From 10 to 15 October, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was held, the first assembly of SVD laity of the Afram zone (Africa-Madagascar). The meeting was attended by representatives of lay groups from Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Togo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those from Zambia and Botswana participated online.
The secretaries of the SVD missions accompanied the lay groups at the meeting. Fr. Stanislaus Lazar, the General Mission Secretary from Rome, the Afram Zone Coordinator, Fr Willy Kamion, the SVD Provincial of Congo, Alpha Mazenga, a good number of SVD missionaries working in Congo and some SVD scholastics in formation also took part in the meeting. The assembly's theme was the next General Chapter theme in 2024: «Your light must shine before others» (Mt 5:16). Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World. In addition, the teachings focused on the formation of the SVD laity. The speakers approached several topics, starting from the history of the SVD, the spirituality of the SVD, the charisma, four dimensions characteristic of the SVD and many other topics which form the laity to become SVD missionaries in its context and conditions.
It was a moment of fraternal meeting between the SVD laity of the different provinces, regions and SVD missions in Africa and between the laity and the missionaries working on this continent. Mr Jean-Paul Nico Luketo, the coordinator of the SVD laity in Congo and one of the organizers of the assembly, did not hide his joy for the success of the said meeting, but especially for the atmosphere that reigned during the whole forum and the teachings received. Furthermore, he hopes that those who benefited from these teachings will be able to train those who could not participate. The meeting concluded with a thanksgiving mass presided over by Fr Willy Kamion, Coordinator of the Afram region.