Goma: The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo witnessed a deeply moving Eucharistic celebration in thanksgiving for Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui, the first since his recent beatification. Held on July 8 now officially designated as his feast day the Mass drew thousands of believers from across the Diocese of Goma, the Bukavu ecclesiastical province, and even neighboring Rwanda.
Presiding over the liturgy was Archbishop Fulgence Muteba, President of the Congolese Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of Lubumbashi. Joining him were clergy from across the region, a delegation from Rome, and members of various Protestant denominations, most notably from the Church of Christ in Congo a national body uniting 64 Protestant and Evangelical Christian communities.
Throughout the celebration, the atmosphere was filled with pride and spiritual gratitude, as the local Church commemorated one of its own being elevated as a model of Christian virtue. In his homily, Archbishop Muteba declared, “God has honoured this land by raising up Blessed Floribert, affirming that Christ’s mission bears genuine fruit even saints.”
Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui, a young customs officer martyred for refusing to participate in corruption, was hailed as a prophetic witness in a nation grappling with dishonesty, fraud, and systemic injustice. “His life is a mirror reflecting the decay in our society,” Archbishop Muteba warned. “He stands as a rebuke to corruption, cheating, and smuggling.”
The Archbishop urged families, especially parents, to take inspiration from Floribert’s formation, noting that the Blessed’s strength came from both his Christian faith and the moral foundation laid by his family. “Without nurturing moral conscience at home, even our best teachings may fall short,” he said.
Bishop Willy Ngumbi, the local ordinary of Goma, closed the celebration by sharing insights from Floribert’s life. He reminded the faithful that sanctity is not reserved for the elite or the extraordinary. “Floribert was an ordinary young man unmarried, 26 years old, a civil servant but he lived his faith heroically in the face of grave pressure,” the bishop said.
Through this moving tribute, the Church in Congo reaffirmed that sainthood is possible even in the midst of daily life and national adversity. Blessed Floribert now stands not only as a beacon of hope for Goma but also as a moral compass for a nation yearning for justice and renewal.