Life Experiences of Postulants in the DRC
It is a pleasure for us to share with you a little about our experiences here in the postulate in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). We are four sisters and eight postulants, four of whom are first year and four of whom are second year, of different nationalities and dioceses.
Our experience here is on three levels: spiritual, community and apostolic. Speaking of the spiritual level, we can say that “The word of God is the lamp of our footsteps and light on our paths”.
This spiritual level helps us to be heart to heart with God, to discern his call in our lives through listening to his Word.
At the community level, we participate in community activities such as cooking, which we take turns doing, cleaning, gardening, and also the community meeting that takes place every Friday. We also have certain responsibilities that are entrusted to us to help us be skillful. We take some classes (Spanish, prayer and spirituality). Apart from that, we second year postulants attend the inter-postulancy classes three times a week. The course takes place in another neighborhood, a few kilometers from the community.
As regards the Mission level, we have a nursery school which is at the same time a literacy and sewing centre for women. Thus, in the morning, we welcome the children of the nursery school. On Monday and Thursday afternoons, we have the literacy course (French and Lingala) with the women and then on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, the sewing course with the same women. We have a sewing workshop which allows us to give work to some women who help us to make the uniforms of three schools. We also have a canteen in the compound where children and women can buy things to eat during the break. Apart from that, some of us are part of the readers’ group in the parish.
NB: Classes at the centre are given by the postulants and three lay people.
My name is VERONIQUE TARKPESSOU, I am of Togolese origin, from the diocese of SOKODE. I have been in the DRC since September 27, 2019 to begin my postulancy stage . So I find myself in a world different from mine because of its culture and way of life. I take the time to adapt myself. In fact, at the community level, I have noticed unity, simplicity, fraternity and especially internationality which I have greatly appreciated as a richness, because it is together that we complete each other. At the same time, it is an opportunity for me to discover the culture and way of life of each one of us . I admired the atmosphere and the joy of the community. In addition, I have been given community tasks that allow me to enter into this rhythm of community life. My mission is to give the literacy course to the women of the Mother Mary of Jesus Centre twice a week with another postulant.
I’m VICTORINE MITSHINGA from IDIOFA. I was baptized at the age of 14. After my baptism I entered a group of “Young People of Light”, it is there that I discovered my vocation. Here, in the PSA I feel very comfortable. Everything takes place in the community: prayer, meetings, the atmosphere, Bible sharing, meals, classes, etc.. I have really discovered a life of fraternity. I always feel at ease and happy to give a little of what I have to the poor who lack it, to pass on the little I know to others so that tomorrow it will also be useful for their life in their family or in their daily life.
The phrase that I always keep, which is like my slogan, is: “My life no one takes it from me, but I give it to others, in order to redeem all my human brothers and sisters”.
I am Irene MUSAKA, from the Diocese of Kenge in Greater Bandundu. I exercise my apostolate at the M. M. de Jesus Centres. I give sewing classes to women there.
All the times of prayer that we have helped me to discern my vocation well, and I have discovered the Eucharist as the centre of our life.
I am in a community of 11 people. I am discovering a sense of unity that goes beyond what we are, a love without limits, without distinction of race and tribe, like children of the same family. This unity helps us to live in mutual solidarity; the same spirit animates us.
My name is Pierrette MALINGI, from the Diocese of Idiofa.
I come from a Christian family. I used to take part in the pastoral groups of my Parish. I live the experience of community life thinking of Christ our Saviour, at the moment when he chose the Apostles to proclaim his Word in the world. I compare it with my life. He chose us to walk the path together .
My name is Anne KOKO-MAMBU. What is the importance of community life? It helps me to learn to live in simplicity and humility.I am learning to sew and to live together with others who need help. I participate in different groups. I am happy to continue my journey with them.
The Lord is calling me to follow him and I have discovered his face. At every moment He awakens his ear to my prayer, I have also developed the knowledge of myself through Him; our little gestures can bring us to the Lord, to say thank you and forgiveness.
My name is Aimée KASANDJI: During this time of formation, I allowed myself to be formed spiritually in prayer and in the knowledge of Christ.
What gives me courage is above all to see the love with which we work together with our sisters. The attention of our sisters in this mission is very touching for me as a young person in formation.
At the beginning of the year, I was afraid to see all that they were doing and I wondered if I could one day do like them. But today I feel like a family and I let myself be led by the Holy Spirit.
My name is Charlène MBONGOMPASI from the Diocese of Idiofa.
My apostolate takes place in the canteen with the children’s parents. I am attentive to what is missing and I organize myself to go to the market, at least twice a week, to buy things to sell. Seeing the way the parents buy the children’s things gives me the strength and joy to carry out my mission well, and I always feel available.
I am Sergeta BULANKETE, from the Diocese of Kikwit.
My apostolate is at school with 5 year old children. I am a kindergarten teacher. I am blossoming with the children, happy, joyful and very happy. On Thursdays when the children leave, I take part in the formation of the Basic Cell with other educators from the schools in the area.
I am also happy to live in community with my sisters of the postulancy. We have formed a small family in mutual help.
I rediscovered a personal silence in the morning meditation that helped me to deepen my faith in Christ.
The postulants of the Little Sisters of the Assumption in Congo-Kinshasa