Bishop José-Claude Mbimbi Mbamba

Msgr. José-Claude Mbimbi Mbamba was born on 30 July 1962 in Kinshasa, and was ordained a priest on 28 August 1988 for the diocese of Boma. He has carried out the following studies: diploma in GSCOM in Rwanda (1974-1980); cycle of philosophy at the Grand Séminaire de Philosophie Abbé Ngidi in Boma (1980-1983); cycle of theology at the Grand Séminaire Saint Robert Bellarmin de Mayidi, Kongo Central, completed with a bachelor’s degree in theology at the Université Catholique du Congo in Kinshasa and a diploma in philosophy and African religions at the same university (1984-1988), where he obtained a licentiate in philosophy (1992-1994); course in Italian in Rome (2003-2004); course in German in Germany (2004-2005); doctorate in philosophy at the University of Tübingen (2005-2011). In addition, he has held the following offices: seminarian sent in mission to the Saint Pierre parish, diocese of Pointe-Noire, Congo-Brazzaville (1983-1984); professor at the Petit Séminaire Saint François Xavier de Mbata Kiela in Bom (1988-1992); rector of the Université Saint Augustin de Kinshasa (1994); professor and vice-rector at the Grand Séminaire de Philosophie Abbé Ngidi (1994-1998); special secretary to the auxiliary bishop of Boma (1998-2001); appointee for the initial formation of future priests (1998-2003); secretary and diocesan chancellor (2001-2003); in Germany, pastoral collaborator in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart as vicar of Herrenberg and assistant to the local Italian community (2005-2012). From 2012 until now he has served as professor and since 2014 rector of the Grand Séminaire de Philosophie Abbé Ngidi; since 2014 he has also been episcopal vicar for the Laity.