Fr. Jean Ikanga's witness inspired Detroit-area deacon to start nonprofit, Friends of the Congo, to build medical clinic in central African nation
DETROIT — Like most priests, Fr. Jean Ikanga likes to share stories about his home and family in his homilies. But Fr. Ikanga’s stories feel different than most.
A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in central Africa, he offers vignettes of the daily struggles faced there: The lack of clean water. The nearly impassable roads. The unrest caused by armed conflict. The pregnant women without access to safe childbirth. And the overwhelming poverty.
Ordained in 2003 with the Society of the Divine Word, Fr. Ikanga came to the United States in 2006 to study at Regis University in Denver, Colo., but his goal wasn't further theology studies. Rather, Fr. Ikanga wanted to gain medical knowledge and skills to help his struggling homeland.
After enrolling at the University of Detroit Mercy from 2009-15 to train as a physician’s assistant and obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Fr. Ikanga went on to receive a medical degree in neuropsychology from Emory University in Atlanta in 2017. All the while, he helped with Masses at local parishes on weekends, telling the stories of the Congo and giving parishioners a glimpse into another world.
Deacon Joe Hulway, who served with Fr. Ikanga at SS. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Parish in Sterling Heights, remembers one homily in particular.
“After he finished his studies at Emory, he visited SS. Cyril and Methodius to celebrate a Mass with us before he went back to the Congo,” said Deacon Hulway, who now serves at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer. “In his homily, he told us he felt torn — that by the world’s standards, he should stay here and enjoy a life of luxury. But after 10 years in the U.S., he decided he needed to go back to serve his people in the Congo.”
Fr. Ikanga returned home in the fall of 2017, and Deacon Hulway kept in touch with him through email. The deacon heard firsthand about the difficulties facing the Congolese people and was struck by the need for necessities such as water and reasonable access to basic health care. Driving to a get medical assistance could take a full day.
“Since the roads are so bad, some people die on the way to a clinic,” Fr. Ikanga told Detroit Catholic. “The majority of the population is young. Almost every month, one or two women die giving birth, and some have abortions because they fear dying during childbirth.”
Deacon Hulway felt called to help in a bigger way. In April 2018, he set up a nonprofit fundraising organization, Friends of the Congo, Inc. He did so with the help of two parishioners at SS. Cyril and Methodius at the time, Ray Khan and John Brady, who now make up the organization's board of directors with Deacon Hulway.
Fr. Ikanga developed a multi-phase plan to build a maternity clinic in Yassa, a town centrally located between two neighboring cities. Friends of the Congo raised money for the construction of the clinic, which opened in 2019. The facility provides “proper maternal care” to mothers, according to Fr. Ikanga, including ultrasounds.
Deacon Hulway visited the Congo in July 2019 for the dedication of the clinic.
“It was very eye-opening and gave me appreciation for the life not only in the backcountry where the clinic is, but also in the cities and the capital. They’re lacking so many basics we take for granted like water and electricity,” Deacon Hulway said. “Yet it struck me to see that when you get out in the country where they have almost nothing, the people were much happier.”
The maternity clinic was a major milestone, but the building was only the beginning. The nearest water source to the clinic was a half-mile away, and water had to be carried on foot. Friends of the Congo put out a plea for donations to build a well, which was completed in July of this year but is not yet connected to the clinic. Once finished, more women can be served, including those from farther-reaching areas.
Fr. Ikanga would eventually like to add a men’s clinic and a surgical building, both of which are lofty goals he believes are achievable with the help of Friends of the Congo and other groups that support the progress there.
As if his roles as a priest and a visionary for the clinic weren’t enough, Fr. Ikanga’s bishop asked him to start a medical school at the Catholic University of Congo in Kinshasa to meet the needs of more people in the DRC. Classes will begin before the end of the year.
“Yes, I am busy, but this is my mission," Fr. Ikanga said. "This is how I’m called to carry out my apostolate."
Sometimes the need — and the project itself — can feel overwhelming to Deacon Hulway, who often reminds himself that one of his calls as a deacon is to serve others. Fr. Ikanga recognizes that the need is tremendous, and he prays people will not turn away from others far away whom they’ve never met.
“It’s true that people might wonder why they should help, but we are led by God to have a concern for all His people everywhere,” Fr. Ikanga said. “We have the minimum for life here in the Congo, and sometimes not even the minimum. There are people who do not even know what the next day will hold, and we need to think of our brothers and sisters who have more need than we can imagine.”
Friends of the Congo hosts fundraisers and collects donations online. The nonprofit held a “No-Dinner Dinner” on Zoom when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person gatherings; those who registered received recipes in the mail to cook their own Congolese dinner, along with a DRC flag.
This December, the organization is hosting a “Christmas in the Congo” appeal to help build an examination clinic that will house medical equipment supplied by another nonprofit organization, MedShare. Friends of the Congo also plan to host an event when Fr. Ikanga visits the U.S. in 2022 so that he can share more stories from the Congo.
To learn more about the “Christmas in the Congo” appeal or to become a recurring donor, visit the Friends of the Congo website at www.congowomensclinic.org. Visitors may also register to receive updates and notifications of events, including local presentations and events with Fr. Ikanga.
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