Provincial Assembly in DRC: Evaluation and New Resolutions

The Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo held their eleventh Provincial Assembly — the first following the centenary celebration — from Monday, February 2, to Saturday, February 7, 2026. This major meeting in the life of the Province was a continuation of the previous year’s assembly and was decisively evaluative in nature. It carried the evocative theme: “Forty years in prison or five years of forced labor: evaluating the programmatic letter one year later.”

Evaluation 

Through this intentionally challenging theme, the members of the Province were invited to review, with lucidity and courage, the path traveled since the adoption of the programmatic letter. It was not merely an administrative review, but a true exercise in communal truth: measuring fidelity to the commitments made, appreciating the progress achieved, and identifying persistent challenges. The evaluation of provincial life focused on four fundamental pillars established by the Provincial Administration: economy, social works, formation, and community life. These areas constitute the foundation of the Province’s mission and sustainability, both on spiritual, pastoral, and organizational levels.

Visit to the Works 

The first two days of the Assembly were dedicated to visiting various provincial sites and works. This concrete approach aimed to “touch firsthand” the achievements made in light of the resolutions from the previous Assembly. Schools, social works, economic initiatives, and agro-pastoral projects were visited, allowing the confreres to see on the ground the fruits of their shared efforts — a form of “storydoing” essential to institutional identity — while also noting certain limitations and areas for adjustment.

Resolutions 

The following days were reserved for the core of the evaluation itself. In an atmosphere of fraternal dialogue and co-responsibility, the participants analyzed what had been gained, reviewed practices, and collectively identified new orientations. The objective was clear: to learn from the past year in order to adopt realistic, bold resolutions that carry the Province into the future.

This 11th Provincial Assembly thus appeared as a privileged moment of discernment and maturation. Faithful to their Dehonian charism, the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Congo sought to combine contemplation and action, fidelity to the ideal and concrete commitment, so that the Province may continue to serve the Church and society with an available, united, and responsible heart.