A training session for formators on the protection of minors and vulnerable persons

CONGO

Recently, the Province of Congo organized a session for formators on the protection of minors and vulnerable persons.

Fr. Joseph NTUMBA, the Provincial Superior of Congo, opened the training session in the large hall of the St. Eugene de Mazenod Scholasticate in Kinshasa. It was led by two Oblates from the General House in Rome who are also members of the General committee of the protection of minors and vulnerable persons: Fr. Constant KIENGE-KIENGE, Oblate procurator to the Holy See, and Fr. Thomas BANG.

At the opening, Father Constant emphasized on the importance and the timeliness of this topic to be studied in the Church today. He underlined the task assumed by the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the particular concern of the Superior General, Fr. Louis LOUGEN.

Sr. Marie Lembo was another resource person and she spoke from Rome by videoconference. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is an Assistant General of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Alexandria and a professor at the Gregorian University in Rome.

The twenty or so participants have been chosen to continue the formation process in their communities. They were Oblates or lay people, coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola.

According to Frs. Constant and Thomas, it is mainly a question of equipping them to work for prevention rather than to “hunt down” the culprits after the damage has already been done.