Lubumbashi: A wave of sorrow and shock has gripped the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi after a sacred parish church was closed following an act of grave desecration.
Church authorities confirmed that St. Joseph Parish was temporarily shut after unknown individuals violated the sanctity of the church’s tabernacle a sacred space housing the Eucharist. Reports indicate that the intruders forced their way into the church, tampered with religious objects, and desecrated the Holy Eucharist, an act considered one of the most serious offenses in Catholic theology.
Archbishop Fulgence Muteba of Lubumbashi, expressing deep anguish, ordered the immediate closure of the church to allow for a period of purification and spiritual reparation. In line with Church tradition, such a desecration requires a formal liturgical act of re-consecration before the church can be reopened for public worship.
“This is not just a physical violation of the church building it is a spiritual wound inflicted upon the entire body of Christ,” the Archbishop remarked. “We urge the faithful to remain in prayer and penance as we seek God’s mercy.”
During the period of closure, the parish community will gather in alternate spaces for Mass and spiritual guidance. Church leaders have also called for increased vigilance and solidarity, urging local authorities to investigate the incident and ensure protection for other places of worship.
This tragic event echoes a disturbing trend of increasing attacks on churches in different parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting both spiritual and civic leaders to demand better security and respect for religious freedom.