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Catholic Church in DR Congo Committed to Healing “mental wounds” from Violence: Priest

Fr. Dr. Nicolas Cishugi. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at the center of providing therapy to millions of locals who have developed deep wounds from internal conflicts to heal, a Congolese Catholic Priest who completed his own formation amid insecurity has told the Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Switzerland.

Fr. Dr. Nicolas Cishugi, the Congolese Priest who earned a doctorate in pastoral theology from the University of Fribourg following his studies in the Central European country says that where medical assistance is provided to heal physical injuries, the Church in DRC is committed to dialogues and reconciliation to help victims of numerous conflicts in the Central African country to heal.

“The Christian response to violence must not be counter-violence. The church is committed to dialogue and reconciliation,” Fr. Cishugi says in the August 26 ACN report.

He adds, “Medical care is needed to heal illnesses and injuries, but mental wounds also need therapy: singing, music and dance help here, as does the proclamation of the faith. This is important because it calls for mercy and forgiveness.”

“The church is working for peace by creating awareness for dialogue and reconciliation, but it needs our help,” reports Fr. Cishugi.

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DRC is rich in mineral resources such as oil, gold, diamonds, lithium, copper, cobalt, tungsten and coltan. The latter is essential for the manufacture of cell phones and computers. Agriculturally, the country is blessed by the cultivation of coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil and tea.

ACN reports that despite the abundance of natural resources in DRC, hardly any of this wealth reaches the population.

“The majority of the 89.5 million inhabitants live in deep poverty,” the Pontifical charity foundation reports, adding, “The mining of the minerals, which are extracted under dubious conditions, leads to bloody conflicts involving various rebel groups, including Islamist terrorist militias. It is estimated that there are now thousands of dead, three million internally displaced persons, and at least 7,500 displaced persons in D.R. Congo.”

Often, the church is the only organization that gives support to the locals in DRC, the charity foundation reports, adding that the Church “raises its voice against the violence and inaction of the corrupt government.”

While the state is mostly incapable of taking care of its people, the church runs countless schools, orphanages and clinics and offers help in many areas besides,” ACN foundation reports.

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The charity reports that since 1966, it has supported the people of God in DRC by promoting the Church's ministry to the people through numerous projects, such as funding bicycles for catechists, constructing and maintaining churches and church buildings.

The foundation has also supported the libraries of educational institutions, and provided emergency aid to refugees in Goma, a city in the Eastern region of DRC.

ACN reports that Fr. Cishugi who grew up in Bukavu was in 2008 sent by his Bishop for his parish pastoral experience in the village of Kaniola, shortly after a horrific massacre had occurred there.

Between 1996-2008, 400 of Hutus were killed, 4,000 women and girls were raped, and countless children were abducted in this Parish, the Catholic foundation reports, adding that after Fr. Cishugi’s pastoral internship in this dangerous environment, he was ordained a priest in 2010.

The Priest is then said to have served in three Parishes in the Archdiocese of Bukavu and as a school principal.

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The 41-year-old Priest had, on Sunday, August 28 been invited to celebrate Holy Mass at the Frauenthal Monastery in Hagendorn, Switzerland.

Here, he was expected to report on the situation of Christians in Central Africa and speak about a Christian response to this violence.

The pastoral theologian is engaged in the search for reconciliation and coexistence through dialogue in Africa.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.