THE P
RTAL
Aid to the Church in Need
“ Pray for peace in our country ”
Murcadha O Flaherty of ACN
May 2017 Page 20
Because the rare minerals used in the production of batteries for mobile phones and GPS devices and computers are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo , anyone who uses modern technology nowadays is in some way using the blood of the Congolese people
THE newly established Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Gbunzunzu , in the Democratic Republic Congo ( DRC ) is offering spiritual help to the faithful as well as trying to meet their material needs of food , medicine and clothing .
The Sacred Heart Fathers have now built a church in the parish providing a place of dignity for the thousands of Congolese Catholics as they dig for gold while enduring lives of endless exploitation , poverty , ruined health and even an early death .
The DRC is in a nationwide crisis today with five separate armed conflicts ongoing . Speaking to the charity , Aid to Church in Need , Father Richard Muembo , described the Church ’ s suffering along with her people : “ The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo is in the same situation as all of the Congolese people .”
Father Richard as rector of Christ the King Seminary in Malole , DRC emphasised the need for peace as the seminary was firebombed on 18th February by an opposition group . He described the extent of the hardship borne by the people : “ Schools have been closed , hunger reigns … We dream of an end to this pointless war . Parts of the population are hiding in the jungle .”
He addressed the international business interests in his plea : “ Looters from all over the world come here to exploit the country .” Violence and exploitation is rife across the DRC , where ‘ blood ores ’ from the mines making a small fraction of the Congolese people rich . But the workforce risk their lives working in appalling conditions , exposed to carcinogenic and radioactive materials . These substandard mining conditions include the search for the ore called colton which contains rare minerals used in the production of batteries for mobile phones and GPS devices and computers .
Father Richard highlighted his concerns that the use of new technology from these mines is prolonging the conflicts across the DRC and involves human rights violations . He said : “ Anyone who uses modern technology nowadays is in some way using the blood of the Congolese people .”
The people living in the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish are crammed together in unsanitary huts , separated from their families and far from their home villages . Often their traditional family structures are destroyed as a result of this isolation .
But the Sacred Heart Fathers want to extend their services of material help further in the new parish with a stronger emphasis on education , medical care and the strengthening of moral values . The charity is now supporting the Sacred Heart Fathers with a parish house .
The Sacred Heart Fathers offered another good reason to hope , for every year there are around 800 baptisms in the parish of Gbunzunzu , which already has a population of 25,000 Catholics . Echoing the appreciation of the Sacred Heart Fathers , Father Richard thanked ACN benefactors for their continued support and he also requested their prayers for the DRC . He said : “ Hope keeps us going … we would also like to ask all the benefactors and friends of the charity to pray for peace in our country .”
The charity supports the priests in the DRC with spiritual retreats as well as counselling due the high level of psychological pressure that is exerted upon them .
For information about Aid to the Church in Need please visit www . acnuk . org or contact : acn @ acnuk . org - 020 8642 8668