Blessed Anuarite Church (Diocese of Bunia)
| Blessed Anuarite Church | |
| Dedication: | Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta |
| Venerated Saints: | |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Bunia |
| Deanery: | Unknown |
| Address: | Unknown |
| Coordinates: | 1.81667, 30.18333 |
| City: | Komanda, Ituri |
| Subdivision: | Ituri |
| Country: | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| County: | Ituri Province |
| Website: | |
| Founded: | |
| School: | No |
| Email: | |
Blessed Anuarite Church (Diocese of Bunia) is a Roman Catholic parish located in Komanda, a small town in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Dedicated to Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, a Congolese nun and martyr beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985, the parish serves as a spiritual and communal hub for the local Catholic community in a region marked by significant conflict and hardship. The church is part of the Diocese of Bunia and has gained international attention due to a tragic attack in July 2025, which highlighted its role as a place of worship and refuge amidst ongoing violence in eastern Congo.
The parish is situated in a commercial hub connecting the Tshopo, North Kivu, and Maniema provinces, making it a focal point for both religious and social activities in Komanda. Despite its significance, the parish faces challenges due to the volatile security situation in Ituri Province, where groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have targeted civilians, including those gathered at the church. The resilience of the parish community, led by figures such as Father Justin Zanamuzi, vicar general of the Diocese of Bunia, underscores its importance as a beacon of faith and hope in a region plagued by instability.[](https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-church-leaves-43-dead)[](https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-catholic-church-leaves-43-dead/)
History
The history of Blessed Anuarite Church in Komanda is deeply intertwined with the broader narrative of Catholicism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the oldest Catholic communities in sub-Saharan Africa, dating back to 1491. The parish itself, named after Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, a Congolese nun martyred in 1964 for her faith, reflects the region's strong tradition of venerating local martyrs. While the exact founding date of the parish remains unavailable due to limited documentation, it operates under the Diocese of Bunia, established as part of the Catholic Church’s efforts to expand its presence in eastern Congo during the colonial and post-colonial periods.[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-01/an-overview-of-the-church-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo.html)[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-01/an-overview-of-the-church-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo.html)
The parish gained tragic prominence following a brutal attack on July 27, 2025, when militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group linked to the Islamic State, stormed the church during a youth retreat and prayer vigil. At least 43 people, including women and children, were killed, and several others were abducted. The attackers used rifles and machetes, targeting members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement gathered in the Caritas hall of the church. The assault, condemned by Pope Leo XIV and the United Nations, highlighted the ongoing violence in Ituri Province and the vulnerability of religious sites. A funeral Mass was held on July 28, 2025, presided over by Father Aime Lokana Dhego, with victims buried in a mass grave on the church grounds. This event has cemented the parish’s role as a symbol of martyrdom and resilience in the face of persecution.[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-07/pope-leo-telegram-parolin-attack-catholic-church-drc-komanda.html)[](https://anglican.ink/2025/07/28/islamic-terrorists-massacre-congolese-christians-during-worship/)[](https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-church-leaves-43-dead)
Special features
- Dedication to Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, a Congolese martyr beatified in 1985, whose life and sacrifice are central to the parish’s identity.[](https://dacb.org/stories/democratic-republic-of-congo/anuarite-mc/)[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2023-02/drc-congolese-appeal-to-pope-francis-to-canonise-blessed.html)
- Site of a tragic massacre in July 2025, where 43 faithful were killed during a prayer vigil, marking it as a place of martyrdom and a symbol of faith under persecution.[](https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-church-leaves-43-dead)[](https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-catholic-church-leaves-43-dead/)
- Home to the Eucharistic Crusade movement, a youth group focused on spiritual formation, which was targeted during the 2025 attack.[](https://www.aciafrica.org/index.php/amp/news/16745/over-30-killed-others-abducted-in-adf-rebel-attack-on-catholic-parish-in-dr-congo)[](https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-catholic-church-leaves-43-dead/)
- Located in Komanda, a commercial hub in Ituri Province, connecting multiple provinces and serving as a significant center for the local Catholic community.[](https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-church-leaves-43-dead)
- The parish grounds include a mass grave for victims of the 2025 attack, serving as a somber reminder of the region’s conflict and the church’s role as a place of mourning and remembrance.[](https://anglican.ink/2025/07/28/islamic-terrorists-massacre-congolese-christians-during-worship/)[](https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/massacre-of-faithful-in-the-house-of-god-in-congolese-catholic-church-leaves-43-dead/)
Related parishes
No specific information is available about other parishes in the Diocese of Bunia with similar dedications or shared characteristics. However, the parish is part of the broader network of Catholic churches in the DRC, which includes nearly 1,500 parishes across 48 dioceses, many of which honor local martyrs like Blessed Anuarite and Blessed Bakanja.[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-01/an-overview-of-the-church-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo.html)[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2023-02/drc-congolese-appeal-to-pope-francis-to-canonise-blessed.html)