The Memorial Kongolo Gentinnes

The ‘Mémorial

Kongolo’ at Gentinnes

by Fr Fons Eppink mhm

The Mémorial Kongolo is a special place of remembrance for the numerous missionaries in the Belgian Congo (currently named Democratic Republic of Congo) who died during the turbulent years immediately following the country’s declaration of independence in June 1960. It is named after the 19 Spiritan missionaries who were massacred in the town of Kongolo (S.E. Congo) on January 1st, 1962. Since a number of them were former pupils of the Spiritan run ‘apostolic school’ at Gentinnes in Belgium that location

The Chapel interior, with its magnificent stained glass.

Names of all known missionary victims of the killings, presented on the exterior wall at the entrance in the shape of an egg, symbolising ‘life’.

seemed a natural choice for a suitable memorial. As the idea of a memorial matured it was decided to make it all inclusive and give it a distinctly ecumenical character. Thus, the memorial chapel honours not only the Kongolo 19 but all the missionaries who lost their lives during the troubles that followed the independence of Congo (1962 – 1964): Catholics and Protestants, priests, men and women religious and lay persons, Europeans, Americans, Africans. 217 names in all. (One cannot help but think of the many nameless victims – catechists, lay leaders, ordinary peace-loving folk – of the mindless violence that swept the country during those turbulent years) The beautifully designed ‘Le Corbusier style’ Chapel features at its entrance a striking statue of a missionary in prayerful surrender with, on the outside wall, the 217 names arranged in the form of an egg – a symbol of life. Multicoloured stained glass windows

suffuse the inner space with delicate light revealing on adjacent walls a Christ in glory on the Cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary offering her infant Jesus to the world. The chapel was inaugurated and consecrated on May 7, 1967, in the presence of Belgian King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. It has become a place of pilgrimage ever since. My attraction to the place stems from my intimate involvement with the Church in Congo during the 17 years I was privileged to work as a missionary in the diocese of Basankusu, beginning at the end of the 1960’s. The Mémorial Kongolo carries a deeply emotional charge since seven of the names figuring on the outside wall of the chapel are those of missionaries active in the diocese of Basankusu. Four of them (three sisters of the Belgian congregation of Ten Bunderen and a Mill Hill brother) died in a tragic accident on the Lulonga river whilst being evacuated at the start of the Simba rebellion in 1964. And three Mill Hill priests died elsewhere in the diocese at the hands of the rebels. Their story was carefully researched and faithfully recorded by Belgian historian Dries Vanysacker.

The style of the building and its features is decidedly slender, modern, open and bright.

The architectural design of the chapel was entrusted to the architect Jeandrain de Gembloux, the stained glass windows are by Yves Dehais, the statue of the missionary, above, is by Raf Mailleux de Genk.