On October 6, 2014, my friend Ronda Lamoree and I flew out of Logan Airport to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Our purpose was to meet the sponsored children who are part of Kids in the Congo, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization co-founded by Congolese Assumptionist Fr. Salvator Musande and myself.

Fr. Ephrem Kapitula, the Regional Superior of the Assumptionists in Eastern Congo was our guide and translator for the 2 weeks we were in DRC.  In addition to meeting our children and their families, we had the opportunity to visit the Assumptionist parishes in Butembo and Kyondo, the Palm Oil Plantation in Mbau, the Institute Superior Emmanuel D'Alzon in Butembo (ISEAB) which is the Assumptionist college.  We also visited Radio Moto, the Assumptionist radio station which is the most trusted source of news in Eastern Congo, and  an orphanage in Beni-Paida managed by the Oblate Sisters of the Assumption.

But it was our visit to Our Lady of the Poor Parish which had the deepest impact on me.  This parish is where Fr. Anselme Wasukundi, Fr. Edmund Kisughu and Fr. Jean-Pierre Ndulani were kidnapped on the evening of October 19, 2012.  I would like to share my thoughts and reflections on the brief time we spent there.

It was mid-afternoon on Friday Oct 10^th when we pulled up outside the small compound where the priests had lived.  The sky was dark with the threat of rain.  The entrance doors to the church were open and I could see people inside.  Fr. Ephrem explained that since the kidnapping, parishioners come daily to pray for the priests safe return.  I knew from praying for them in St. Anne/St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge which is my parish, that it had been nearly 2 years since they were taken at gunpoint and their persistence touched me.

We stepped through the gateway into the compound.  All of the Assumptionist communities we visited were built in the configuration of a square or rectangle.  In Mbau, the priests rooms were along one side, the dining area, sitting room and parish offices along another.  In the center was always a courtyard and Mbau is no different.  I was struck by the silence.  It was easy to imagine the activity which might have been a part of daily life.  But on this day, this place felt like a ghost town.  Except for the security person who unlocked the door to the room where the three priests had been relaxing after dinner, there was no other activity.

Ronda was the photographer on our journey and as she went around taking pictures, I stepped into the room and stood there quietly.  Fr. Ephrem came in and told me where their three kidnapped confreres were thought to have been sitting and what they were probably doing.  I asked him to tell me a little about each one.  Highly educated, vibrant personalities, characterized by a ready smile.  Fr. Jean-Pierre had just returned from studying in Ireland and had been a missionary in Ecuador.  He and Fr. Anselme had recently been assigned to the parish.  For a few moments we stood there in silence before Ronda came in to take a few photos.

As we were leaving, it began to rain, as if the Heavens were crying.  There was bright sunlight just to our west and an absolutely stunning double rainbow appeared.  It seemed like a message of hope.  I said a silent prayer that God might watch over them wherever and whatever their circumstances may be.

On Oct 19^th,  Fr Terry Kahongya traveled from Butembo to Mbau to say Mass on the 2^nd Anniversary of the kidnapping.