When parishioners enter the Church of the Ascension, a poster bearing the word “Tokimane” greets them.

In the impoverished town of Tshumbe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, “Tokimane” is a saying that means “Let us hold each other,” said Father John T. McDonough, pastor.

The Church of the Ascension calls their five-year commitment to improve the lives of Congolese people there “Tokemane.” In their outreach program, Ascension’s financial council committed $10,000 a year,

The congregation was invited to join these efforts. About 120 households are making an annual donation, said McDonough. The parish has contributed between $40,000 and $50,000 in the last two years.

The Congolese government ignores infrastructure needs, resulting in the Catholic diocese headed by Bishop Nicolas Djomo, 71, to serve as the primary provider of health care, education and essential services such as fresh, clean water.

Why does repairing the infrastructure fall to the Catholic diocese?

“The government doesn’t do it. We have a government but it is too weak and there is corruption,” explained Djomo during an interview last week at Ascension Church. He updated McDonough and the congregation of ongoing projects.

“He came to us seven years ago. The first project we became involved in was an orphanage. He returned a couple of years later to tell us what he had done with the money,” said McDonough. “By then, we had gotten people together to say ‘Let’s make a five-year commitment’ so he would know there was a stream of money coming.”

Installing four wells to provide clean, fresh water is the latest completed project costing $1 million. McDonough said the next phase will be constructing water towers and bringing a water tap to all 250 people.

“They used to go to the river, collect water, bring it back and boil the water,” he said. “It will make all the difference in the world.”

“It is a miracle for people to get clean water,” said Djomo, a priest for 43 years.

His native language is French; more than 200 dialects are spoken in Congo. Djomo received his doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris. When he became bishop at the age of 53 in late 1997, he learned English.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Congo suffered abuses from Belgium’s King Leopold II. After independence in 1960, the country suffered under the dictatorship of Joseph Mobutu. Between 1996 and 2003, more than 6 million died in what has been called “Africa’s World War.” Eight African nations were embroiled in the conflict. Militias destroyed schools and roads.

The diocese also operates a medical clinic and small hospital where costs are kept minimal so locals can get treatment. The first woman in Congo to earn a PhD. in mathematics, Sister Rebecca Walo, established the first Catholic university in the region, the l’Universite Notre Dame de Tshumbe, in 2006.

Programs in nursing, education, business, agriculture and law are offered, encouraging young women to register. Annual tuition is $250, but villagers struggle to raise the money, said Djomo. Most earn their meager living by growing rice and corn without any mechanized farming equipment. When villagers can find the money, their priority is to educate the males.

Djomo also works with Catholic Relief Services among others to reconstruct the infrastructure.

Four years ago, a team of theologians and journalists produced a video about Tshumbe. It can be viewed on Vimeo.com/78791938.

McDonough hopes local parishioners can visit Tshumbe in the next two years to see projects supported by their monetary gifts.

“As the Catholic Church, we see ourselves as being universal. We need to step out beyond our comfort zone and that is how we became involved in the diocese,” said McDonough.