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Plight of Congolese told
By Kerry Stone
Diocesan Coordinator
Caritas /Justice
Our participation in CARI-
TAS AUSTRALIA’s
Project Compassion
was brought to life in Sandhurst
recently with the visit of Dr Bruno
Miteyo from Caritas Congo where
Caritas is involved in restoring
dignity and hope to women traumatised
by sexual violence.
Dr Bruno originally qualified as
a Vet but since 1981 has worked for
Caritas becoming National Director
of Caritas Congo in 2008 as well as
Vice President of Caritas Africa (47
national Caritas) and is also a member
of the Board of Directors of Caritas
Internationalis.
Accompanied by Diocesan Director,
Fr Rom Hayes, and Diocesan
Marian Collge, Myrtleford.
Coordinator, Kerry Stone, Dr Bruno
spent a week travelling throughout the
Diocese speaking to senior students,
priests and parishioners, culminating
with a Picnic Concert in Shepparton.
Dr Bruno spoke to over 2500 senior
secondary students, in separate
presentations at each of Sandhurst’s
10 Secondary Colleges and addressed
Priests, Caritas/Justice Reps and
interested parishioners at Deanery
St Joseph’s College, Echuca.
Dinners in Bendigo and Wangaratta.
The story he had to tell is a most distressing
one.
Dr Bruno and the Caritas Team spoke at all 10 Secondary Colleges across the Diocese addressing about 2600 senior students.
The Democratic Republic of the
Congo is in the grip of a humanitarian
crisis.
human rights violations.
terrorize, demean and 'defeat' entire through the provision of medical serv-
Dr Bruno continually expressed
the armed groups known to commit have become a means by which to Caritas is helping many women derelict justice system.
Life expectancy is 47 and 80% per Severe poverty, insecurity, a lack communities, as well as to punish, ices to deal with the immediate effects his thanks for the partnership between
cent of the people live on less than of basic social services and extreme intimidate and humiliate women of the rape, safe houses to provide Caritas Australia and Caritas Congo.
$1 a day. And yet the DRC is one of sexual violence are taking a heavy toll Many experience mental health somewhere for the affected women to
For him, the trip was an opportunity
the wealthiest countries in the world on the people, with more than 1500 disorders such as anxiety, fear, intrusive
memories and flashbacks, as well port the women and girls through the
turn and long term counselling to sup-
to raise awareness and give testimony
with extensive resources including Congolese said to die every day from
copper, cobalt, wood, and most of the conflict-related causes, preventable as less obvious consequences such as trauma of their experience and reintegration
into the community.
Caritas Australia and Caritas Congo.
to the results of partnership between
world’s supply of coltan, an essential diseases, poverty, gender-based violence
and many other atrocities.
These women, isolated and Further, Caritas is supporting All who listened were inspired
shame, guilt and withdrawal.
component of every mobile phone and
computer.
However, one dimension of this ashamed, are then forced to find their training programs which rebuild confidence
and illustrate the worth of the dedication of this man, carrying the
by the warmth, compassion and
The underlying causes of the crisis violence is the most challenging and own way and live in poverty. This
are complex, but one thing is clear – difficult to heal. The DRC conflict is stigma at community level means affected women, and offering important
skills so they can improve their problems, yet living with hope! As
weight of seemingly insurmountable
the battle to control and benefit from particularly marked by the systematic
use of rape as a weapon of war. fearing further ostracism if their incomes.
contributors to Project Compassion
survivors usually suffer in silence,
the DRC’s natural resources continues
to fuel this deadly conflict. Women and girls are not just killed; ordeal is made public.
The process of challenging stigma we all share in this wonderful work of
Conflict and fear simplifies they are raped, sexually attacked, Compounding these devastating is an important step also and much
partnership and hope.
multi-national companies’ access. mutilated and humiliated. Statistics consequences, survivors of sexual of Caritas’ work in DRC is involved
For more information see Caritas
Requiring companies to sign on to the show an average 45 women are raped violence in the DRC face enormous in sensitively bringing the scourge of
Extractive Industries Transparency each day. Custom, culture and religion barriers in securing justice through sexual violence to light.
Australia’s Research Paper “Forsaken
Initiative is a positive international have built an image of women as bearing
the 'honour' of their communities. justice systems hamper attempts to perpetrators to justice where possible the Congo” at www.caritas.org.au
the courts. Corrupt, under-capacitated Caritas is also working to bring Voices: Desecration and Plunder in
initiative needing our support.
This will help prevent, amongst Disparaging a woman's sexuality bring perpetrators to justice through through the provision of legal support or on the PC Administration Disc
other things, financial dealings with and destroying her physical integrity formal processes.
both to the women affected and to the received by every Parish.
Twilight concert gathers hundreds in celebration
By Kerry Stone
Diocesan Coordinator
Caritas /Justice
A twilight Picnic
Concert for
Project Compassion
was the idea
of St Brendan’s Parish
Pastoral Council members,
Judi Robinson and
Adam Kitungano.
With Sandhurst’s Caritas
Lenten visitor being Dr
Bruno Miteyo, National
Director of Caritas Congo
and the city of Shepparton
being home to a very large
Congolese community, the
idea was bound for success
– and success it was.
Old and young brought
their chairs and rugs and
picnics.
The gathering of around
300 was swelled later by 60
attendees at the Stronger
Rally coming over to hear
the speaker and join in the
community dancing on the
lawns which followed!
Both the Congolese Traditional
Dance Group and
the Angels Voices Band
showcased their exceptional
musical talents.
Angels Voices Band leader,
Monga, made a presentation
to Dr Bruno stating
how proud they were of
his work in the Congo and
wishing him well.
Adding further variety
to the program was
St Luke’s School Choir.
A touching finish to their
beautifully rendered
bracket of songs was He’s
Got the Whole World In
His Hands with words
altered to include Kaluram
and Judy; Rosa and Kose;
Bach and Elizabeth – the
St Luke’s School Choir sings He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands at the twilight picnic concert in Shepparton.
six Faces of Project Compassion
this year. Talented young
star, Anthony Rossignuolo, from
Sacred Heart School in Tatura
stunned the crowd with his ability
and was declared a future
‘Australian Idol’.
Steve Hicks, Principal of St
Luke’s School in Shepparton
was the very capable MC for
the evening. St Brendan’s PPC
provided a barbecue, Caritas volunteers
from Numurkah cooked
pancakes and a Coffee Van
proved popular.
Dr Bruno addressed the
crowd and commented later
how thrilled he was to have the
opportunity to meet so many of
the Congolese community and
especially to see Congolese and
Australian cultures blending in
celebration.
Notre Dame College
FCJ College, Bennalla.
generously allowed the use of
their beautiful lawns as venue,
and teacher, Jason Giuliani, with
the assistance of two students,
gave his time to ensure the music
was heard by all.
The evening also raised more
than $1000 for Caritas.