Michel Bineen Mukad

Born in Wikong (RDC) on October 28, 1982
Ordained Priest on October 6, 2013
Missionary in the USA
Died in Georgetown, South Carolina (USA) on December 8, 2020 at the age of 38

Michel Bineen completed his Initial Formation studies in DR Congo and Cameroon. He was sent as a missionary to the United States.

Ordained in 2013 at Saint Eugene Parish in the Diocese of Raleigh, in North Carolina, Michel had been a priest for seven years at the time of his death. He served the faithful of St. Helene and St. Matthew parishes in San Antonio, Texas, as Parochial Vicar, before he requested exclaustration from CICM. After being accepted in the Charleston (South Carolina) Diocese, he was an active and much-loved priest at Mary Help of Christians Church in Aiken, at St. Louis in Dillon, at the Church of the Infant Jesus in Marion and finally at Saint Mary’s our Lady of Ransom in Georgetown, South Carolina where he ended his journey.

In all these places, we have heard testimonies from the bishops, the clergy and the faithful that got to know him of his self-dedication to the Church and his love for service to the people of God.  Bishop Robert Eric Guglielmone and the clergy of the Charleston Diocese were grateful for his dedication and care.

For those of us who knew him and enjoyed his company, we will remember his special laughter and joyful attitude. He was a caring person who expressed much compassion for the poor, the sick and the elderly. Many families of young people counted him as special in their lives. He loved serving the church and the people.  He learned to take life’s challenges with a sense of humor.

At the Tribute wall for Michel, parishioners wrote the following:

• “You were a blessing at “our Infant Church of Jesus of Marion.”
• “I knew him when he was assigned at St. Helena and St Matthew in San Antonio, Texas. He was such a beautiful soul and so connected to the parishioners and children. His laughter and wonderful presence are sorely missed.”
• “Our dear Fr. Michel is a special friend. He brought the best out in everyone. We will miss his smile, the laughter, the warmth, the compassion and caring, his faith and example.”
• “Fr. Michel was a wonderful priest and a dear, dear friend. He never ended a call or text or left our home without telling us he loved us.”

We also celebrate his missionary spirit of going out of his comfort zone to announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God in a multi-cultural setting and his willingness to be of service in the local church in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina.

Michel, you are now in the hands that are safer than ours. You are now in the hands that are much gentler than our own. May you rest in peace. ■

From the testimony of André Kazadi and Celso Tabalanza