Page 29 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

er three weeks? How do they live? Pastors witness In conclusion, I wish to pay a vibrant homage to
people of all sorts file by, those who had worked and Mr. Louis Even, who helped us to understand that
received a salary that they can no longer have, chil- there is a way to find a solution to this problem of
dren chased from the schools (because they can no poverty. But it is a battle, a desperate battle that is
longer pay their classes), the sick; all of these people being fought. And this battle is not waged against the
believe that they will find a solution from the priests smallest, but against the most powerful of this world,
of the parish that they know. But unfortunately, the against high finance. My brothers and sisters, we
financial crisis attacks even the clergy, because we cannot forget this. This is why each morning, when I
have collections in our parishes that do not go above heard the knock on the door, “Ave Maria, rise for the
ten dollars… In order to buy a bottle of wine and a bag battle” I say: “Do we realize that we are at war?”
of small and large hosts, it costs more than ten dol- I thank all of you, each and every one of you, for
lars! This means, my brothers, that there are parishes your engagement. Because we do it so that people
that have difficulties finding something with which to may move, someone must move; and if we all move,
celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday. it is because Louis Even moved, is it not? So from
So when a nation is living in misery and poverty the moment where we are people who are moving, I
and we tell them that there is a way out, how do you know that the world will move… Victory may not hap-
expect them to say no! This is why social credit, as pen today, but I know that with Our Lady, victory is
presented as an alternative and an efficient way to assured. So let us go forward and social credit, that is,
fight poverty, was received with open arms in the dio- economic democracy will come to pass.
cese of Mbuji-Mayi. Msgr. Placide Mukendi

Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo at our Congress.
From left to right: Marie Kalala, Fr. Djim Lumu, Fr. Charles Tshimanga Bakankana, (Therese Tardif),
Vasco Kalala, Msgr. Placide Mukendi, Felix-Félicien Muambi, Arnaud, (M. Lefebvre) and Brunel Kalala.