Charismatic National Assembly in Madingou
From November 4 to 6, 2025, the Saint-Michel parish in Madingou, within the Diocese of Nkayi, became a focal point for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Congo. Delegations from across the country gathered for a national electoral assembly that resulted in the creation of the National Communion Service, or NCS.
This new body aligns local charismatic groups with guidelines issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo and the international CHARIS structure, while operating under the auspices of the National Council for the Laity Apostolate. Organizers indicate that this step provides a single, recognized channel for coordination, formation, and evangelization.
Not all dioceses could be present; Kinkala, Gamboma, and Impfondo sent no delegates. However, organizers described the participation as sufficiently representative to reflect national diversity, highlighting the presence of diocesan chaplains, elected lay leaders, and members of thematic commissions who expressed the needs of both urban and rural parishes.
Visible Episcopal Support
Two prelates attended, underscoring episcopal support for the Renewal. Archbishop Abel Liluala of Pointe-Noire, who oversees the movement at the national level, sat alongside Bishop Daniel Mizonzo of Nkayi during plenary sessions, celebrating daily Mass and participating in closed-door discernment circles.
Their presence, noted repeatedly from the podium, was interpreted by participants as a sign that local initiatives remain connected to the broader pastoral vision of Congo’s bishops. An organizer stated that the hierarchy’s interest and encouragement help ensure charismatic spirituality flourishes in communion with diocesan structures and parish life.
Transparent Vote Yields New Leadership
The pivotal moment of the assembly came with the election of the NCS executive board. The National Council for the Laity Apostolate oversaw the ballot according to episcopal guidelines numbered 015/CEC/CELA/CNALC/BENAL-2024, aiming for what organizers called a credible, peaceful, and consensual process, rooted in Church law rather than political competition.
After the vote count, lay leader Georgette Makosso became the national shepherd. She will be assisted by eleven collaborators, including a full-time coordinator, a secretary, and advisors for liturgy, evangelization, charisms, youth, ecumenism, and solidarity, giving the executive both breadth and clear portfolios.
The team’s mandate spans three years, after which new elections are planned. Having an end date, organizers stressed, maintains leader accountability and prevents stagnation. A modest yet symbolic mission rite, held before the final blessing, presented each leader with a small cross, a calendar, and a list of diocesan contacts.
Three-Year Mandate and Priorities
The first item on the agenda is drafting a national activity calendar that aligns with parish cycles and the bishops’ conference pastoral year. By planning dates in advance, the NCS hopes to avoid event overlaps and channel resources to dioceses struggling to organize formation weekends.
Another central task is revitalizing local charismatic groups in the dioceses. Support teams will travel, upon invitation, to help restart prayer meetings, accompany choirs, and provide educational materials reflecting Congo’s linguistic diversity. Funding is expected to rely primarily on voluntary contributions and parish collections.
The NCS also aims to foster a synodal spirit among parish cells, encouraging leaders to consult members before opening new ministries. Organizers insist this horizontal approach will cultivate deeper fraternity, ensure charisms are discerned together, and keep local initiatives anchored in communion.
Annual review meetings are scheduled each August, allowing diocesan delegates to assess progress, highlight funding gaps, and share testimonies of local breakthroughs. Organizers say this feedback loop will help the national team adjust priorities without waiting for the three-year term to end.
Prayer, Formation, and Fraternity
Beyond formal sessions, participants immersed themselves in shared liturgies, silent adoration, and extended praise times led by diocesan choirs. Many described these moments as the assembly’s true engine, allowing discernment to arise from worship rather than strategic documents alone.
Workshops offered refreshers on spiritual gifts, music ministry, and conflict mediation, each facilitated by chaplains drawing on pastoral experience rather than academic theory. Short breaks, organized around local cassava-based dishes, gave lay leaders from Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and interior towns space to exchange phone numbers and mentoring advice.
A Signal for Diocesan Renewal
At the start of the closing Mass, Bishop Mizonzo reminded the assembly that communion begins in small circles before radiating outward. Although no official communiqué was released, participants understood his homily as a clear invitation to act as ambassadors of unity upon returning to their parishes.
For observers, the creation of the NCS indicates that the Congolese charismatic current has matured institutionally while preserving its spontaneous worship style. The challenge, several chaplains noted, will be keeping administrative work light enough so that prayer, evangelization, and service remain the movement’s hallmarks.
The next test will come when the NCS publishes its inaugural calendar and dispatches support teams early next year. For now, participants echo the sentiment carried by every recessional hymn: the conviction that careful organization can serve as a springboard for renewed faith and nationwide social cohesion.