The
Consolata Missionaries began their mission in then-
Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the
Orientale Province (now
Haut-Uélé Province) in 1972. The founding members of this mission included Fathers Tiziano Basso, Piero Manca, and Enrico Casali. They started their journey in
Kinshasa, where they met with other members arriving from
Brussels. Guided by Father Noé Cereda, they explored the city before splitting into groups. Giovanni Venturini, Richard Larose, and Brother Alberto Donizetti headed North to
Diocese of Doruma–Dungu, while Casali Enrico, Tiziano Basso, and Pietro Manca, accompanied by an African bishop, made their way to the
Diocese of Wamba. The mission aimed to perpetuate the work in the Diocese of Wamba, known as the "Martyr" diocese of Zaire, where missionaries and their bishop had sacrificed their lives. Due to a shortage of personnel, the fathers took over the stewardship of the Wamba parish, aided by Father Enrico's proficiency in
Swahili. In
Doruma, linguistic challenges and the presence of fellow clergy augmented the intricacy of the mission. A month into their venture, they received a visit from the Vice Superior General, Fr. Guido Motter, hailing from
South Africa, who validated their roles and engaged in discourse concerning their dedication to the Zairian mission. As the Consolata Missionaries solidified their foothold in the region, they actively assorted parishes and social initiatives. Notably, within
Kinshasa, the establishment of Mater Dei Parish in
Mont-Ngafula in the early 1980s precipitated the proliferation of sub-parochial entities. == References ==