Congo DR celebrates fiftieth anniversary of Blessed Anuarite's martyrdom

His Eminence, Laurent Cardinal Monsengwo the Archbishop of Kinshasa, this week led thousands of pilgrims when he presided-over a special Mass to close the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite.

The  Mass was held  in the Diocese of Isiro-Niangara, in the Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite was a religious sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Kisangani. She was murdered by Simba rebels in Isiro on 1 December 1964 and beatified by Pope John Paul II in Kinshasa on 15 August 1985.

Cardinal Monsengwo together with Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Apostolic Nuncio to Congo; Bishop Julian Andavo, the Bishop of Isiro-Niangara and other Bishops of Congo DR led pilgrims in the various liturgies and devotions.

Over the weekend, part of the pilgrimage comprising ten Bishops together with priests, religious and the faithful walked from the first tomb of Blessed Anuarite right up to the Cathedral of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Throughout the pilgrimage, pilgrims recited the rosary and meditated on the martyrdom of Blessed Anuarite.

Apart from local people, pilgrims came from Kinshasa, Butembo and Bunia, Kisangani, Wamba and Dungu.

(P. Jean-Baptiste Malenge Kalunzu, OMI in Congo DR)