Heartfelt greetings to all of you!
2nd and 3rd August 2014 will always remain memorable days in my life as a Catholic and as a Missionary priest. First and foremost, I would like to thank God who invites me to participate in His mission and Bishop George Cosmas Zumaile Lungu who shared part of his priesthood with me. I would like to thank all the Missionaries of Africa in Zambia and beyond for their support and love that they showed during my ordination in Minga and my Maiden Mass in Kalichero. I really felt well surrounded and supported. Even those who did not make it for various reasons, I know that you were with me in spirit and joined yourselves to my family and I in prayer and thanksgiving. To all of you, may God grant peace of heart and inner joy in your vocation. As I go to Mali for my first mandate, I commend myself to your prayers and your moral support.
Emmanuel Chisanga Mubanga, M.Afr
Author: Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP) Page 62 of 113
Heartfelt greetings to all of you!
2nd and 3rd August 2014 will always remain memorable days in my life as a Catholic and as a Missionary priest. First and foremost, I would like to thank God who invites me to participate in His mission and Bishop George Cosmas Zumaile Lungu who shared part of his priesthood with me. I would like to thank all the Missionaries of Africa in Zambia and beyond for their support and love that they showed during my ordination in Minga and my Maiden Mass in Kalichero. I really felt well surrounded and supported. Even those who did not make it for various reasons, I know that you were with me in spirit and joined yourselves to my family and I in prayer and thanksgiving. To all of you, may God grant peace of heart and inner joy in your vocation. As I go to Mali for my first mandate, I commend myself to your prayers and your moral support.
Emmanuel Chisanga Mubanga, M.Afr
We wish to inform you that Kitha’s health is improving. He started the process of reeducation on Wednesday the 27th August. He will be doing that every two days i.e three times a week. Consequently, Paul will not be able to do the annual 8 day’s retreat with his fellow third year students. This is to allow him continue his reeducation process (physiothérapie) at a normal pace. He will nevertheless do the retreat in our formation house (La Fratenité Lavigerie) at the same time as others will be doing it in some other place. His retreat will be directed by Father Benoît Mwananyembo, a visiting priest, who is in mission in the Maghreb (Algeria). We continue asking for your prayers.
United in Christ.
Yours faithfully, Paul Kitha Makambi
Pictures: Humphrey Mukuka
Paul Kitha’s knee operation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
When I left Zambia in 2011 for a three years’ Arabic and Islamic studies, I hoped to come back to the Zambian sector after completion. However, at the end of my studies, I received a new appointment that took me to the West African province in view of heading the Institute for Islamo-Christian Formation (IFIC) in Bamako in Mali. The day I received my appointment, I felt a deep need for coming back to the Zambian sector as to be able to leave and be totally present in Mali. I made the request and was blessed with the favour from my new province to come back to Zambia and visit the places and people that I love and carry dearly in my heart. From the day I landed in Lusaka, I was healed from the shock of the surprised appointment and I was already ready to go. Now that I have been able to pay a visit to Kitwe my place of stage, Nyimba my first term of missionary experience and Lumimba my last pastoral home before studies, I may say that Home coming has been a healing remedy; I am now ready to take up my new appointment whole heartedly. And so, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the SAP Provincial and his Secretary for facilitating my entry to Zambia, for their warm welcome to the province; my sincere gratitude to the Zambian Sector Delegate for the warm and fraternal welcome given me during the whole of my stay. My gratitude to all the confreres I met and to the Zambian people and Zambia. We remain united in fraternal love and in mission. You are all invited to Mali, to IFIC.
Adrien Sawadogo, M.Afr
Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :
Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Lettre de Laghouat Ghardaia Août 2014 », la dernière lettre de Mgr Claude Rault, Missionnaire d’Afrique et évêque de Laghouat Ghardaia en Algérie– (lire la suite)
« Journée missionnaire mondiale, selon le Pape François », un texte qui date déjà du mois de juin, mais que nous publions puisque la journée en question approche (19 octobre) (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Témoignages» :
« Tendresse, amour et soins » : le Père Ernst Sievers, d’Allemagne, partage comment il a pris la décision de se consacrer au service des personnes âgées, et son expérience de formation pour accomplir cette tâche. (lire la suite)
« Rencontre imprévue » : Patrick Raphaël Sebyera, stagiaire, raconte sa rencontre avec une personne handicapée, et les réflexions suscitées par cette entrevue (lire la suite)
« Etre heureux toute sa vie »:comme le suggère le Père Réal Doucet, c’est non pas se fixer de vivre ici ou là, de faire tel ou tel travail, mais de vivre dans la confiance. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Année de la foi et Africae Munus en Algérie », un texte du Père José Maria Cantal Rivas, Provincial du Maghreb. Les chrétiens du continent, face à des situations chaotiques, doivent s’engager en faveur de la paix, la justice et la réconciliation. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
« Persécution et Dialogue » un article paru dans « Voix d’Afrique » de juin 2014, n° 103, et écrit par Mgr Michael Fitzgerald, présentement à Ste Anne à Jérusalem. (lire la suite)
« Un livre sur Mahomet » dont l’auteur est allemand, professeur de langue et culture arabes, membre ordinaire de l’Académie des Sciences de Göttingen. (lire la suite)
« Des érudits musulmans jugent que l’état islamique “viole la charia », un des articles parus dans le bulletin hebdomadaire de l’ARCRE, qui vient d’être envoyé aux abonnés, après un mois d’août sans publication.(lire la suite)
The Great Coalition for a People-Driven Constitution organised a major event at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on the 30th August 2014 under the theme: New Constitution, Better Lives for all.
The Panellists drove the attention of about 300 people representing every Province of the country calling for the new constitution to be made public and approved through a referendum before the next general election in 2016. The Panellists were from various Churches and the Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia, from the Labour Movement, the Disability Movement, the Women’s Movement, the Youth Movement and Students Movement. A political leader spoke also on behalf of the 16 Political Parties existing in Zambia. Dr. V.J. Mwaanga, former well-known Politician gave also a solidarity speech encouraging the Coalition to increase its mobilisation drive in favour of a People-Driven Constitution. Father Cleophas Lungu form the Zambian Episcopal Conference concluded the speeches on behalf of Oasis Forum.
Attack on a peaceful gathering of several civil society organisations in a church – Lusaka
What is so “golden” about Zambia’s jubilee? Asks Oasis Forum!
Press Statement by the Oasis Forum – 20th Feb 2014
Zambians should hold politicians to account – Mwaanga
Vernon Mwaanga says Zambians should awaken and begin to hold politicians accountable for their promises.
And Fr Cleophas Lungu said Zambians need to bring into question the integrity of their leaders when they renege on their promises.
In his solidarity speech at the grand coalition for a people-driven constitution meeting in Lusaka on Saturday, Mwaanga said politicians should honour their promises.
“Far too long, we have allowed politicians as Zambians to go scot-free on promises they make. The PF promised to accord Zambians a new constitution but to date, nothing seems forthcoming. We don’t have the draft constitution yet and we don’t even know where it is,” the veteran politician said. “Zambians should awaken and hold politicians to account for their promises. If PF does not keep their promises, in 2016, it will face brunt consequences.”
Mwaanga said it was not correct for the government to advance reasons of cost for the delay in the constitution-making process.
“When the PF made a promise to deliver a new constitution, obviously they knew that the exercise is costly. Indeed democracy is costly,” said Mwaanga.
And Fr Lungu, in his address on behalf of the Oasis Forum, said it was sad that politicians liked using falsehoods to deceive Zambians.
“We need to begin bringing into question the integrity of our leaders when they make promises. They come with falsehoods and make promises but make political U-turns when in government,” he said.
“Let’s state here that the day of reckoning is surely coming. The government should respect the will of Zambians in their demand for a people-driven constitution… I would therefore, like to warn the PF that God is watching. Let’s cast out fear as Zambians. Let’s not be afraid of going to prison for demanding for a people-driven constitution. Great liberation is demanding and is a costly affair.”
Fr Lungu said Zambians should mobilise and campaign peacefully to press the government to release the draft constitution.
Lieutenant Colonel (retired), Robert Gagnon passed away at the age of 81 after a short illness, on June 28, 2014 at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Bob was ordained a ‘White Father of Africa’ in 1958 (01-02-1958) and served as a missionary in Malawi for 8 years. He then served as an RC Chaplin in the Canadian Forces on numerous bases until his retirement in 1992.
The Funeral took place on the 2nd July 2014 and a Memorial Mass was held on Thursday July 3rd in St. Joseph’s Church, Ottawa, Canada.
See the PDF file for more details
“Life is good.” That phrase popped out of Bob Gagnon’s mouth so often, it struck many people as a “have-a-nice day” pleasantry. But those close to Bob knew that his habitual greeting meant something. His words were a purposeful affirmation that good will ultimately prevail, and that, as one friend noted at his wake, “Life is inherently good, worth the effort, and worth preserving.”
On Saturday 16th August, Christians gathered together in the compound of Lilongwe Cathedral to celebrate the Jubilee of three diocesan Priests and witness the priestly ordination of five deacons, among them one of our confreres; Remi Nyengere. With songs of praise and thanksgiving, people came to welcome their new pastoral leaders. A good number of Missionaries of Africa, MSOLA, the delegation of Zambia and some visitors from Spain were present to support him in his new commitment.
In his homily, the Archbishop of Lilongwe, Most Rev. Tarcisio Ziyaye, explained the importance of prayer in the life of a priest. “Prayer, he said, is like an engine of a car in the life of a priest’’. He also invited parents to offer their children to the Church for the sake of salvation. The six hours Mass ended with a reception organized in the bishop’s house for all religious.
Remi celebrated his first Mass the following day in his home Parish at Mponela which is about 55km north of Lilongwe. Remi is the first Missionary of Africa from his Parish. “His ordination, said Monsignor Sonkani, Parish Priest of Mponela, is the opening door of missionary vocations’’. During this celebration, the family members of our confrere expressed their gratitude to the entire family of Missionaries of Africa for accompanying Remi during his formation journey.
Remi is appointed to Katakwi Parish, Soroti, in Uganda. We wish him all the best!
Etienne Ngoma – Stagiaire at Chezi Parish, Malawi
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- Going to the alter with the parents
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- Presentation of the son to Archbishop Zyaye
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- Ordination Mass
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- Incensing the altar at first Mass
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- Remi’s first Mass
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- Remi’s first Mass – offertory
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- Parents of Remi
Alvin Escabusa, John William Nkhoma and Dominic Kapatamoyo visited Kalimba Reptile Park situated near Lusaka on Sunday the 18th August 2014. Alvin, Filipino, is waiting to get his official documents in order to apply for a visa and go to Mozambique for his stage. John had better luck and got his visa for Nigeria. Dominic came to Lusaka to pass his English exam at the British Council in view of going soon to Jerusalem for his first year Theology.
Thank you Zambia! You have put the fire back into our hearts. You have rejuvenated our spirits. You have given us a sense of well-being. You have affirmed us as Missionaries of Africa as we slowly enter the winter of our lives.
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Thank you especially to all our confrères from the Provincial and his staff to all the young men we met who were on their journey from the novitiate to their respective countries to begin their stage experience.
We were amazed at the changes that have taken place since the 27 years that I’ve been away and Jean Guy’s seven.
Our eyes were wide open at the site of cars, traffic jams, asphalt roads, cell phone, TV dishes, soap, cooking oil, salt, water, cheese, flour, cement, iron sheets, etc. being so plentiful.
We enjoyed all our Zambian friends we met. Their warmth and hospitality is still the same.
During the Communion hymn, which was being sung by the local congregation, Jean Guy shared with me with tears in his eyes “it’s at a moment like this that we realize what we have given up by accepting to do home service.” That says it all.
United in Him. God is good!
Gene and Jean Guy
Link: Visit of Jean-Guy Labrecque and Jean-Claude Robitaille to Zambia and farewell to Jules Roy