open a boarding school for Belgian children.<\/p>\n

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After independence, the school buildings organised primary and secondary education for native children. There is also an orphanage and a hospital.<\/p>\n

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\"\"In 2003, rebels invaded Fataki. The school and convent buildings were looted and heavily damaged. Together with the orphans, the sisterd fled.<\/p>\n

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Some time later, the UN peacekeepers (MONUC \/ blue helmets) moved into the monastery building and made it their home.<\/p>\n

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Only in 2012 did they vacate, allowing the sisters to move in again.<\/p>\n

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Gradually until 2017, the monastery building was restored.<\/p>\n

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In recent years, the situation there is very unstable. Despite the insecurity, the sisters remain on site to assist the local population with education and care.<\/p>\n

 
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Drodro<\/h3>\n

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The Drodro mission post was founded in the year 1937.<\/p>\n

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It started with catechumenate and a primary school. Later, a hospital and maternity were built. This was followed by an orphanage and a nusing school (A2 level).<\/p>\n

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The sisters’ house was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 2007. Reconstruction began as early as the end of the same year.<\/p>\n

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In recent years, the situation is as described for Fataki.<\/p>\n

 
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Diocese of Mahagi<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Mahagi<\/h3>\n

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\"\"In 2022, a house was purchased in Mahagi where the sisters took up residence.<\/p>\n

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They dedicate themselves to healthcare, education and support for Caritas.<\/p>\n

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A new annex building was erected in 2023 with completion in 2024.<\/p>\n

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Vida<\/h3>\n

\"\"The sisters arrived there in 2001.<\/p>\n

Besides working in the dispensary and primary school, the sisters are actively involved in parish life.<\/p>\n

A <\/b><\/span>plot in Ngote <\/b>was purchased in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This site is 5 km from Vida. In the future, a community house and a school will be established there.<\/p>\n

Laybo<\/h3>\n

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In 1993, the sisters moved into the house.<\/p>\n

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In 1994, the hospital and maternity was built.<\/p>\n

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The sisters teach in both, primary and secondary school.<\/p>\n

 
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Diocese of Goma<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Goma, Katindo<\/h3>\n

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When the sisters, to escape ethnic violence in 2003, fled from the Diocese of Bunia to Goma and Ruhengeri (Rwanda), it was decided to purchase a house in Goma.<\/p>\n

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This gave the sisters the opportunity to pursue their studies and to carry out their apostollic work in teaching.<\/p>\n

 
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Diocese of Kinshasa<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Kinshasa 1<\/h3>\n

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In 2020, we purchased a house in Kinshasa where the sisters started living in September 2021.<\/p>\n

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They are actively engaged in education and several sisters study.<\/p>\n

Sister Cecilia Monn, who lives in Kinshasa 2, is the dedicated manager of the Saint Joseph health center.<\/div>\n

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Originally from Switzerland and having received her religious formation in Belgium, she has been serving in D.R. Congo for many years, with a special focus on the poorest of the population.<\/div>\n

 
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Kinshasa 2<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]
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\"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]\nThe purchase of a health centre along with a community house in Kinshasa happened in 2022.<\/p>\n

The sisters started the health centre in June 2023 in an area with limited access to medical care.<\/p>\n

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In the autumn of 2023, a new house <\/b>was acquired, followed by some adaptation works.<\/p>\n

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An additional building for the health centre is planned for the future.<\/p>\n

 
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Kampala diocese<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Kampala 1<\/h3>\n

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\"\"The house, located 45 km from Entebbe airport, was purchased in 2013, after which the sisters moved in.<\/p>\n

It also serves multiple purposes:<\/p>\n