At Butembo, Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, the monastery of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Giulianova, Italy, founded the monastery of St Benedict on 21st October, 2006. It was blessed on 21st March, 2007, by the diocesan bishop Melchisedek Sikuli, Pakulu.
The community consists of two monk priests, three simply professed and four novices. The monks of Giulianova make periodical visits to support them by their presence and help them in formation.

After the inauguration and consecration, on July 11, 2012 the new church of St. Benoît our monastery in Butembo, friends have asked about the civil war that rages in North Kivu with the conquest by the rebels in the capital Goma. We can reassure everyone that Butembo is hundreds of miles away from Goma and that, even in the absence of roads, at least for now our monastery is safe from possible immediate dangers.

Don Fortunato Radicioni, one of the founders of the mission in Africa, recently made this appeal: "We call on everyone in a gesture of solidarity to help us meet the needs of the new foundation in the Republic of Congo”. He also adds, "Last year, we sent a PK and a photovoltaic system to start a school of crafts in order to bring young boys away from the streets”.

“The mission runs carpentry workshops and plans to give courses on tailoring and electrician skills. Our aim is also to buy a plot of land from which to derive products needed to meet the livelihood needs of the local community”.

Today, unfortunately, everything is done by hand using only a hoe to work the fields. Results could be far greater if aided by machines. We are awaiting a container with a tractor and other necessary equipment to work the fields.

As always we need more spiritual and material help to make our entry into the great African continent as smooth and succesful as possible.