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Third Local Ordinary of DR Congo’s Catholic Diocese of Lolo Dies at 88, Eulogized as a “caring pastor, man of prayer”

Late Bishop Ferdinand Maemba Liwoke. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Lolo
Jude Atemanke

By Jude Atemanke

Kinshasa, 27 November, 2025 / 11:20 pm (ACI Africa).

Bishop Ferdinand Maemba Liwoke, the third Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Lolo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has passed on after an illness. He was 88.

Bishop Liwoke died at St. Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa on Wednesday, November 26, the Local Ordinary of Lolo Diocese, Bishop Jean-Bertin Nadonye Ndongo, announced in a statement.

“The funeral program will be published in the coming days. In the meantime, we ask that you keep His Excellency, Bishop Liwoke, in your prayers,” he says in the November 26 statement.

Born in Yamagwa in April 1937, Bishop Liwoke was ordained a Priest in August 1969 at St. André Parish  of the Catholic Diocese of Lisala.

He served as secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity in Kinshasa from 975-1983. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Lolo Diocese in April 1983. His episcopal motto was “Ubis Caritas Ibi Est” (“Where there is love, there is God”).

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Bishop Liwoke was appointed Local ordinary of Lolo Diocese in January 1987, following the retirement of Bishop Joseph Ignace Waterschoot.

He founded the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Lolo in February 1994.

In a statement following his demise, members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) eulogize the late Bishop emeritus of Lolo Diocese as one who “devoted his life to the service of the Church in Lolo for many years, with faith, humility, and courage.”

“A caring pastor, man of prayer, and spiritual guide for the faithful, he leaves behind a strong testimony of love, fidelity, and wisdom,” CENCO members said in the November 26 statement.

They added, “His memory will remain alive in the hearts of all who crossed his path and benefited from his kindness.”

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“We pray for the repose of his soul and entrust his accomplished ministry into the hands of the Lord. May he rest in the peace of Christ, whom he served faithfully until the end,” CENCO members implored.

Throughout his Episcopacy, he ordained 26 Priests for the Diocese of Lolo.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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