Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We would like to share with you a little bit about our lives here in Goma. Many of you have been waiting for a substantial update on this mission, which is the second outside of the Beni-Butembo area, the first being the capital city, Kinshasa. The mission is really still in its infancy.

1. About the city of Goma

How time flies! It's already been 40 days since Fr. Jacob Welikha Barasa and I, Fr. Roger Kasereka Syayipuma, set foot on Goma soil. Fr. François Nzanzu joined us a month later. Still to come are Frs. Thomas Ndovya and René Mihigo. The land in Goma has been devastated by the lava that has flowed down from Nyiragongo volcano (which the local bishop, Most Rev. Théophile Kaboy, calls " General Nyiragongo " that levels everything in its wake--- the "General" of an army, to be sure); the volcano businesses, erupts about every 25 years on average! The last eruption took place in 2002. Lots of luck to those who will be around in 2027! Before plunging into Lake Kivu, the lava turns everything into rock along its path: people (who are vulnerable no matter what type of housing they may have), houses, schools, churches (even the cathedral of Goma), businesses, etc. In Goma one doesn't turn to salt like Lot's wife, but to lava rock.  This lava is unforgiving; it leaves indelible marks behind ---- hard rocks. One has to learn how to walk and to drive on it because it destroys shoes and tires alike. It's strange but this volcanic soil is fertile : you can see women planting beans among the rocks! These same rocks are mixed in with charcoal briquettes in order to extend their life for cooking. But that's not all! There are other secondary benefits that people have discovered for this lava rock: the lava " cleaned " the city of its decrepit, older buildings and made way for new, clean, and modern ones; it has also contributed to the expansion of the city from the downtown area to the "suburbs." This lava rock is used in all kinds of construction.  God writes straight with crooked lines an d even tragedy and mishap can be the occasion for something new --- new initiatives, new dynamism.

The second factor that puts Goma at risk is the fact it is subject to so many rebels of different stripes that operate in the area and threaten it. The city is profoundly marked by fear of the " What's next ". It is not easy living day in and day out fearing a rebel attack! The mayor of the city recently decreed, for example, that no vehicles may circulate after 6 PM as a security measure. In general, everyone tries to get home by 7 PM. Someone commented wryly that these days mothers and children actually see their fathers come home before nightfall --- so even family life is seeing a benefit; family ties are being strengthened.

Goma is also a lakeside town, cooled by the waters of Lake Kivu, a body of water shared by the Congo Kinshasa and Rwanda. This lake covers deposits of methane. Such deposits make of the lake a source of energy but also pose a danger of death. So the city is squeezed between the Nyiragongo volcano to the north and Lake Kivu to the south.

Goma is a cosmopolitan city of at least 700,000 inhabitants. At the present time it is difficult to say exactly how many people live here because so many displaced people flee here for safety as they escape the repeated and deadly attacks in the neighboring villages and countryside. The major tribes of the province of North Kivu that populate the city are the Hunde, Nyanga, Rega, Tembo, Hutu, Tutsi, Nande, etc. There are other tribes from other provinces as well (les Bashi, les Bakongo, etc.). Two languages are used for communication: Kiswahili and French. Nevertheless, depending on the neighborhood, one hears people speaking their "maternal" tongues, not to say tribal.

The number of NGOs and other agencies is impressive. They keep growing like mushrooms. It would be interesting to see what is going on behind the scenes of the "miraculous multiplication" of these non-governmental organizations that are all recognized by the government: is it aid to the vulnerable? consciousness-raising and promotion of the rights of man? democracy? financing? egoism or altruism? Still, it would be helpful if certain of these organizations consolidated in order to avoid a proliferation of funds and human resources! God alone, for example, knows how many youth organization there are in the city of Goma! One for democracy, another for human rights, another for aid to displaced people, still others for the environment or for members of a particular tribe, another for this or for that, and the list goes on.

The city has 8 parishes of which are served by diocesan priests and 3 by religious Missionaries of Africa, Carmelites, Xaverians). The Catholic community forms one Church ---dynamic, smooth-running, well-organized. It faces situations of insecurity daily throughout the diocese. It works for unity and reconciliation among tribes and tries to avoid scapegoating any tribe as " friendly " to rebels and so avoid tribal divisions. There are any number of masculine congregations present here: Missionaries of Africa (parish), Carmelites (school and all-purpose hall), Jesuits (refugees). The Pallottines and the Caracciolini also serve parishes elsewhere in the diocese. There are also at least 15 women's groups in Goma (e.g. Ursulines, Missionaries of Africa, Daughters of Charity, Pallotines, Oblates of the Assumption, Carmelite Missionaries, Bernardines, Benebekira). Of course, there are other religions and sects present here: Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Revival churches, Islam, etc.

2. The Assumption

The Augustinians of the Assumption have had a good reputation here for a dog’s age. Those who have come from the diocese of Butembo-Beni, the neighboring diocese, have nursed a good memory of the Assumptionists. Others were educated at Collège Pie X (Institut Kambali), an Assumptionist institution, which formed and shaped them; there they were entrusted to religious and teachers passionate for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The youngest speak of Institut Kambali and of Institut Technique de Mahamba, another Assumption establishment. Some of them make reference to famous Assumptionist figures. I was stunned to hear our parish priest speak of one of his fellow diocesan priests named Alain Marchadour, a professor of Scripture at the major seminary!

The Oblate Sisters of the Assumption arrived in Goma before us. They have been here since the last century, 1996. If they followed us in many of our missions, it is the opposite here. That’s just an example of how history serves to even things out and provide a certain harmony. We have been fortunate to have them here where they have welcomed us warmly as brothers. With Fr. Thierry KAHONGYA, first assistant of the provincial, who had come to help us settle in, we spent a busy week with them after a long bus trip from Nairobi, full of surprises, not to mention comedy. They took good care of us and helped us tremendously in this new foundation. They took care of getting supplies, introducing us to the local Church, etc. For years they have been taking care of Lay Assumptionists and Assumptionist vocations.Up to the present day, we have been using many of the items from their chapel ands their kitchen. Many thanks, sisters!

The Lay Assumptionists have been around Goma officially since 2007, thanks to papa SAHANI Ferdinand and his companions. It’s an interesting group, active, well-organized, composed of couples and young people. There are at least  200 of them. They have been involved heart and soul in our foundation here in the city of Goma. They’re always willing to help out, at a minute’s notice. We are the fruit of their persistent prayers, sometimes patient, sometimes impatient. They never lost hope that we would eventually “land” in Goma.

So their dream has become a reality. With them and with the Oblates, we have been able to live our family spirit. We just organized together, for example, we, the Oblates, and the lay Assumptionists, the final vows of Br.  Jacob BARASA. I was really impressed by the conviction of our lay brothers and sisters that  « This is our celebration, our feast ». Their involvement in the services and their contribution deserves high praise. I am not sure what shape our foundation would have taken here without their presence in  Goma. Our arrival gave them joy and peace. The group was suspected of being a  « sect », or of « tribalism » by more than one person before our arrival. They ran about here, there, and everywhere looking for a priest who could celebrate in Assumptionist fashion at their services and days of recollection. Now we are here. We will evolve together accompanying one another and in the joy of being disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ with Emmanuel d’Alzon. Recourse to other priests is an option that brings an enriching diversity. We thank our Oblate Sisters who have accompanied our brothers and sisters in their Assumptionist vocation. We will continue to work together for the same causes.

The house where e are now living is located in Blessed Anuarite Parish, in the  Himbi II neighborhood. It’s a new neighborhood that only began in the wake of the 2002 eruption. The provision of electrical current follows its disordered rhythm. Sometimes we can spend three days without power; we’ve never had 12 hours of power in one day. That affects us; but life is more than this. The house is beautiful and offers us a nice setting for a small community. The landlord really invests a lot in it. We hope to get into our own house once the contract of the current renter comes to an end. The parish has welcomed us warmly; it needed other priests. There are 10 Masses each Sunday. We help out in the parish both on Sundays and weekdays, as well with small Christian communities, faith sharing groups and sacramental ministry. We also celebrate Mass for the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, who are our neighbors, barely 7 minutes away on foot. We have developed a good relationship with them. We are waiting for the arrival of the other two members of the community and especially our local chapter before we make any decisions about outside commitments.

3. Looking ahead

We came here to begin an Assumptionist community that would bear witness Assumptionist religious life in the diocese of Goma.

We are going to work with the People of God to hasten the coming of the Kingdom of God. Concretely, we are thinking about: working with the local church for reconciliation among all the faithful; youth ministry (Fr. Roger is assistant diocesan youth director), marriage and family ministry (Fr. René Mihigo), Committee for Mass Media and Communication (Fr. François Nzanzu), oversight of St. Martin de Tours Parish (Military chaplaincy: Fr. Thomas Ndovya will work with the diocesan military chaplain). Br. Jacob will put his ministry as acolyte within the parish. He’s also involved in the Evangelization Commission and in marriage preparation. He’s lendin g a land with the parish choir as well. Of course, we’re involved in accompanying our lay Assumptionist brothers and sisters. It’s a major priority that we take to heart, in deed and in prayer. Beside all this, there is vocation ministry which we will be launching in Goma during the month of November.

4. Preoccupations

All of this pastoral ministry gets us involved in the life of the local Church of Goma. It’s apostolic ministry, almost totally free of charge. So, one real preoccupation we have: where to find revenue?  That’s the nub of the problem we face. We need to find work that pays. We arrived too late to get involved in teaching. We’ll have to wait till next year for that. As if the stomach could wait!!!

The second preoccupation has to do with the visibility of the Congregation.  We need a distinctive work, with the Oblates and the lay Assumptionists, which will embody our identity: a school? a language center? a parish? A spiritual center? ... We have learned lot from our experiences in Nairobi and in Lugazi (Uganda). But who among us could have foreseen the end of construction of St. Monica’s parish in Nairobi? God alone. We must always have daring, not only within the limits of the possible but also with great trust in Providence. Thank you for keeping this new mission of the Congregation in your prayers. We would b e grateful to hear your reactions and suggestions.

5. What will the name of the new community be?

Before coming we had already thought about this. The opinions differ, but “Our Lady” appears to be a central piece. Given the geographical context, some have suggested Our Lady of the Volcanoes Community or Stella Maris. From a political point of view, we have thought of Our Lady of Peace. From a spiritual point of view, Our Lady of the Assumption. From the point of view of local impact, Archbishop Charles Mbogha Community. And you, what would you suggest?

Goma, Feast of All Saints, 2012.

Fr.  Roger KASEREKA SYAYIPUMA, AA.