“To love God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself—this is to do what is necessary for eternal life.”
On March 8, 2025, the International Women’s Day and the Feast Day of St. John of God, the friends of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in Lublin gathered to participate in two presentations. The first was given by Fr. Bertin Kabongo on the vibrant and richly blessed nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the second by Karol Fromont on the topic of Healthy Spirituality.
In Fr. Bertin’s exposition on the DRC, we learned that his country is a land of remarkable natural resources, including the second-largest rainforest in the world, the Congo River, and extensive mineral deposits such as gold, cobalt, copper, tantalum, and other rare metals essential for electronic and digital devices. We saw that it is a country that values peace, unity, authentic cultural heritage, and the vibrancy of music and dance. The DRC has given the world treasured gifts such as Koffi Olomide, Congolese rumba, soukous, and lingala (music genres), as well as incredible biodiversity, including the okapi (an animal resembling a cross between a zebra and a giraffe). The DRC is also home to the Inga Dams, the largest dams in Africa. It is a land marked by a deep-rooted Catholic faith, expressed in the Congolese variation of the Latin rite, making it a significant stronghold of the Church in Africa and beyond.
In the presentation on Healthy Spirituality, we learned that we are called to love as God loves, and by striving for this love, we promote life. Healthy spirituality involves focusing on love and life, maintaining a proper balance between love for God, love for oneself, and love for others. This is nurtured through honest self-knowledge, prayer, trust in the teachings of the Church, and obedience to God’s will. In order to love others, we must first have an authentic appreciation of ourselves as beloved children of God, made in His image and likeness, created to love and serve others. In this context of healthy spirituality, we prioritize God while truly loving others as we love ourselves.
The gathering concluded with a joyful meal of fufu, chicken and pork stew, and rice, infused with Congolese flavors and the love and care of brotherly service and Christian community. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the photos!
Patience from Rwanda shares her impressions:
On Saturday, March 6, we were blessed with the opportunity to learn more about the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Father Bertin.
The session began with a reflection on the Sunday Gospel (Luke 4:1-13). We pondered how Satan tested Jesus at His weakest moment—when He was in the wilderness and hungry. However, we also recognized Jesus’ unwavering determination to persevere in His mission to redeem His people on earth.
Later, Father Bertin introduced us to the joyful lifestyle of the Congolese. He spoke about their food, attire, and the rich blessings that God has bestowed upon their country. He also explained the vast diversity of the Catholic community in the DRC and how they integrate elements of their cultural traditions—such as honoring their ancestors—within the Roman Catholic liturgy as a way of worshiping God.
We were later blessed by Mr. Karol, who, along with his wife, embarked on a missionary journey eleven years ago. He shared insights into the challenges faced by fellow Christians, experiences that many of us could relate to. He drew from the story of the prodigal son’s return to remind us that God desires us to be honest and transparent with Him. He encouraged us to take small steps toward God, even when we find ourselves straying from the truth of His word.
MARCH 2025 SATURDAY MISSION – By Aloysius Maina