On Saturday, 26th July 2026, the Church in Bokakata, our first mission since 1905 in the Diocese of Basankusu, was clothed in joy and thanksgiving as the community gathered to celebrate the priestly ordination of Fr. Jérémie Efumo. This sacred event was not merely a local celebration but a profound sign of God’s faithfulness and the fruitfulness of the Gospel sown in this land more than a century ago.
The ordination liturgy was presided over by Most Rev. Bishop Libère Pwongo Bope, in communion with Bishop José-Bernard Likolo, Bishop of Lisala, and a son of Basankusu, and Bishop Joseph Mokobe, Emeritus Bishop of Basankusu. Together with numerous priests, religious men and women, and a great assembly of the faithful, the celebration reflected the catholicity and unity of the Church, a people gathered around the altar of the Lord, in praise of His mercy and providence.
In his homily, Bishop Pwongo Bope reminded the ordinand of the essence of the priestly vocation: to be a man for others, a bridge between heaven and earth, and a servant of the Gospel. The priest is called to make his life a living sacrifice, uniting himself to Christ the High Priest, and to shepherd the flock with humility and love.
The celebration unfolded with solemn hymns, vibrant cultural expressions, and moments of deep prayer, bearing witness to the faith and devotion of God’s people. When the newly ordained priest raised his hands in blessing for the first time, the community was moved to tears of joy, for in that gesture they saw the outpouring of God’s grace upon His Church.
This day will remain etched in the history of Bokakata and in the hearts of all who were present. It is a rare and precious moment a sign that God continues to call laborers into His harvest, even as we know that it may be nearly a decade before we again witness a Mill Hill ordination in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey of Fr. Jérémie, from the humble paths of his village to the altar of the Lord, proclaims the mystery of divine vocation: that God chooses, calls, and consecrates His servants for the sanctification of His people. His priesthood is a gift not only to Bokakata but to the entire Church. May his ministry, rooted in the Heart of Christ and nourished by the prayers of the faithful, bear abundant fruit for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
Patrick Lonkoy Bolengu, mhm
