The Church, one of the most listened-to voices in the country 

“The Catholic Church in Congo is one of the most influential voices in the country ,” Justin Etotshi Okeya proudly states. Despite this achievement, in his diocese, priests walk for miles to reach remote villages along impassable roads. But fatigue doesn’t stop them.

“Our diocese is very isolated and access is difficult . The priests travel on foot to the villages and church communities.  Despite the fatigue, the joy of finding the souls who await the messenger of the Good News restores the weary body,” he explains.

A diocese larger than Belgium

His diocese, Kole, covers 66,000 square kilometers, an area larger than Belgium. But the shortage of priests is taking its toll, as they have  very few  to serve nearly a million inhabitants.

“ My diocese is larger than Belgium. With only 77 priests, providing pastoral care to the communities remains one of the biggest challenges ,” he says.

Justin Etotshi explains that the Church in his country proclaims the Gospel not only from the pulpit, but also supports education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid. “ The Catholic Church plays a leading role in shaping elites and stabilizing the social climate.  For my country and my diocese, it is the channel through which humanitarian organizations and many other institutions provide aid to those most in need.”

That’s why every well-trained priest multiplies his impact on thousands of people . That conviction is what has brought him to Pamplona.

A training program to return and serve better

Justin is studying Biblical Theology at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra and will begin his doctorate in Sacred Scripture this September. He is doing so thanks to the support of the benefactors of the CARF Foundation, knowing that everything he learns will one day return to his diocese.

” Humbly, studying at the University of Navarra is a source of inner pride  and immense joy for me, because it is one of the best Catholic universities where the Doctrine of the Church is taught with full orthodoxy.”

But it is not only academic excellence that stands out, because for him, the university, as well as the Aralar Residence Hall where he lives, offer not only an academic study framework, but also “a space conducive to the growth of spiritual and human life,” he explains.

Each class, each book, and each conversation with professors and classmates is a preparation for returning to a Church in need of priests capable of teaching, evangelizing, and accompanying their people.

A child playing at celebrating Mass

Justin’s vocation was born long before the seminary.  He grew up in a Catholic family of six children.  His father, now deceased, was a certified catechist, and his mother belongs to the Legion of Mary. Faith was not simply a family tradition, but the center of daily life.

He fondly remembers the Sundays of his childhood. The church was far away, but that was never an obstacle. ” I would insist to Dad that we leave as soon as possible because I wanted to sit in the first pew  and observe the words and gestures of the priests and altar boys.”

That fascination continued when he returned home. So, after Mass, he would hold his own ‘simulation’ of the celebration using a papaya prop. To find an alb, he would use his older sister’s clothes. “Without really knowing what I was doing, my love for the priesthood grew deep within me.”

Those childhood games would eventually become a definitive calling.

A vocation matured over thirteen years

After six years in the  minor seminary  and seven more in the major seminary – three in Philosophy and four in Theology – Justin was ordained a deacon on August 18, 2012.

Shortly after,  on September 1, 2013, he was ordained a priest  along with three other men. Since then, he has dedicated his ministry to serving the Diocese of Kole, aware that every priest is essential to a Church that continues to grow.

A Church that sustains the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo remains a deeply religious country. Over  54% of the population is Catholic , making the Church the largest religious community in the country.

In addition to evangelizing, it manages more than half of the Congolese educational centers and health infrastructure.

Relations with  other religious denominations  are generally good, although Justin Etotshi acknowledges that some parishes in the east of the country suffer violence from extremist groups linked to the Islamic State.

These are compounded by other major national challenges. ” The multiple wars in the east of the country, due to strategic minerals,  are a daily concern for the Congolese population.”

In his own diocese the social situation is calm, but the lack of roads and health services makes daily life and pastoral work extremely difficult.

The unforgettable memory of Pope Francis

Among the most important moments of his ministry was  Pope Francis’ visit to Congo in 2023. ” It was a moment of great joy for all Catholic faithful ,” he recalls.

But its impact went far beyond popular enthusiasm. ” His message was also felt among the country’s authorities,  who were called to greater justice, rectitude, and a sense of the common good.”

What he has discovered in Spain

During his stay in Spain, he has been surprised to find that our country preserves deeply rooted Christian traditions.

“What has impressed me most is the enthusiasm generated by the  Holy Week processions in southern Spain  and the magnificent celebration of  San Fermín in Pamplona .”

These are expressions of a faith that, in his opinion, continues to have an important presence in the life of the country.

The priest the 21st century needs

When thinking about the future of the Church, Justin is clear about what kind of priest the world needs today and gives us four key points:

“The 21st century is an ultra-connected time, open to multiple transformations.” The priest must:

• Demonstrate   spiritual and psychological strength .
• To be trained to make balanced judgments.
• Try to be honest,  humble , consistent, ethical, a good communicator, and a bridge builder.
• Always strive to be a man of prayer.

And that mission begins long before arriving at a parish. It also begins in a classroom, among books, teachers, and hours of study.

Thanks to the help of the benefactors, partners and friends of the CARF Foundation, priests like Justin Etotshi can receive the training that will strengthen entire Churches tomorrow.

In a diocese larger than Belgium, where there are only 77 priests,  every  donation  ends up becoming a presence, hope, and Gospel for thousands of people who are still waiting for the arrival of a priest from Congo.