Saint Mary of Kimwenza
French: Sainte Marie de Kimwenza
Sainte Marie de Kimwenza in 2012
LocationKimwenza, Mont Ngafula, Kinshasa
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
DenominationCatholic
History
StatusParish Church
DedicationMary Magdalene
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Years built1954 (1954)

The Sainte Marie de Kimwenza (meaning "Saint Mary of Kimwenza") is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the Mont Ngafula commune of the Lukunga District in Kinshasa within the western region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1][2][3] Established in 1954,[4] the mission was initially founded by the Jesuits in 1893, and in 1894, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur established a girls' school.[5][6] The Faculty of Agronomic and Veterinary Science has obtained all necessary official authorizations for its operation, including the acquisition of land opposite the church after a long discernment process.[7]

History

In 1893, Father Émile Van Hencxthoven, a Jesuit priest, arrived in the western part of the Kwango Mission by the end of May.[5] He later settled in the school colony of Kimwenza, which was then baptized as the "Sainte-Marie colony."[6] Following his settlement, he proposed a stratagem to establish twin missionary outposts along the Kwango Mission's demarcated terrain, seeking to fortify against incursions by Protestant missionaries.[6][5] This proposal materialized with the founding of the Kisantu station in November 1893, a mere four months hence.[6][5] Kisantu burgeoned into a strategic center for evangelical pursuits within the Kwango Mission after the abandonment of Kimwenza in 1896 and its formal closure in 1901 through a concordat with the State.[5][6]

The Jesuit apostolate gained considerable influence from Kisantu, becoming a focal point for their missionary efforts.[5][6] In 1895, Father Van Hencxthoven introduced the concept of secondary outposts, denominated as "chapel farms," which transformed over time into influential hubs for environmental transformation.[5]

In 1954, a cadre of Belgian Jesuit fathers started the construction of the Saint Marie parish in Kimwenza. The construction was completed later that year.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Kinshasa : le Cardinal Ambongo mobilise la Banque mondiale pour endiguer les érosions à Kimwenza" [Kinshasa: Cardinal Ambongo mobilizes the World Bank to stem erosion in Kimwenza]. Radio Okapi (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  2. ↑ Onkiri, Ruphin Isay (January 18, 2021). Le sacerdoce : un métier vocationnel ?: Essai sur les recompositions du ministère presbytéral en RD Congo (in French). Paris, France: Éditions L'Harmattan. p. 34. ISBN 978-2-14-016871-0.
  3. ↑ "First Vows Ceremony in RDC-TCHAD | Religious of the Sacred Heart". rscjinternational.org. September 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  4. ↑ Haes, René de; Manwelo, Paulin (2004). Former l'homme (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Editions Loyola-Canisius. p. 24.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Anicet, N'Teba Mbengi (2010-07-29). La mission de la Compagnie de Jesus au Kwilu: Contribution à la transformation d'une région congolaise (1901-1954) (in French). Rome, Italy: Pontifical Gregorian University. pp. 153–159. ISBN 978-88-7839-171-0.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Truchet, Bernadette; Zorn, Jean-François (2020-12-17). 40 ans de recherches sur la mission chrétienne par le Crédic (in French). Paris, France: Éditions Karthala. p. 212. ISBN 978-2-8111-2764-0.
  7. ↑ Haes, René de; Manwelo, Paulin (2004). Former l'homme (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Editions Loyola-Canisius. p. 108.
  8. ↑ Haes, René de; Manwelo, Paulin (2004). Former l'homme (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Editions Loyola-Canisius. pp. 24–108.

4°27′21″S 15°17′14″E / 4.45576°S 15.28715°E / -4.45576; 15.28715

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