Have you ever dreamed of visiting equatorial Africa, not just as a tourist, but as a guest, so that you could gain an insight into the culture and really get to know the people? My name is Mark Fischer, and I had this opportunity in the summer of 2011, when I traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to attend the ordination of Albert Shuyaka to the Catholic priesthood.
I had gotten to know Albert when he was a student at St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where I am a professor. When Albert completed his M.Div. and M.A. degrees, he returned to the Diocese of Tshumbe for his ordination. He invited me to visit the diocese.
At the Lokenyi River, village kids wanted to get into the picture with Mark Fischer.
Tshumbe is a small city near the Sankuru River, but it is also the seat of Albert’s diocese, in which Nicolas Djomo is the bishop. Djomo is not only Bishop of Tshumbe, but also the President of the Congolese Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For comments about “My Congo Visit,” please go to the Departure page. Otherwise, travel with me to Kinshasa, the Capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.