Kisantu

---

During our weekend on the road, we visited Kisantu and stayed overnight there Saturday night. The Sisters of Notre Dame went to Kisantu in 1900 and established schools -- pre-primary, elementary, secondary -- which have become very well known and respected in the Kisantu diocese. More than 1000 students attend these schools. There are also plans to build a college. Kisantu holds an important place in the history of the Congolese province of the SNDs.

A poignant experience during our stay was a visit to the cemetery where several Belgian Sisters are buried. We prayerfully remembered the countless Belgian Sisters who came to Congo as missionaries and sowed the seeds of the present Congolese Province.

While in Kisantu we walked a bit in the beautiful Botanical Garden, established in 1900 by a Jesuit Brother, Justin Gillet. It is one of two state-operated botanical gardens in the country.

---

Photos

Kisantu
Entrance to the compound

Kisantu
Convent

Kisantu
Gardens

Kisantu
Monograms of Notre Dame and St. Julie Billiart -- front of convent

Kisantu
School building

Kisantu
Mary Linscott Center

Kisantu
Women of Kisantu

Kisantu
Mother and daughter in matching outfits

Kisantu
Students' garden

Kisantu
Students' garden

Kisantu
Beautiful cabbage growing in the students' garden

Kisantu
Sister Marie Dominique in the students' garden

Cemetery at Kisantu
The graves of Belgian Sisters of Notre Dame who died in Congo

Cemetery at Kisantu
The first Belgian Sister of Notre Dame to die in Congo in 1901

Kisantu Botanical Garden
Palms

Kisantu Botanical Garden
Yours truly in the garden

Kisantu Botanical Garden
A handsome baboon

Kisantu Botanical Garden
A lovely bloom

Kisantu Botanical Garden
Another lovely bloom

Comments

[PAUL-Viviane ROBETTE]

Magnifique
Je n'ai jamais imaginé que c'était ci beau ! quel bonheur de découvrir tout cela Paul-Viviane NAMUR