Carmel in Congo Becomes the First Province on the African Continent Today, October 15, the Feast of St. Teresa of Jesus

Today, October 15, the feast of St. Teresa of Jesus, the Carmelites in the Democratic Republic of Congo become a province. It is the first province of the Order on the Africa continent. 

In a letter sent to the members of the new Province of the Congo, the Italian priore provinciale, Gian Domenico Meloni, wrote, "This event marks an historic milestone on your journey and a sign of the fruitfulness of the Carmelite charism in your land." 

The new province will be dedicated to Blessed Isidore Bakanja, the Congolese Lay Carmelite who lost his life because of his unyielding devotion to Jesus Christ through his refusal to give up his Scapular and his faithfulness to teaching the Church to his fellow Congolese.

Meloni encouraged the brothers to "safeguard the spiritual heritage of Carmel with renewed fidelity and to pass it on to new generations. Be men of prayer, brothers capable of communion, servants of the Gospel among your people, so that the charism you have received may continue to bear abundant fruit."

With the establishment of the new Province, the Prior General, with the consent of his Council, appointed: Provincial Prior:  Jean Pierre Canisius Kasereka Kaniki, O. Carm.; First Councilor:  Georges Kabuli Ndiya, O. Carm.; Second Councilor:  Jean Marie Vianney Musongya Mahamba, O. Carm.; Third Councilor:  Lucien Kasereka Kahatane, O. Carm.; and Fourth Councilor:  Innocent Djombu Dz’Djo, O. Carm. The new Provincial Prior and his Council will remain in office until the first Provincial Chapter, which must be held within one year of today.