New administration includes a first

The Congolese Province is filled with young people in formation. At the end of 2011 there were 45 Dehonians in temporary vows.

But that wasn’t the case in the early 1970s when a young Zénon Sendeke told an SCJ at his parish that he too wanted to be a priest. When he was accepted as a candidate in 1975 there was no novitiate, no philosophy nor theology program.

“No one knew where to send the young Zeno,” laughed Fr. Zénon, who, after taking part in a novitiate program operated by another religious community in Kinshasa, professed vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1978.

Thirty-five years after entering the novitiate Fr. Zénon will now lead the Congolese Province as its provincial superior. On July 1, he becomes the first Congolese Dehonian to do so. Congo follows the African provinces of Mozambique and Cameroon who are also being led – for the first time –– by citizens of their own countries.

The Priests of the Sacred Heart are evolving from being a missionary presence in Africa to truly being African.

“This is a great challenge,” said Fr. Zénon about his appointment as provincial superior, “but I am calm because I know that with the grace of God everything will be fine.”

SCJs ministered at home parish

Fr. Zénon practically grew up with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. When he was seven, his family moved to Kinshasa (then known as “Leopoldville”), the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There, his family attended St. Clement parish, which was staffed by the SCJs.

Always active in the parish, Fr. Zénon said that even as a young boy he thought about a vocation to the priesthood. “Then I did not know the difference between a religious priest and a diocesan, I just wanted to be a priest,” he said.

“But slowly I discovered the spirituality of the Priests of the Sacred Heart,” he continued. In particular, it was the example of one of the SCJ priests at his parish, Fr. Franciszek Sleczka, that motivated him. “I was struck by his attention to youth, the sick and the poor. He lived what Fr. Dehon asked of his priests: to get out of the sacristies and go to the people. The area of the city where St. Clement is located was in very bad shape, but the challenges did not stop him. I saw how much he loved people and how good he was.

“I thought, ‘Why not be like him? Why not become a Priest of the Sacred Heart and live this spirituality?’”

In 1973 he asked to study with the SCJs. However, since there was no formation program he was encouraged to continue his discernment outside of the community.

“But I insisted,” he said. In 1975 his insistence paid off and Fr. Zénon was accepted as a candidate.

After professing vows, Fr. Zénon studied philosophy in a Jesuit-run program in Kinshasa, and theology at St. Cyprian Theology Institute Ngoya in Cameroon.

He was ordained in 1984 and began a series of parish assignments, first at Our Lady in Yangambi (approximately 100 kilometers from Kisangani) and then at St. Mary in Basoko (over 250 kilometers from the city).

In 1988 he joined the parish team at St. Martha on the left bank of the Congo River in Kisangani. For three of his four years there he also served as director of the Diocesan Pastoral Care Center.

In 1992 Fr. Zénon left for Rome where he earned a degree in education at the Salesian Ponitical University. It’s a degree he put to work as director of the Maele Institute in Kisangani. There too Fr. Zénon was a first –– the first Congolese SCJ to direct the school that had been established in 1939 by Bishop Joseph Wittebols, SCJ.

Since returning to Congo in 2011 after a year-long sabbatical in North America, Fr. Zénon has been involved in a youth initiative in Kisangani. Working with a team that includes married and single lay leaders, the group uses a variety of media and activities to help young people develop “spiritually and intellectually,” said Fr. Zénon. “It is a way to help youth learn how to make good choices.”

Although he says that he enjoys any pastoral ministry, it’s obvious that youth ministry has a special place in Fr. Zénon’s heart. “I love to share the Word of God with young people, leading them on days of recollections and retreats… When I was at Maele I was in constant contact with youth and I saw them in their very difficult struggles.

“For me it is unbearable to see children unable to study for lack of money. And unfortunately, in Congo the teachers are often without money as well.”

When asked if it will be difficult to give up youth ministry in his new leadership role Fr. Zénon said that his input may be in a different form, but that he has no intention of discontinuing his efforts in regards to youth. “Part of my work in animating the province is also to animate the youth, to focus our time and energy in this area.”

Looking to the future

When asked about the future of the Congo and the SCJs’ presence there, Fr. Zénon begins by looking at its past, the base built by the many SCJ missionaries who came before him.

“We must always first recognize the love, kindness, bravery, effort and sacrifice of our missionary priests and brothers,” he said. “They were people of faith who dared to not only come to Congo but to stay in Congo during difficult times of war and rebellion.”

Times of war that claimed the lives of 29 SCJs, including Bishop Wittebols who established the school that Fr. Zénon led for over 12 years.

“The mission of Congo was a mission close to the heart of Fr. Dehon,” Fr. Zénon continued. “I grew up in this mission.”

Noting the many changes that the Congolese Province has gone through Fr. Zénon said that while it is sad to see the number of missionaries decline, there is great pride in the fact that so many Congolese are now taking over parishes and other activities in the province. “It is a blessing, and I trust that our missionaries take great pride in seeing their mission continuing.”

There remains a strong focus on formation, but there is also a diverse mix of other ministries in Congo, ministries of which Congolese SCJs are taking ownership.

“As it states in our constitutions, the Priests of the Sacred Heart do not have a specific mission,” said Fr. Zénon. “We are at the disposal of the local church, thus we do pastoral ministry in the dioceses of Kinshasa, Kisangani and Wamba. But we also serve in schools, prisons, ministry to children and youth –– especially street children ––  and in broadcast media.”

In all of these ministries Congolese SCJs are stepping into the footsteps of the missionaries who came before them; and now, creating their own footsteps.

Many challenges

As the Congolese Province grows, it does so in the midst of a country still struggling to emerge from civil unrest. “There are people of goodwill here in Congo but we have a long way to go,” said Fr. Zénon. “Corruption, violence, mismanagement, waste, irresponsibility and greed push the country further into disorder. There are so many concerns including illiteracy, hunger, crime and poverty. Much of the country is without adequate [or any] roads, electricity, schools, hospitals, and modern communications.”

Fr. Zénon said that the SCJs must respond to these needs by training youth for future leadership. They must also find ways to develop financial autonomy as a province, “just as we need to encourage the people of Congo to change their mindset so that they too can cease to live in dependence,” he said.

Over and over Fr. Zénon mentions the many challenges of his homeland but he counters each with a reason for hope. “Our country is not just one of suffering,” he said. “There are places where there is good collaboration with local civil authorities, with the bishops and with the people.

“My greatest hope for Congo is that the country can live in peace, allowing us to showcase the richness of the country. I hope that our authorities are people who are credible, responsible, conscientious people who love the people. I hope that justice and true democracy is established.

“I hope that the country is rebuilt with roads, water and electricity everywhere. I hope that youth are given the care and respect they need…

“We have many challenges but we also have much hope and much for which to be grateful. We count on the spiritual and material support of the entire congregation. We thank the congregation for its past support and its support in the future. We invite anyone to join us as we move forward.”