Kasanza
Location
Official Name Monastère N.-D. de l'Emmanuel
N° 74
Country Dem. Rep. Congo
City Kinshasa 1
Address Kasanza via Kikwit - B.P. 7254
Contact Information
Superior Dom Léonard Zibula , Supérieur ad nutum 2019
Other Information
Juridical Status Major Priory
Diocese Dioecesis Kikuitensis (Kikwit)
OCSO Region RAFMA
Founded/Restored 1958
Origins
Founded by Achel in 1958. It was raised to the status of simple priory in 1984.
History
The funds needed to make the foundation were provided by Mrs. Pauls, mother of a Jesuit missionary in Kikwit who died at the mission.
1957: The abbot went to the site, preceded by 2 monks, to choose the location for the monastery. The General Chapter of 1957 gave its approval.
1958: The founders left Achel on 6 January under the leadership of Fr. Lambert. Monastic life began on 2 February. There were six founders, including 4 choir monks and 2 laybrothers.
1964: During the revolutionary troubles, the community was forced to evacuate Kasanza and take refuge in Leopoldville, then in Kikombo in 1965.
1966: On 14 Sept. the community returned to Kasanza, but found the monastery pillaged and partly destroyed.
1984: The community changed its name to O. L. of Emmanuel.
Father Immediate
Achel / Délégue du Père Immédiat: Timadeuc (2003-2005) ; Délégué du Père Immédiat: Westmalle (2006-2011) ; Westmalle (2012-2022); Délégué du Père Immédiat : Dom Vedaste Vitchomo Visogho du Motoko
Past Superiors
Lambert VANDERMEULEN — Superior — 02/02/1957 – ?/ ?/1963
Alberic VANORMELINGEN — Superior — ?/ ?/1963 – ?/12/1972
Edouard MUNUNU KASIALA — Superior — ?/12/1972 – 14/04/1984
Edouard MUNUNU KASIALA — Titular Prior — 14/04/1984 – 05/01/1985
Albéric VANORMELINGEN (2) — Titular Prior — 01/04/1985 – 11/07/1993
Aelred van den BOSCH — Sup. ad nutum — 06/10/1993
Aelred van den BOSCH — Titular Prior — 1997 – 15/08/2000
Jean-Baptiste PASHI-TUNDANDO — Titular Prior — 31/08/2000 — 31/08/2006
Dom Franco NDULAMA — Sup. ad nutum 2006-2009 — Prieur 2009-2015 ; Sup. ad nutum 2015-2017
Dom Pierre MUSONGO — Sup. ad nutum 2018
Work and Sources of Income
Livestock, dispensary, garage, nutrition centre, chickens (500), mill, carpentry shop, garden.
Guest Facilities
15 individuals + groups of 40 – 50
