Martyr in Congo

Chapter 3. On the banks of Lake Tanganika

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Br. Faccin, top middle, and Fr. John Didone, middle bottom

On December 3, 1959, the feast of Saint Francis Xavier, patron of the community, Father John Didonè left for the missions. During the five years he worked in the diocese of Uvira (in the Congolese province of Kivu) he was assigned to various missions: Uvira, Baraka, Fizi, Kiliba. These places lie along the western bank of lake Tanganika and are not far from the border with Burundi. The diocese had such a variety of terrain (plains, mountainous regions and rivers) that one had to be both something of a sailor and mountaineer in order to get around.

Father John remarked in one of his letters: “What strikes me most about Africa is its vastness, its immense spaces. I have no problems with the main language, though Kishwahili, the local language, is rather more difficult. The latter is indispensable for an effective missionary work. In a few months, I hope to be able to deliver my first homilies and, above all, to hear confessions. The flora is abundant, the flowers multi-colored and the banana reigns supreme. They also cultivate maize, manioc, beans, and even pumpkins. They also grow coffee, cotton and sugar cane. Though some of the local people seem quite well-off, it is always the Europeans that take the lion’s share.”

In the plains of Kivu the climate is congenial to Europeans: during the day, the temperature reaches a high of 80 F in the shade, at night it settles at around 70 F. As far as the food is concerned, the missionaries at least never had any problems before the 1964 revolution: every day they could eat good quality fish and meats. They also had beans, salads, leeks, red onions, celery, fennel, and other vegetables.

Serving in Baraka

The mission of Baraka was home to various ethnic groups, among whom were the Banyarwanda, people who had come from Rwanda to seek refuge in the Congo. Renowned for cattle-raising, they set up home in the mountains around Uvira. Many of them were very tall, and Father John would say he would need a ladder to baptize them. Different tribes lived in the mountain villages at an altitude of about 8,000 feet, and Father John visited them periodically. In a letter, he described his experiences among the “giants.” 

One of our biggest problems is the fact that these people practice a moderate polygamy. Nevertheless, there are many fervent Christians who live in a manner coherent with their faith, and who also make great sacrifices in order to live as worthy children of God. The Church places great hope in them.
Fr. John Didone'

“It was like being on holiday for a month. Two sweaters were not enough during the day, and three blankets at night were insufficient against the cold. For ten nights I slept in a ramshackle hut that was specially built for me with bamboo sticks, liana and cow dung. I felt really at home there! However, it was impossible to go to bed when it rained. Fortunately, it mostly rained every day in the early afternoon and my raincoat prevented the bed from getting soaked. The virgin forest is not far from my hut, and you can well imagine the impression it made on me, especially as darkness approached. As I settled down for the night I seemed to hear all kinds of strange noises coming from the forest.

To my inexperienced ears, they sounded like the roars of lions, tigers and other ferocious beasts. As soon as I fell asleep I began to dream about every kind of wild animal. My first night in that Banyarwanda village was a restless and sleepless one. The following morning I explored the immediate vicinity and the beginning of the forest, but I only saw a herd of cows. There was no trace of tigers or lions. I fear I will return to Italy without ever seeing them. During the rest of my stay I slept really well. During this visit 90 adults were baptized by my superior, he is much taller than I am! I baptized 40 children, aged between 2 and 6. Naturally we also have some non practicing Christians.

One of our biggest problems is the fact that these people practice a moderate polygamy. Nevertheless, there are many fervent Christians who live in a manner coherent with their faith, and who also make great sacrifices in order to live as worthy children of God. The Church places great hope in them”.

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