From Kimwenza, in heart, and fraternity
By Kioko Timothy, SJ
I salute you all with peaceful Lenten greetings as we prepare for the Easter season.
Arrival of Fr Elias Omondi and Conference on Peace and Dialogue
Last week, on Saturday, we received visitors from Nairobi, Fr. Elias Omondi, SJ, and two of his colleagues, who were received at the airport by Brian Mugambi, SJ, and later ushered into the community by the Minister and the faculty by the Dean of Studies. They stayed until Thursday.
The primary reason for the visit was to host a conference at the Faculté, on the topic “REFLECTION ON THE PRACTICE OF PEACE AND DIALOGUE IN DRC,” which was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Campus Amphitheatre.
The conference focused on issues facing leadership in the DRC, particularly in the Eastern region, where the manifestation of ongoing research and awareness works signalled the move from not only words but also action-oriented
As a normal routine, on Wednesday evening, we held a special interactive session with him as AOR Jesuits in Kimwenza, a deep session to establish the feel-at-home vibe and introduce the brothers who were unfamiliar with him. It was a joyful and enriching moment, a kind of Meet a Jesuit session as he shared his experiences in serving the province. His presence in the province is remarkable, having done his novitiate starting from Lusaka, then Morogoro, and later finishing at Arusha.
The session remained live and insightful, with memories, jokes, and an interchange of valuable guidance. He spoke of the current state of the province, especially in areas such as university education, mission work, and ongoing developments. He emphasized important directions for the future, including the integration of AI, online learning, and the introduction of new academic programs. The significance and origin of peace studies in our province, and the kind of research involved. He also shed some light on how their work is funded and the broader impact of their research.
The outshining aspect was the time spent together informally. We shared meals and moments of fraternity. Swahili, being the main language of communication, added a special warmth and connection, a reminder of our shared East African roots.
The Appointment of the New Provincial for the Province of ACE
On 20 March 2026, it was announced that Father General had appointed Father Dominique Dhedya Bamunoba, SJ as the new Provincial of Central Africa (Congo-DRC and Angola). Fr. Dominique will take office on July 31, 2026. We continue to journey with him in our prayers and wish him the spirit of discernment as he undertakes this important mission. We remain grateful for his availability and generosity in this new mission and his previous appointments. He has a history of working in our AOR province, thus having a good understanding of it.
