“It is a joyful anniversary because we celebrate the fruitfulness of the work of Bishop Henri Piérard, who is practically the founder of the church of Butembo-Beni, in continuation of the work of evangelization begun by the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who were the first to come to announce the gospel to us,” the Catholic Church leader recounted.”
Born in June 1893, in Felenne, Belgium, Bishop Piérard joined the Augustinians of the Assumption (AA), taking his first vows in 1912. He was ordained a Priest in Louvain in July 1925.
In September 1929, the newly ordained Priest joined a group of six Assumptionists who departed from Marseille, France to establish the congregation’s first African mission in Beni, Kivu (then the Belgian Congo).
When the Beni mission was elevated to a sui iuris jurisdiction in 1934, he became its first ecclesiastical superior. Four years later, in June 1938, he was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Beni and consecrated Bishop on 21 November 1938, with the titular see of Andropolis.
Under his leadership, the region of Kivu experienced significant growth. Beni became a Diocese in 1959, with more than 20 parishes established, as well as schools, a minor seminary in Musienene (opened in 1942), and a hospital.
Bishop Piérard promoted lay movements, including the Legion of Mary. In 1952, he founded the Brothers of the Assumption, an institute of Religious Life still active in Dioceses across the region.
Bishop Piérard took part in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). He retired in May 1966, at the age of 72, and was succeeded by Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko.
At 80, Bishop Piérard returned permanently to Belgium, residing in Korbeek-Lo. He died in Louvain in March 1975 and was laid to rest in the cemetery of Park Abbey in Heverlee.
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.
