Second Sunday of Advent:
Signs of hope in the Congo: Dominican ministry site teaches civic engagement to millions
As we remember the Dominican Month for Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Advent….
We remember:
Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been corrupt for years. One response by our Dominican Family has been the efforts directed by a Dominican sister of the Congrégation des Dominicaines filles de Sainte Catherine de Sienne, the Civic Education Programme (PEDUC – Programme d’Education Civique). For over ten years, the PECU leadership training program has enabled people of the Congo to know, promote and defend their fundamental rights and freedoms. Between 3 and 4 million Congolese people have benefited from projects initiated or led by PEDUC, which is part of a consortium at the national level of observers of the elelectoral process.
Here are a few stories of impact:
“At the end of these days of training and evaluation of the postelection situation of 2006, I am very satisfied with the support of PEDUC which enabled us to know our responsibilities and especially our rights. I am very encouraged to see how PEDUC worked and fostered the emergence of enlightened and empowered women’s leadership, so that we succeeded in getting a woman from the city of Isiro elected to be a member of the provincial legislature.” (JOSE LONYOBUNA, peer educator, Isiro, January 23, 2007).
“I am delighted to see the people of PEDUC come to us especially as we feel a little discriminated and marginalized by others. We do not even know if others see us as human beings. Last week, one of us was almost beaten to death. Had it not been for the intervention of PEDUC, he would still be languishing in the police cell. Please also respect us, especially since we are the first inhabitants of this region”. (Frédéric AKPEZILA (Pygmy), Isiro July 26, 2018).
Prayer:
Today we hear in the gospel of Luke, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ (Luke 3:4). Let us pray in our second Sunday of Advent for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. May our voices join with the efforts of the Dominican Family in the Congo. May the voice of the people bring forth authentic transformation, dignity and respect for all in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
First Sunday of Advent
Democratic Republic of the Congo: deadliest civil conflict in the world since World War II
As we remember the Dominican Month for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Advent….
Let us remember:
1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa. It borders nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
2. The people of the DRC represent over 200 ethnic groups, with nearly 250 languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. Kinshasa, the capital, is the second largest French-speaking city in the world.
3. Since the 1960s, the Congolese have endured over two decades of armed conflict with over 5.4 million people dead due to war-related causes, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II.
4. Congolese armed groups and elements of the army have a long, brutal history of recruiting child soldiers and using women and children for human shields.
Source: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-democratic-republic-congo
Let us pray:
Today we hear in the gospel of Luke, "be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent" (Luke 21: 36)
Let us be vigilant this Dominican Month of Peace for the plight of the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that our voices across the world may unite us in solidarity for dignity of the Congalese people. -->