St. John's Parish

2025 Mission Cooperation Appeal July 12-13

 The Diocese of Tshumbe is in a rural, isolated, and landlocked area in the center of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It covers 23,166.1 square miles. The diocese has 25 parishes and relies on its 856 catechists to nurture the faith of Catholics. Indeed, the formation of catechists is not a peripheral need of the ministry of the Diocese of Tshumbe. In the spirit of a synodal Church today, male and female catechists are called to exercise their baptismal priesthood by living out their Christian charisms. In the words of Pope Francis, “Every catechist must be a witness to the faith, a teacher and mystagogue, a companion and pedagogue, who teaches for the Church.” (Antiquum Ministerium – Apostolic letter instituting the ministry of the catechist, §6) Accordingly, he emphasizes that “Catechists should receive suitable biblical, theological, pastoral and pedagogical formation to be competent communicators of the truth of the faith, and they should have some prior experience of catechesis.” (Antiquum Ministerium, §8). From this perspective, among its enormous pastoral challenges and needs, the Diocese of Tshumbe has justifiably singled out the formation of catechists as a priority. The opportunity for adequate formation will allow the catechists of the Diocese of Tshumbe to “always be ready to explain to anyone who asks them for a reason of their hope.” (1 Peter 3, 15). 

A priest from the Tshumbe Diocese will preside and preach at St. John’s on July 12-13. The Second Collection that weekend will benefit the diocesan program of formation of their catechists. Thank you in advance for welcoming the priest from Tshumbe Diocese and for your generosity to this important effort.