In the chapel of the Assumptionist general house in Rome, a Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, October 12, in memory of His Excellency Charles Mbogha, A.A., Archbishop of Bukavu, who died on Sunday, October 9. The Mass was presided by His Excellency, Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kisangani and president of the National Conference of Bishops of the Congo (C.E.N.CO.), accompanied by four other Congolese bishops: His Excellency, Tharcisse TSHIBANGU, Bishop of Mbujimayi and Vice-President of the National Conference of Bishops of the Congo (C.E.N.CO.), His Excellency, Nestor NGOY, Bishop of Kolwezi, His Excellency KABONGO, bishop emeritus of Luebo, and His Excellency GAPANGWA, bishop emeritus of Uvira. The first three are participating in the current synod of bishops on the Eucharist being held in Rome. Concelebrants included the members of the Assumptionist general curia and twenty or so Congolese diocesan or religious priests. There were also in attendance many Congolese religious and lay-people.

Homily by the Very Rev. Richard Lamoureux, AA (standing), Superior General of the Assumptionists

In his homily, the Very Rev. Richard Lamoureux, A.A., superior general of the Assumptionists, underlined the simplicity, the apostolic zeal, and the gift of self (Lk 22:25-26), virtues which characterized Bishop Charles. He did not fail to mention the reference which the bishop himself, forced into seclusion, made to his sickness, which he understood as a way of associating himself not only with the suffering of Christ for the salvation of humanity, but also as a way to associate himself with the suffering of the Church of God in Bukavu, for its liberation.

Later, in his remarks, Archbishop Monsengwo, in the name of the bishops' conference, presented his condolences to the Assumptionists, the religious family to which Bishop Charles belonged, to the people of the Archdiocese of Bukavu, and to the entire Church of the Congo. (It was recalled that Archbishop Monsengwo consecrated Bishop Charles in the episcopacy. ). In his remarks the archbishop spoke of being struck by the joyful obedience of his colleague. When Bishop Charles was transferred to the Diocese of Isiro, the archbishop would have told him that he would be the guradian of the diocese of Blessed Anuarite, a Congolese martyr. At that time no one could have imagined that Bishop Charles would experience for four years a suffering similar to Blessed Anuarite's.

May his soul rest in peace in the presence of Christ, "who suffered more than we, he who bore greater agony than we, for we know that if we die with and for Him, we will live with Him."