The Province of St. Mary of the Angels in the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated its Provincial Chapter from 2 to 11 August. The Minister General, Br Massimo FUSARELLI, appointed Br Amaral BERNARDO AMARAL, of the Custody of St. Clare in Mozambique, Visitator General of the Province of St. Mary of the Angels and President of the Chapter. At the end of his canonical visitation, on 26 June 2024, Br Amaral Bernardo invited thirty-seven friars, vowed capitulars and guests to take part in the celebration held at the Mamu wa Bupole convent of the Poor Clare Sisters in Mbujimayi. The theme of the Chapter was “Brothers and Minors, configured to Christ, facing the wounds of our world today”, in relation to the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi. The Chapter arrived on the evening of 31 July 2024. On the morning of 1 August 2024, Br Joseph KALAMBAYI preached the retreat for the capitulars. The evening was devoted to the organisation of the various services and to the appointment of officers: secretaries, presiding officers, scrutineers, etc.
On the 2nd August, feast of St. Mary of the Angels, Patroness of the Province, the work began with the visit of Mgr Emmanuel-Bernard KASANDA, Bishop of the Diocese of Mbujimayi, where the Province of St. Mary of the Angels has its headquarters. Stanislas LUKUMWENA, Bishop emeritus of the diocese of Kole and member of the Province, addressed the capitulars of the Fraternity. The rhythm of the work was marked by listening to the reports in plenary sessions, group reflections in workshops based on the reports presented, and sharing of reflections in plenary sessions. All the reports were presented by the following friars: the Visitator General, the outgoing Minister Provincial, the Provincial Secretary for Formation and Studies, the Moderator of the Commission for the safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults, the Provincial Treasurer, the President of the Provincial Development Office, the Provincial Secretary for Mission and Evangelisation, the Resident Adviser for Franciscan Schools, the Assistant for the SFO and the Franciscan Family, the Moderator of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.
On Wednesday 7 August 2024, during the celebration of the Eucharist, the decree of the Minister General appointing the Minister Provincial, the Vicar Provincial and the Definitors Provincial for three years was presented to the capitulars. Br Nicodème MUAMBATA MUKATSALA, Provincial Minister; Br Benjamin KABONGO NGELEKA, Provincial Vicar; and Br Joseph KASOMBO TSHIMAL, Br Patrice-Emery MUEPU KAMANGU, Br Jean-Paul NTUMBA NTUMBA and Br Polydore BADIBANGA, Provincial Definitors. The promulgation of the decree was followed by the profession of faith of the new Minister Provincial, the rite of obedience and the oath of office of all the members of the Provincial Definitory. On Thursday 8 August, during the celebration of Lauds, the seal of the Province was passed from the outgoing Minister Provincial to the new Minister Provincial. On Friday, 9 August, the Capitulars voted on the direction of the articles of the Final Dispositions, a document that will serve as a compass for the activities of the Province for the three-year period 2024-2027. On Saturday, 10 August, the plenary discussed some outstanding issues, followed by the vote on the Final Dispositions. At the end of the morning, the Chapter President, Br Amaral BERNARDO AMARAL, declared the 2024 Chapter of the Province of St Mary of the Angels closed.
The 2024 Provincial Chapter of the Province of St Mary of the Angels was held in an atmosphere of fraternity. It ended with the solemn celebration of Mass on 11 August, the feast of St. Clare, during which seven novices made their first profession, one simple professed made her solemn profession and two solemnly professed renewed their vows on the occasion of their 25th anniversary in religious life. On the same occasion, three brothers celebrated their jubilee of priestly ministry, and five new priests and two new deacons were ordained.
Mbujimayi, 12 August 2024
Br Adélard-Marie NTUMBA, OFM
Provincial Secretary
