Germain Kivungila Kapenda was born on November 16, 1968, in Kolwezi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the diocese of Kolwezi, son of Kivungila Kapenda and Womba Kahudi. He completed his novitiate at Kansebula in the DRC, making his first religious profession on August 24, 1990. He made his perpetual profession on July 7, 1996, in Lubumbashi, and was ordained a priest on July 25, 1998, in Kolwezi.
He deepened his academic formation at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, where he stayed on several occasions, devoting himself particularly to research at the Salesian Historical Institute and contributing to the teaching of Church History at the Theologicum in Lubumbashi.
Throughout his long Salesian life, Fr Kivungila has held significant responsibilities at every level of congregational life: vicar and parish priest in Kafubu and Kasenga, director and parish priest in Mbuji-Mayi, director at Lubumbashi-Salama and at the Inspectorial House. He is currently director of the Lubumbashi-Ruashi-Maison des Jeunes community, an appointment confirmed for a second three-year term. At the inspectorial level, he served as inspectorial councillor, inspectorial vicar, and delegate for Formation, Vocational Discernment and the Consulta in the AFC Inspectoria.
His journey, combining academic depth, many years of pastoral experience and institutional knowledge of the Congregation, prepares him in a unique way to lead the Province of Central Africa. We entrust his service to the prayers of the entire Salesian Family.
