The Bishop Garang Episcopal visit in Democratic Republic of Congo

I. Introduction

The Anglican Catholic Church in Democratic Republic of Congo joined the Anglican Catholic Church Original Province and was welcomed at November 2009. The first plan of Archbishop Mark Haverland Metropolitan of the ACC-OP was to endeavour to send a bishop to perform confirmations and ordinations which were waited for five years ago in the former Church. This act has convinced Congolese Church to conclude that the ACC is very friendly to missions in general and to work in Africa particular; because for a length of six months as a member church of the ACC-OP a dream has become a reality.

II. Bishop Garang Episcopal visitation in DR-Congo

Archbishop Mark Haverland has made it a reality by sending Bishop Wilson Garang from the diocese of Awiel South Sudan to perform confirmations and ordinations. On Saturday May 8^th the Bishop, accompanied by Father Phanuel Munezero, was welcomed in the border of Rwanda and DR-Congo by Father Steven AYULE-MILENGE, the Administrator of the ACC-Congo.

1. Saint Trinity Parish- Bukavu

- Sunday May 9^th: Bishop has confirmed 5 persons at Saint Trinity Parish Church Bukavu named: Abumba Alaka, Eca Alaka, Makeci Komite, Mmasa Komite and Mwetaminwa Atebeta.

- In the same day bishop has ordained in the Saint Trinity Parish Church 3 persons to the diaconate, Reverend Deacon Abumba Alaka, Reverend Deacon Ntakubajira Cirimwami and Reverend Deacon Mmasa Komite. Deacon Abumba Alaka will serve as curate in the Parish of Saint Trinity- Bukavu; Deacon Mmasa Komite will serve in the new Parish Saint Francis of Assise- Mosho; and Deacon Ntakubajira will serve in the Saint Nativity- Goma newly opened in the Province of North Kivu.

2. Saint Francis of Assise- Mosho

Monday May 10^th: Bishop has confirmed 15 persons at the church of Saint Francis of Assise- Moshi: Amani Alliance, Baderha Gislaine, Bahizire Déogracias, Bikubanga Jeanette, Byandike Franck, Feza Josiana, Furaha Rachel, Kalimurhima Ariette, Kujirabwinja Maria, M’bwazire Odile, Mugisho Innoncent, Mungu Akwokwa Olivier, Ndamuso Angeline, Nzigire Adeline, Ziharirwa Cesaire.

3. Saint Andrew Parish- Mboko

Tuesday May 11^th: Father Steven AYULE-MILENGE and Bishop’s delegation were welcomed by Father Mamba Itongwa in the township of Mboko, at the parish of Saint Andrew- Mboko Bishop Garang has confirmed 22 persons: Amida Mwilemo, Asa Ngyuku, Butunga Georgieta, Bwami Makutano, Clementine Komite, Ecimbo Ngini, Espoir Polepole, Gelta Magayane, Machozi Nalenge, Maneno Mubiho, Mukandja Ngokero, Mtemanwa Kika, Musengo Sephania, Rashidi Mwamba, Ramazani Amuli, Safari Mwanza, Safi Anjela, Salumu Akili, Shukuru W’Elongo, Wabikwa Rebeka, Wakilongo Aliyabu and Zaina Safi.

4. Saint Peter Parish- Baraka

- Wednesday May 12^th bishop confirmed 16 persons in the Parish of Saint Peter- Baraka named: Abea Bibikwa, Abengwa Ekyekekyeke, Ebuela Ecimbo, Eto Neema, Kalenga Kibasomba, Katiba Musobokelwa, Kitungano Mabruki, Lambert Mkongomani, Lubyula Mnyololo, Masoka Balongelwa, Matunga Lutakengwa, Msaseca Lubunga, Mseko Sibwela, Mbeleci Basilwango, Salifu Ezekiel and Tangazo Mkoko.

- In the same day Bishop has ordained 14 persons to the diaconate: Abengwa Ekyekekyeke, Bitangaca Etambala, Byaombe Ungamweko, Ishibatende Mialano, Katiba Musobokelwa, Kitungano Mabruki, Lambert Mkongomani, Lubyula Mnyololo, Matunga Lutakengwa, Mialano Wilondja, Mmokywa Mtundu, Mmunga Salehe, Mseko Sibwela and Mukandja Ngokelo.

- And then three deacons were ordained to the priesthood: Abengwa Ekyekekyeke, Bitangaca Etambala and Mmokywa Mtundu

5. Saint Matthew Parish- Malinde

Thursday May 13^th , in the morning at the church Saint Luke- Sebele of the parish of Saint Matthew- Malinde bishop Garang has confirmed 24 persons named: Ana Bachinge, Baachana Pendelelwa, Bakajane Louise, Balelwa Chantal, Bawili Nyota, Bilemanga Nyasa, Binwa Nyasa, Bitendanwa Eda, Debora Nabalongelwa, Ebanda Fisto, Kamili Wayule, Kyuku Nabalongelwa, Lavika Kajiweka, M’mambelwa Welongo, M’masa Lesa, Mahango Anastazia, Masoka ‘Yala, Mawazo Na’yenge, Mlake Dewayo, Mmbumu Akili, Mwenehitanda Mwaminifu, Nyota Riziki, Safari Mungumwema and Zawadi Siyapata.

6. Saint Paul Parish- Fizi

Thursday May 13^th , in the afternoon at the at the Parish of Saint Paul- Fizi: Bishop has confirmed 10 persons named: A’aleelwa Miambo, Aliabu Itutu, Furaha Nanyota, Lusekea Maenda, Mngeleza Nongo, Mwalihasha Mandami, Namtengya Mandami, Nasu’wa Safi, Nawitambya Abengwa and Welongo Mwenebatu.

III. The Parishes who missed the Episcopal Visit of Bishop Garang

These things were done by Bishop Garang and many remain to be done. The following parishes missed the Episcopal visit of the Right Reverend Wilson Garang due many reasons of the area where the parishes are situated and distance from the ACC-Congo’s headquarter.

1. The 330 Faithful of the 6 congregations of Saint Luke- Katenga Parish didn’t get confirmation because they live on the mountain where the vehicle can not reach the parish even motorbike and Bishop didn’t get time to do the confirmations.
2. The 329 Faithful of the 9 congregations of Saint Barnabas- Ubwari Parish didn’t get confirmations because they live on the Ubwari peninsula where the vehicle can not reach Parish (accessible only by boat) and Bishop didn’t get time to do confirmation.
3. The 308 Faithful of the 7 congregations of Saint Jacques- Lwiko Parish didn’t get confirmations because they live in the villages situated on the mountain in Equatorial Forest where a four wheel car can reach the Parish and walk 29 Km for other congregations.
4. The 175 Faithful of the 5 congregations of Saint Thomas- Kipupu Parish didn’t get confirmation because they live in the villages situated in Equatorial Forest where even four wheel car can not reach only airplane and walk 87 Km.
5. The 230 Faithful of the 6 congregations of Saint Joseph- Kabandja Parish didn’t get confirmations because they live in the villages situated in Equatorial Forest where even four wheel car can not reach, but only an airplane, and walk 49 Km.
6. The 324 Faithful of the 8 congregations of Saint Mark- Kisanya Parish didn’t get confirmations because they live in the villages situated in Equatorial Forest where even four wheel car can not reach, but only an airplane, and walk 75 Km.
7. The192 Faithful of the 7 congregations of Saint Jean- Misisi Parish didn’t get confirmationsbecause they live in Border of Province of South Kivu and in one territory of Katanga for a distance of 450 Km from Bukavu town, but a four wheel car can reach parish.

IV. Conclusion

The Right Reverend Wilson Garang arrived on Saturday May 8^th with Father Phanuel Munezero were welcomed in the border of Rwanda and DR-Congo by Father Steven AYULE-MILENGE, the Administrator of the ACC-Congo. Our programme has undergone some modification because Bishop has chosen to work very hard for confirmation and ordination for those who were ready during his passage in the parishes. This led us to finish the visit before the schedule established. Thus, Bishop returned Friday May 14^th escorted by Fathers Steven AYULE-MILENGE and Phanuel Munezero to Bujumbura capital city of Republic of Burundi because Bishop lacks entrance visa for Rwanda. On Saturday May 15^th, 2010 bishop gets his airplane at 11 Pm to fly up Nairobi- Kenya.

Bishop confirmed 92 persons adults and children, who were ready, from congregations of 6 parishes situated on the main road of Bukavu to Fizi where we drove 758 Km for our trips. He has ordained 17 persons to the diaconate, and 3 of them were ordained to the priesthood. Now, the ACC-Congo has 5 priests and 14 deacons. Thanks to His Grace Archbishop Mark Haverland for sending Bishop Wilson Garang to do confirmations and ordinations on his behalf. For a length of six months we joined the ACC-OP as member a dream has become a reality.

The 7 parishes with their 48 congregations missed the Episcopal visit of the Right Reverend Wilson Garang because they are situated in Equatorial Forest and mountain where even four wheel car can not reach. Also we can not bring our guest in unsafe area where Rwandan Hutu militia forces (Interahamwe), who had fled Rwanda following the ascension of a Tutsi-led government, had been using Congolese Equatorial forest in eastern DR-Congo as a basis for incursion against the government of DR-Congo who had signed peace accord with the Republic of Rwanda. Much of the conflict was focused on gaining control of substantial natural resources country, including diamonds, copper, zinc, gold and coltan.

Two ordinands from two parishes situated in Equatorial forest and mountain missed their ordinations to diaconate during the Episcopal visit of the Right Reverend Wilson Garang because our letter reached them when the fighting was done in the area. Even in the parish of Saint Paul- Fizi, we arrived when government forces and militia were fighting two weeks ago. This was the reason that pushed us to make Fizi as our last step where Christians met with Bishop Garang for confirmation when they are coming from in the forest where they fled during the fighting and still now waiting for the peace.

We thank Bishop Garang for the work he has done very hard and Father Munezero for his best interpretation of English- Swahili during confirmation and ordination service. Again we thank His Grace Mark Haverland and all ACC-OP bishops who has allowed this Episcopal visitation to be done in the ACC- Congo because a dream has become a reality. God bless all.

Thanks,

For the Anglican Catholic Church in Congo,

+Reverend Father Steven AYULE-MILENGE

Administrator of ACC- Congo