Crossing continents with compassion
Precious Blood spirituality provides for needs of small parish in Congo
What could be less glamorous — but more vital — than rebuilding a failed latrine for a tiny parish in rural Kinshasa, Congo?
Not much, say the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Companions, and Precious Blood parish members who combined their efforts and a Peace and Justice Grant from the Missionaries of the Precious Blood U.S. Province to complete a much-needed project in the struggling parish.
Fr. Al Ebach, C.PP.S., former pastor at St. Francis Xavier parish in St. Joseph, Missouri, learned of the need through his conversations with parish member JeanPaul Mundungu. JeanPaul is an immigrant from Congo, a father of three who was periodically returning to his country of birth to set up water pumps and improve other infrastructure for those in need. JeanPaul is an IT specialist, but he was working additional jobs to afford to buy the equipment and supplies he was personally installing in Congo. Exemplifying the Precious Blood spirituality of serving those on the margins, Fr. Al suggested establishing a sister parish relationship through which St. Francis Xavier could assist in funding projects in Congo.
St. Marcel Parish is a rural parish on the outskirts of Kinshasa. Nestled among trees and small agricultural plots, the parish has a church building in need of repairs and a modest but vital pharmacy and clinic that provide essential services to a community with limited access to health care facilities. Necessary medications, treatment for common illnesses, first aid, and basic assistance with childbirth make a significant difference in a place where medical services are scarce.
St. Marcel and St. Francis Xavier formed sister parish committees, and right away, the committees identified the most urgent need as rebuilding the latrine, which served all of the tiny campus and was crucial for basic sanitation. With very few jobs available in the area, many unemployed parishioners were eager to volunteer their help, but even with donated labor, the cost would be $7,000.
In St. Joseph, Fr. Al proposed a “Taste of St. Francis” parish dinner as a fundraiser. Our many parish immigrants prepared and served dishes representing their original homeland. The parish sold tickets to the feast, and the result was overwhelming. The parish center was filled with amazing and unusual foods, a great crowd, and so much happy interaction between longtime parishioners and newer folks from Vietnam, Sudan, Congo, Micronesia, Brazil, Philippines, Ireland, Switzerland, and Poland. Numerous parishioners made additional contributions throughout the following year to add to the fund.
In spring 2024, Precious Blood Companions Nancy Clisbee and Kris Girard, members of the sister parish committee, applied for a Precious Blood Peace and Justice Grant. The U.S. Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood sponsors the annual program to award funding to organizations that serve marginalized communities, with the objective of promoting peace, justice, safety, hope, sustenance, and life in the Spirit for all of God’s children. The committee at St. Francis Xavier was awarded $3,500 for their cause. Work immediately began to construct the new latrine.
In July 2024, Fr. Al began his well-deserved retirement, and Fr. Mark Yates, C.PP.S., came on board as pastor and sister parish committee member. By late fall, the facility in Congo had significantly progressed.
JeanPaul visited St. Marcel in early February 2025 and had the opportunity to see in person the new, completed latrine, as well as improvements to the basic clinic and pharmacy, which were also supported by the sister parish. JeanPaul attended Mass, visited with parishioners, and delivered soccer jerseys and equipment for the very excited youth of St. Marcel.
JeanPaul says, “What started as a simple conversation has grown into a true partnership of faith and action, reaching across continents to bring hope and dignity to our brothers and sisters at St. Marcel Parish.
“This project has shown that small acts of kindness, when done together, can transform lives. The dedication of the St. Francis and St. Marcel communities along with the support of the Precious Blood family, is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when we extend our hands and hearts to those in need.”
Many Precious Blood hands and hearts indeed came together to make this project happen — a true opportunity for outreach to the distant margins of our world!