Audrey Matombe N. and Justin Pasuanzambi S.
The year 2025, declared by Pope Francis, was a jubilee year in the Catholic Church and also for the CICM Scolastica Père Nkongolo, known as Scopenko. It was a year marked by hope. In this climate of hope, Scopenko joyfully celebrated its 50th anniversary under the theme: “Scopenko, witness to universal brotherhood, revives the hope of the mission.” Indeed, Scopenko, as a house of formation, was founded in 1975 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding, this formation house of the Scheut Fathers has trained young CICM students. It has sent out several CICM missionaries, who now work around the world to share the news of salvation with everyone. With this in mind, the celebration of its jubilee was unprecedented in scale, and there was active, massive participation by all those who grew up there in the vocation of religious missionary life.
July 13, 2024, was the date chosen by the organizing committee (Ad Hoc), composed of several CICM-KIN province members. They began activities for the 50th anniversary of this seminary, which has given the Church and the world many CICM missionaries and laypeople committed to Christ's service. After the launch, a dream-like moment unfolded, made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit and the collective determination, kindness, fervor, and commitment of all involved. Building on this foundation, the following lines will therefore present the various activities that contributed to the complete success of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Missionary Activities in CICM Parishes
To commemorate Scopenko’s golden jubilee, the Ad Hoc Committee organized a tour of CICM missionary activities in all Kinshasa Archdiocese parishes, aiming to inspire young people to follow the missionaries’ example. The CICM pre-novices, accompanied by their formators and some Ad Hoc committee members, led a series of Eucharistic celebrations as part of “Sequela Christi,” aiming to become religious missionaries. Formators presided, and pre-novices led the choir at each celebration, which took place sequentially at Saint Kizito, Kingabwa; Sainte Honorine Mandela; Notre Dame de Fatima; Saint Léonard Mbudi and Sainte Louise de Marie lac; and finally, Sainte Eugène, Menkao. As for the parishes of Saint Perpetua and Saint Elizabeth, the Ad Hoc committee members represented the entire Scopenko community.
Fraternal Sports Tournament
As part of Scopenko's 50th anniversary celebrations, a major soccer tournament was launched. This event, which involved all the CICM parishes in Kinshasa and the fully engaged Scopenko community, was a highlight of the commemorative activities. After defeating all opponents, Sainte Elisabeth Parish reached the final against Scopenko, who had narrowly eliminated Saint Kizito Parish 3-2 in the semi-final. The final took place on the Saint Raphael College field and ended 1-1. A penalty shootout followed, and Scopenko clinched victory with Mbuyi Jean-Marie’s final kick. Pre-novices and their trainers celebrated with a jubilee dance as Scopenko won 4-3. All the parishes involved in the tournament were represented at the final. The CICM Buisson Ardent novitiate community was also there.
The tournament was part of a fraternal event. The CICM pre-novices connected with young people from different parishes, who prepared performances such as a dance, ballet, and Congolese comedy to make the day special. To close this great event, the Provincial Superior of the CICM-KIN province, Father Jean-Eddy Bakando Efoloko, presented jerseys to all participants in the tournament. The jerseys bore the Scopenko golden jubilee logo.
Before the tournament, CICM theologians from CIFA in Ngoya, joined by former members who had studied at Scopenko, played a sports match against the Scopenko community at the UNIKIN swimming pool. Scopenko won five to two. The event ended with a fraternal meal.
The Renovation of Scopenko
Scopenko undertook renovations to its buildings, launching several projects before the celebration to present itself at its best. Among the renovated areas are the libraries, dining hall, formators' lounge, and kitchen. In keeping with this approach, a new coat of paint has rejuvenated all of the Scopenko buildings. In addition, a new Marian grotto was built, dedicated to prayer and devotion to the Virgin Mary, thus contributing to the spiritual growth of the young people in formation in the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is dedicated to the Incarnate Word, under the high patronage of the Virgin Mary. This grotto is located in front of the rectory wing. It is visible from the entrance to Scopenko. It already welcomes Christian faithful every day after the morning Mass.
The Celebration Itself
On August 2, 2025, the golden jubilee of the CICM Scolastica Père Nkongolo pre-novitiate was celebrated with joy and gratitude. Four CICM bishops, missionaries from around the world, secular priests, and lay faithful gathered to give thanks to God for Scopenko's 50 years of existence. It all began with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Edouard Tsimba Ngoma, CICM. He is an auxiliary bishop and delegate of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo. Liturgical animation was provided by the CICM pre-novices and the choir “Les messagers de Fatima”.
The Mass was a joyful celebration marked by a procession of about a hundred priests in special jubilee vestments, followed by four CICM bishops—Bishop Fulbert Tembo Nlandu of Budjala, Archbishop Ernest Ngombe Ngboko of Mbandaka Bikoro, Bishop Nkolo Kanowa of Mweka, and Bishop Edouard Tsimba Ngoma, Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa, and the first secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in the DRC, representing His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio Mitja Leskovar.
The Mass was attended by many former Scopenko lay people, now engaged in various societal services, all CICM parish delegations from Kinshasa, and several religious communities, including ICM sisters, the CICM novitiate community of Buisson Ardant, friends of Scopenko, CICM theologians on vacation, and CICM pre-novices, wore specially designed jerseys.
In his homily, the Father Charles Phukuta Khonde, CICM, Superior General, highlighted the enduring service this house of formation has provided to the Church. He noted that both he and the four bishops present were products of this institution. He urged formators and those in formation to persevere in their mission so that Scopenko continues to foster missionaries faithful to the Gospel, for the greater glory of God and the salvation of mankind.
After Communion, Father Emmanuel Iroung, CICM, responsible for missionary animation, introduced the ecclesiastical authorities and CICM missionaries representing all eight CICM provinces and the mission of Malawi. He then introduced all the generations of CICM members trained by Scopenko from its creation to the present day.
Bishop Edouard Tsimba Ngoma, CICM, took the floor well before the final blessing. He urged the CICM pre-novices and assembly to keep hope alive through the Virgin Mary's intercession, even in difficult times. He also asked the pre-novices to watch over the grotto, especially the statue of the Virgin Mary, which is currently at risk of theft or desecration. After his exhortation, the Marian grotto was solemnly blessed.
The jubilee Mass ended at 1 p.m. in an atmosphere of joy, peace, and serenity, followed by a fraternal meal that was a reunion for many attendees. We celebrated the 50 years of Scopenko's existence, a sign of fidelity to God who continues to call. In this spirit of gratitude, a big hat off to all the formators who gave their best to accompany generations of pre-novices. Passing through this house, these pre-novices experienced an open heart and were shaped in the school of Christ the Missionary. But this jubilee was not only a memory, but it was also a call. In this world marked by many challenges: a crisis of faith, poverty, individualism, the search for reference points, among others.
Our house of formation must remain a place of hope, a school of evangelical and missionary life. It must continue to be a crucible where hearts are forged that are capable of loving even to the peripheries, where the Gospel is awaited as the Light. May this celebration remind us that we are heirs to a history and builders of a future. Rooted in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we continue our mission with confidence: to be witnesses of the Good News to the ends of the earth.
