The Dominican Missionary Martyrs of the Rosary

On November 25, 1964, four Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary—Mary Olympia, Maria Justa, Maria Candida, and Maria of Good Counsel—were martyred in Kisangani, Congo, for remaining faithful to their mission and for love of the African people they served.

In the midst of the country’s violence and political chaos, despite having the opportunity to leave, they chose to stay with the people, sharing their suffering and hope, even to the very end. Their decision was not imprudent, but a profound act of faith and love, a total commitment to the Gospel.

Their martyrdom does not represent a defeat, but the fulfillment of their vocation, the triumph of love over fear. Today, their memory invites us to keep alive the flame of missionary commitment, fidelity to the most needy, and the courage to love to the extreme.

The martyrdom of Sisters Olympia, Justa, Candida, and Buen Consejo was not a sudden act, but the culmination of a life offered up day after day. From their daily dedication to educating, healing, and serving, to their final decision not to flee, their lives were a Eucharist, a silent offering. When they were imprisoned alongside other missionaries and later murdered, their voices were not silenced: their witness became a seed.

Today, every November 25th, we, the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary, and the entire Christian community remember these martyrs of love with gratitude and veneration. It is not only about looking to the past, but about rekindling the fire of their witness in the present. In a world still marked by pain, injustice, and indifference, their example challenges and speaks to us. Their witness continues to be a beacon for new generations: “True love does not flee, but remains, suffers, and gives life.” May the memory of the Martyrs of Congo continue to inspire in us the same fidelity, the same courage, and the same love that made them immortal.

Edimira Nacambundo José Salumbongo

MISIONERAS DOMINICAS DEL ROSARIO,

JUNIORADO CONGREGACIONAL DE ALDAIA