Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
In the Democratic Republic of Congo
The year 1894
Will remain forever memorable in the annals of the Congregation, especially in the Province of Congo-Kinshasa and the history of its missions.
King Leopold II had requested the collaboration of Belgian religious for the evangelizing work of the colony.
By accepting this mission, the Provincial Superior of the Jesuit Fathers had requested the assistance of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The Aimé Mother of Jesus DULLAERT called for volunteers.
On June 6, 1894, seven of them embarked in Antwerp, bound for Matadi where they landed on July 2, 1894. To arrive at Kimwenza, 340 km to the north, it took them another fortnight. The first forty kilometers were covered by rail on the section already completed. The rest was done on foot or by “tipoy”, in the company of Reverend Father De HERT and Reverend Brother De SADELEER, s.j. The latter led seventy baggage porters. They left the camp before sunrise (around 6 a.m.) to walk for four hours on this very rough road, through tall grass, woods and streams.
After obtaining the approval of the Bishop of Namur in the person of Monsignor DECROLIERE…
The Superior General of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Mother Aimé de Jésus, agreed to undertake a first foundation in Congo.
Seven Belgian missionary Sisters (SNDdeN) arrived for the first time on Congolese soil in 1894:
As soon as they arrived in Congo, the SNDdeN took special care of orphans and abandoned babies. But their desire was also to evangelize the population through school education and catechism.