Today, October 15th, on the feast day of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the Carmelites in the Democratic Republic of Congo are becoming a province. This is the very first province of the order on the African continent.
Italian Provincial Superior Gian Domenico Meloni wrote in a letter addressed to the members of the new Congolese Province: "This event represents a historic milestone in your journey and is a sign of the fruitfulness of the Carmelite charism in your country."
The new province will be dedicated to Blessed Isidore Bakanja, a Congolese lay Carmelite who gave his life for his unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ when he refused to give up his scapular and remained faithful to the teachings of the faith among his fellow Congolese citizens.
(Source: https://ocarm.org/en/item/6972-carmel-in-congo-becomes-africa-s-first-province)
