Africa

With the help and support of the “Afriquespoir” choir, affiliated with the Comboni Missionaries, the Laudato Si Missionary Center, in collaboration with the community’s ecological commission, organized a concert on June 27, 2026, to praise God for creation.

In fact, praise is one of the fundamental pillars of the pastoral ministry of Integral Ecology. Only by recognizing that the Lord is the Creator and Lord of the entire universe can we also understand our role and act as stewards who preserve and care for creation, while working together to fulfill what the Lord has foretold since the dawn of time.

The choir’s performance kept the audience’s attention firmly engaged, performing traditional, classical, and popular songs with creativity and a lively rhythm. They opened the concert with the Laudato Si’ Center’s hymn, titled “Lord, We Praise You, Lord, We Adore You for the Wonders You Accomplish,” a song composed by Comboni Brother Alfred Mbungi, a missionary in Buta.

In the final segment, they performed the late Father Makamba’s song “Po Po Botiaki Ntembe?”, which highlights the root causes of the evils that are plunging creation into crisis; it serves as a reminder that, despite the fact that nature provides everything for humanity, there is still so much hunger and misery in the world, especially in Africa. This happens because a small minority imposes a technocratic model that drives unlimited production with no respect for God’s providential plan—for He is the Father of all. With unbridled greed, they cut down forests and pollute rivers with chemicals. These are people who misappropriate common goods and, with the arrogance of force and weapons, seek only their own interests and profits.

This is why praise for the Creator must be put into practice in daily life, as demonstrated by the vision, creativity, and resilience of certain young people and women. Dino Zoli Mundele, on behalf of the Montngafula youth group, shared with us about door-to-door separate waste collection. Jean Denis Djamba spoke to us about the urgent need to reduce plastic use, a commitment promoted by the youth of the Laudato si’ movement. Scholastic Denis Mbaiornom, on behalf of the community’s ecological commission, emphasized the commitment to recycling and reusing tires and other items to reduce waste accumulation. Ms. Mayawa Miriam is dedicated to making organic products for personal hygiene and skin care. Justin Bosenge Isakolota creatively manages to make “Wiva Kamouna” wine from avocado leaves—undoubtedly a special drink worth trying. Comboni Lay Missionary Fabrice Aifa Wetu, in collaboration with CENCO, is committed to reducing and halting deforestation, aware that without forests, biodiversity declines dramatically and that there can no longer be life in abundance for people or other living beings. Finally, there is the vision of Luciana Mohila Mbongo, who is promoting the “One Boy—One Tree” project to plant trees in the desolate city of Kinshasa, which is growing out of proportion without trees or green spaces.

These testimonies, together with praise to God, showed each and every one of us the path to follow in our lives and daily routines: adopting a way of life that respects the laws of nature and fosters truly fraternal relationships, respecting and valuing differences—just as nature teaches us, for it is rich and beautiful thanks to its great biodiversity.

A final toast, offered by the Center, brought the day to a close, with plans already set for the meetings and initiatives scheduled for the coming months.

Fr. Fernando Zolli