Père Corneille ooh! Rest in Peace. Tshuaka bolotshi ! (We nicknamed him ‘Empesa‘ which means ‘giant, strong, tall and imposing’).
Father Fons, in your obituary, you forgot about the Mill Missionaries who were killed in Yamboyo by the Simba rebels.
I bear the name of LOKONGO after my uncle Antoine LOKONGO, a catechist of Yofeko village, 8 km from Mission Catholique Simba, who was killed by the Simba rebels because he was a catechist, wrongly accused of being a witch ! He was atrociously killed, pierced with spears !!! He is an unknown martyr. This explains why my life’s episodes have been characterised by too much suffering ! I am a spiritual son of Mill Hill, born and bred !
When I was in secondary school in Djolu, I had a terrible toothache.
Père Corneille had come to Djolu from Yamboyo. I missed school that day because I waited until he was about to leave and he took my tooth out and I felt a release. You can see the empty space which that has left up to today. I send the photo to you to show you how I am a spiritual son of Mill Hill born and bred.
On my first trip to Uganda, I traveled with Père Corneille, himself at the wheel, of course, from Djolu to Basankusu, with Maman Anna and her children who went to Lontsing’Esengo College. Do you remember Miss Lisette at Lontsing’Esengo College ?
Sweet memories ! Oh Father Corneille! Prepare the way for me a forgiven Mill Hill Prodigal son, together with Father René Graat, my mentor, Jan Hartering, Piet Van Run, Père Jean, le Procureur, Harry Reusen…
Prof. Dr. Antoine Roger Lokongo, Kinshasa
