Martyr in Congo

Chapter 5. Rain from above

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Baraka community, with Fr. Sartorio, Br. Faccin, Fr. Milani and Fr. Mogliani... companions of sufferings and imprisonment

Everything is calm at the moment. Even the soldiers are not causing any more trouble. On 23 August another three fathers and a brother arrived. The bishop has decided to found a second mission in Fizi, about 25 miles from Baraka.

Father Didonè has moved from here to Baraka to start the new mission; this means that Baraka will be divided into two sectors and this will allow us to intensify our work in the area closest to us. The Xaverians of Fizi will assist the faithful in the mountain villages, and we will look after those who live along the coast of lake Tanganika, an area in which there are many Muslims and some Protestants.

We are building a small church in Katanga, a village 8 miles from Baraka, using the most simple building materials. In the meantime, I am making a cistern to gather the rain water here in Baraka. My only assistant is a young man who says he is a Protestant, though he would like to become a Catholic because the Protestants in Congo are not allowed to smoke. We used to pay a man to bring us wood and water to the mission, but since the country has obtained its independence there is no one willing to provide this kind of service; consequently, I now have to go to the lake twice a week to replenish our water supply. When walking through the streets we no longer hear people shouting the slogans of the NPP (National Progress Party).

The scouts and Xaverian Youth (Xaveri) have also been threatened several times with prison if they do not end their activities. Last month, the soldiers wanted to imprison their leader because he was wearing a khaki uniform. I had to resolve the problem in a personal meeting with the vice-administrator of the Province. He asked me if I could have the uniform changed. I told him I was not authorized to do this, but that I would contact the general secretary of the organization in Bukavu, or in Leopoldville, to see if anything could be done about the matter. He also commented on the colors of the organization’s flag, which are white, yellow and red; in his opinion they were very similar to the Belgian flag.

In Baraka, however, everything is calm and we continue our work undisturbed; every so often, however, there is some tension when the soldiers pass through. This can be explained by the fact that Baraka lies on the border with the Katanga region (a Congolese region controlled by Tchombe) and Burundi, a country under Belgian protection”. (September 3, 1961)

Our Lady of Lake Tanganika

I am aware that the radio and press reports of the death of 22 European missionaries have caused some concern among our confreres and families in Italy. They were killed because they had white skin. This has always been the reason for this kind of violence in Manyema, even in the period of slavery. Whenever there is trouble you can be sure it is in the area of the Baluba or Bakusu. These tribes inhabit the cities of Kindu, Kasongo, and Kongolo. Kindu is 700 miles from Baraka; Kasongo, 300 miles away, and Kongolo more than 250 miles. Everything is calm and we have resumed our work.

The car we were waiting for has been delivered and this will allow us to increase the number of visits we make and also travel greater distances. Since we started saying Mass near the commercial center, many people have drawn closer to us. We have plucked up the courage to ask for a piece of land on which to build a house for the Xaverians and a church. We do not know if we will be able to resolve the problems arising from this. We will do our best and leave the rest in the hands of the Lord. The missionaries who are starting the mission in Fizi are satisfied, despite the fact that they are living in great poverty.

Since we started saying Mass near the commercial center, many people have drawn closer to us. We have plucked up the courage to ask for a piece of land on which to build a house for the Xaverians and a church. We do not know if we will be able to resolve the problems arising from this. We will do our best and leave the rest in the hands of the Lord.
Br. Victor Faccin

During this Lenten period, we have organized a Marian pilgrimage and we have placed a small statue of Our Lady in every village school. We will celebrate the baptisms and first communion of the adults in the middle of May and, upon conclusion of the pilgrimage, we will bless a large statue of the Virgin Mary that I got from Uvira. We will place it on the spot where we intend to build the new house.

Our present residence is to become a college that the Education Minister inaugurated on 21 February last; so far about 40 students have enrolled, and we have placed the school under the patronage of Our Lady of Tanganika.” (March 1962)

Uvira: Calm waters before the storms

Watch out for Crocodiles

In my recent travels around the villages, I have had a chance to size up the situation in the Kivu region: in our area everything is calm. The Europeans are returning and the population is also respectful. People in the offices speak kindly to us and everyone is only too happy to help us; people along the road greet us. Supplies are reaching the shops and gasoline is widely available. Only the interior regions (Kasongo, Kabale) are still unstable. There is a shortage of gasoline, diesel, water, electricity, and cars are abandoned by the roadside.

The Fathers have decided to postpone their return to those areas in the hope that the situation settles down. In the meantime, crocodiles have been seen for the first time in many years. Recently, a man and a woman were killed and eaten not far from here. People are now wary of where they swim and are especially careful to do so in crowded places. Yesterday I went for a swim together with three boys and, when I was not far from the river bank, I heard them shout that a crocodile was in the vicinity. Though I felt faint at this close encounter, I had a lucky escape.

The day of the Palm Sunday procession is fast approaching. There is no shortage of palms around here. We will celebrate Mass in the open since we do not yet have a church worthy of the name; we are expecting many Christians to take part in the ceremony. I think that this is the first time in the 13 year history of the mission in Baraka that all the Holy Week ceremonies will be celebrated. Some of the faithful will animate the stations of the cross on Good Friday, each one of them carrying a cross just like Jesus.

On Wednesday I shall leave for Uvira for a spiritual retreat, then I shall go to Usumbura to buy school uniforms for the children, scouts and Xaveri. Their admission exam is scheduled for after Easter and then they will make their promise of fidelity to the scouts and the Xaverian Youth Association. There are many difficulties to overcome: it is not easy to sow the Gospel in people’s consciences. Nevertheless, I am convinced that it has been worthwhile to leave Italy to come here and preach the Gospel to our African brothers and sisters. We need all the prayers of the believers throughout the world so that Christ may truly rise from the dead also here in Baraka”. (March 1962)

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