Dear friends in the Risen Lord,
Many of you have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Father Jean Ikanga, Ph.D., a Divine Word Missionary from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a resident in the IHM rectory since 2019. Father Jean has been an adjunct faculty member at the Emory University School of Medicine, where he conducts research on Alzheimer’s disease in Africa.
Last year, the Conference of Bishops of Congo asked Father Jean to take leadership in establishing a School of Medicine at the Catholic University in Kinshasa. In addition to recruiting a French-speaking medical faculty from around the world, a large part of his task is to raise funds for this undertaking.
When Jean told me of his new responsibility last year, my heart sank. Normally, IHM parishioners are heroically generous toward needs like this. But the world, and the parish, were still in the grip of a global pandemic and our parish income had declined precipitously, as had the finances of many households. But the medical school project is now facing some critical deadlines: students have been admitted, classes began in September, and they are waiting every day for the equipment that Father Jean’s fundraising will supply. So I can wait no longer to place this undertaking before you.
The most urgent need is for tablet computers for the medical students. Since many classes are being taught remotely by faculty members around the world, each of the school’s 265 students needs a compatible and reliable tablet computer. The cost for each tablet, with shipping, is about $450.00. If you would be willing to purchase a computer for a medical student in Congo, or to make a contribution to this project at any level, please visit www.ihmatlanta.org/Congo. The future doctors of Congo, the generations of patients they will serve, and your pastor, will all be very grateful.
Your brother in Christ’s word and work,