NEWS

Sr Godelieve, Section Manager with Sr Nathalie and Sr Rosette

 

On 1 July 2024, International Missionary Benefit Society opened a Section in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the responsibility of Sr Godelieve Maheshe of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Helmet.

 

Sr Nathalie Mudiangu, a Salesian of the Visitation, works as secretary for the Section. When it was created, the Section comprised six groups and approximately 250 members. Today, the Section has 26 groups with 1,214 members.

 

 

 

The Section’s office is located in the city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

 

The Section is raising awareness in the city of Kinshasa, where there are around 100 congregations. Sr Godelieve and Sr Nathalie plan to make several trips to raise awareness in different provinces of the country. For the moment, they are unable to do so because of insecurity in various parts of the country occupied by rebels and the closure of banks in certain areas, which is paralysing banking transactions.

 

Before the end of the year, they hope to be able to raise awareness in the dioceses of Kananga, Kikwit, Kenge and Idiofa. The various groups in the Section are satisfied with the service and assistance provided by IMS to the sick. This good witness attracts other congregations and dioceses and encourages them to join IMS.

 

There are a few challenges to the development of the Section:

• COSUMA DRC also wants to create a mutual insurance company, which is holding back some congregations from applying for membership in EMI.
• The situation of insecurity in different parts of the country complicates matters.
• Many congregations working in education and other state services do not have the means to pay for membership.