On Sunday 05/01/2025 the Parish of Saint Ignace/Massamba in the diocese of Kikwit vibrated to the rhythm of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the approval of the Lay Claretian Movement in the Congo (1995-2025).
With joy and gratitude to the Lord, Father Jean-Baptiste MAKILANDI, Major Superior and his Council, Father Jean ANAKOU, national advisor and his collaborators, several Claretian priests and Claretian Sisters, the Christian faithful and the Claretian laymen of Kinshasa, Dolisie. (Brazzaville), Kwilu-Ngongo, Kindi, Pay-Kongila, Kingandu, Isingu and Kikwit participated in this Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Timothée BODIKA, bishop of Kikwit and head of the Lay Commission at CENCO level, on this Sunday Epiphany. In his homily, the President of the Eucharist invited the Lay Claretians to be seekers of God with perseverance and faith like the Three Wise Men. After the mass, a play was performed about the life of Saint Anthony Marís Claret and the letter from the Secretary General, Miguel Ángel Sosa, was read before all the Lay Claretians present.
In fact, the Lay Claretian Movement was born from the inspiration of Saint Anthony Mary Claret in his vision of involving the laity in the evangelizing mission of the Church. Following Claret who said: “in these last times it seems that God wants the laity to have a great participation in the salvation of souls” (Cf. Sourcebook), the Lay Claretians make the Mission of Christ their own with the other members of the Claretian Family.
In Congo-Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) the Movement took its first steps around 1987 thanks to a providential meeting between a Kikwit soldier named Joachim KUYU who was on vacation in Kinshasa and a Claretian postulant who had the Claretian magazine called “Force de l ‘Gospel’. Leafing through this magazine, KUYU was interested in the article about the secular branch of the Claretian Family. Wanting to know more, the postulant put KUYU in contact with Bishop Alfredo María OBURU so that he could obtain more information. After the talks, the latter would ask KUYU to form a small group of friends upon his return to Kikwit. After a good time of formation especially with Brother Ángel MEDRANO who was in Isingu, the first group of lay Claretians from MUKASA was officially admitted by the General Secretariat on 01/05/1995. Since then, following the example of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, “ideal and daring missionary”, the Lay Claretians of the Congo carry out various pastoral activities within the Church, in particular: prayer, sharing the word of God (Lectio Divina), charity actions, missionary animation visits, participation in the activities of the great Claretian family and their respective parishes.
Today the Lay Claretian Movement has found fertile ground in the Congo. To date, we have more than 235 members present in four dioceses, namely: Kinshasa, Kikwit, Popo kabaka and Matadi. This growth is the result of a considerable effort by the Claretian Missionaries who accompany and encourage them in their vocation as Laypeople and members of the Claretian Family.
In total, 192 members received papal blessings, diplomas of merit, honor and encouragement. For the lay Claretians of the Congo, this jubilee celebrated for the first time is, on the one hand, a moment to evaluate the historical past with gratitude to the Lord for the gift of the Claretian vocation, and on the other, a challenge in relation to participation and the commitment of the laity in the Church. Thank you and abundant blessings to all those who helped from far or near for the realization and success of this great event.
Fr. Jean ANAKOU, CMF (Advisor)
