The longest of the three parables on God’s mercy in chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel bears the traditional title of The Prodigal Son, named after the younger son who wasted his inheritance in a foreign land. Since the father is the central figure in the story, the parable has sometimes been re-named after the Prodigal Father, who so lavishly shows his love and mercy to his rebellious younger son.

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Since the month of November 2019, the massacres in North Kivu have intensified. No one is asking what strategic motives are behind this resurgence. These butchers, who have often been active in the eastern region of this area, that is to say, the eastern flank of the city of Beni watered by the Semuliki River, are now carrying out operations on the western flank of the city as far away as the peaceful populations of the Ituri Forest, in towns bordering North Kivu Province. In the eyes of some analysts, this intensification is a strategic move by the killers from east to west and reveals the enforcement of an order to carry out, as soon as possible, a plan motivated by some extravagant expansionist desires. The thesis of a balkanisation is the one most often proposed in Christian quarters, especially Catholic ones. People holding certain political positions, depending on the divergent interests and ideologies that underlie them, speak of the possibility of occupation or secession, especially when one considers that these massacres frequently occur in places situated several hundred yards away from government military or Monusco camps.

After some hesitation, the Kinshasa Region, which is part of the African Province, has decided to establish the postulancy community in Bibwa, an area located on the outskirts of Kinshasa, some 40 km from the city center. The Province has a vast piece of land along a river, which allows for the development of food crops and livestock for self-financing. The Province of Africa had in recent years built the necessary premises for this installation.

In addition, in 2017 the congregation opened a primary school on the same site that is developing from year to year.

Although still rural, this area is nevertheless seeing more and more houses built that are occupied by poor families living mainly from the products of their fields.

Access to the Bibwa area is very difficult: from the national highway, it is necessary to take 6 km of sandy tracks before having to cross a river whose level can rise during the rainy season.

The purpose of this project is to build a small concrete bridge over the river that will allow pedestrians, motorcycles and cars to traverse it, and also to facilitate access to the Bibwa district not only for the Assumptionist postulancy community, but also for the children who attend our school and the wider population.

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Father José Miguel Díaz Ayllón recently celebrated 25 years of priesthood. The celebration took place at the Assumptionist Parish, “Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Emperatriz de América” in Mexico City together with the Assumptionist community, family members, friends and local parishioners.

In his homily, Father Miguel shared his gratitude to God for the gift of ministry and for everyone who has supported him along his journey. He highlighted, a priest is one whose life becomes a response of God's love. This sacrifice has nothing to do with suffering, but in a renunciation of oneself in order to be at the service of the Church.