Salesians have programs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

(MissionNewswire) Father Daniel Antúnez, president of Mission Don Bosco in Turin, Italy, and Ester Negro, the organization’s photographer, recently spent time visiting Salesian programs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo* and Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo*.

The trip is a first response to the invitation of the Vatican’s cardinal secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who earlier made a pastoral visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on behalf of Pope Francis, who had remained at the Vatican because of a knee ailment.

Both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo struggle due to poverty, difficult economies, and the environment. In a statement, Cardinal Parolin denounced “the lust for raw materials, the thirst for money and power close the doors of peace and represent an attack on people’s right to life and serenity.”

Fr. Antúnez explained, “The Don Bosco missions operate in territories where there is child exploitation in mines, ancestral prejudice against those born with physical abnormalities, and violence against young women. They live on the borders of areas subject to the action of anti-government gun groups. A few days before his killing on Feb. 22, 2021, Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio had gone to greet Salesians and cooperators in Goma, in the troubled Kivu region.”

Salesians have been dedicated to the development of youth of this region for many years. They have provided social programs, youth shelters for homeless youth, youth centers, parishes and schools in Kinshasa for 110 years and in Brazzaville for 60.

Salesians also provide other specialized programs which Fr. Antúnez visited including in Mbuji-Mayi where Salesians work to safeguard children accused of witchcraft and are persecuted in their villages. In Tshikapa, Salesians are exploring the possibility of building an elementary school in an area infamous for the exploitation of diamond mines, an activity that also involves child labor and where the illiteracy rate reaches 47 percent.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Democratic Republic of Congo – Missionary journey of “Missioni Don Bosco” in the two Congo

Salesian Missions – Democratic Republic of the Congo

UNICEF – DR Congo

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in these countries were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.