Martyr in Congo

Chapter 7. Martyrdom at Baraka

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Martyrdom at Baraka, in the diocese of Uvira

On November 25, Masanga wandered around in a daze for the entire day, together with the few remaining survivors of his gang. Towards evening, he arrived in Fizi where he extorted money from Father John Didonè, who had remained with Abbé Atanasio Joubert to look after the mission. For the whole night, he and his followers went on a binge in Fizi. The next morning, under the influence of alcohol and, therefore, dangerous even to his own men, he descended towards the mission of Baraka. On his way there, he stopped off in his home village of Katanga. We can easily imagine that many people must have asked him for an account of what had happened in Lulumba.

Musanga had to avoid disgrace by concealing from his people the nature of his defeat and the death of so many men, the relatives of his fellow villagers. He needed a scapegoat as soon as possible; some plausible explanation for his dramatic failure had to be invented. What better diversion than the missionaries and their diabolical radio transmitter?

The “Colonel” was so convincing that the Simba crammed into his jeep, ready to seek revenge. At about 9 am, the vehicle screeched to a halt in front of the Xaverians’ house. Brother Faccin came to the door: as on previous occasions, he was convinced that he could make the guerrillas reason. Masanaga was standing next to the jeep, apart from the rest of his men, and they surrounded Brother Faccin. The “Colonel” began to talk about the radio transmitter and hostility against the Revolutionary Party. Brother Faccin let him speak and prepared to hand over money, mindful of the mean practice consolidated among the “noble” Simba guerrillas, who felt they had the right to extort money from those they regarded as traitors or enemies of the people’s revolution.

This time, however, Masanga was not satisfied with money alone. He ordered Brother Faccin to get into the jeep.

If you want to kill me, I prefer to die next to my brother. 
Fr. Louis Carrara

The missionary obeyed, thinking that they would pass in front of the church where Father Carrara was hearing confessions and that he would be able to raise the alarm. The driver started up the car and Masanga followed on foot with the others. They soon arrived at the church and Brother Faccin tried to gain some time. He was alone in the jeep; everyone else had gotten off. Masanga told him that they would be traveling on to Fizi.

Brother Faccin realized that Masanga was about to do something terrible. “I cannot leave Father alone in Baraka”: these were his last words. He tried to open the door to get out of the car. The Simba also understood the chief’s intentions and they stood in front of the brother to make him back down. Masanga had a pistol pointed directly at brother Faccin. The “Colonel”, blinded by hatred, threatened his own men who then stood aside. As Brother Faccin was getting out of the car, he was hit in the chest by three shots fired in rapid succession. He fell moaning on to the seat of the car.

Father Carrara, who had seen everything, went towards Masanga, his purple confession stole still around his neck. His resolute attitude only added to Masanga’s irritation. “I am taking you to Fizi to kill you with the other fathers”, the “Colonel” shouted. Father Carrara calmly replied: “If you want to kill me, I prefer to die next to my brother”. These were his last words and he knelt down to pray over his dead brother. Masanga shot him once in the chest, and Father Carrara fell, his blood mingling with that of Brother Faccin.

Some months later, the Xaverian missionary Father De Zen recovered Father Carrara’s breviary. The marker was at the Vespers of November 28, 1964, the day on which he died, a martyr of the faith in Africa.

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