The Congolese community is preparing for its first Jubilee in Rome

The Zairian rite complies with three spiritual fidelity: to faith and apostolic tradition, the nature of the liturgy itself, the religious trait, and the African and Zairian cultural heritage. It incorporates elements from sub-Saharan African culture. It is basically an adaptation of the Roman rite. It was approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1988 and uses dance, oral stylistic traditions, songs with traditional instruments and invocation of the saints and ancestors.

On 1st December 2019, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the first Sunday of Advent in Saint Peter’s Basilica using this rite to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the first chaplaincy for the Congolese Catholic community in Rome.

The occasion fittingly opens the reflections to commemorate these important events: the 25th anniversary of the beatification of Isidore Bakanja, a catechist and martyr; and Sister and martyr, Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta beatified by on 15th August 1985 by John Paul II, who pardoned her killers before she died."

The liturgical animation of Sunday Mass has been bestowed to the Congolese Catholic Community for a quarter of a century.

"..." excerpt from the article: The Congolese community gets ready for Mass with the Pope - published November 30th, 2019, by Vatican News.   

Tota Pulchra International and Aumônerie catholique congolaise de Rome, Chiesa della Nativitá

Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 10.30 am

The first Jubilee of the Congolese Community

Opening of the Holy Door

Chiesa della Natività di Gesù - Piazza di Pasquino - Rome 

A significant moment for social commitment and integration value, an event that will remain in history, to the Community itself and Rome as a whole.  

Read on the article here > Communication - The Holy Mass in Zairian rite