By Stanley Lubungo, M.Afr
On the 12th of March 2016, the town of Mpika became for a day the centre of ecclesial life in Zambia as scores of Catholics converged to the City to witness the ordination of Fr Justin Mulenga as new Bishop of Mpika Diocese. Bishops, priests, religious and the laity came from different parts of the country and from neighbouring Tanzania to be part of the event. The President of Zambia, various government officials and opposition party leaders also graced the occasion with their presence! We do not have communities in Mpika Diocese anymore but the Missionaries of Africa were represented by ten Confreres from Lusaka, Ndola, Serenje and Kasama.
The liturgical assembly that gathered on green Mpika Cathedral grounds on that cool Saturday morning celebrated its faith, dancing with joy to the sound of traditional drums and music from the renowned Babuomba choir. Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama, who administered the Diocese for the last four years, presided over the beautiful ceremony as Principal consecrator. He was assisted by Bishops Georges Lungu and Bernard Chisanga of Chipata and Mansa Dioceses respectively.
In his speech, the new Bishop, Justin Mulenga who is originally from Kasama Archdiocese thanked the many people who had in one way or another contributed to the spiritual journey that brought him to where he is today. On his long list of names also figured those of three confreres whose lives particularly inspired him: Reinhold Bloching, Guy Lefebvre (1927-2009) and Joseph Stumpf (1931-2006). We may not have communities in Mpika Diocese but through them and many other confreres the legacy of the Missionaries of Africa lives on. With the Church of Mpika Diocese we give thanks to God for the gift of a shepherd.
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- Bishop Justin Mulenga consecrated Bishop and takes Episcopal possession of Mpika Diocese.
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- Justin Mulenga as new Bishop of Mpika Diocese
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- Reinhold Bloching
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- Joseph Stumpf
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- Guy Lefebvre
By Itaru John, M.Afr, Lusaka
Recently we have seen how the Pope Francis insists on the unity of the Church by meeting and reviving long term latent relationship between the Churches. Among many other encounters, on his trip to Mexico, February 12 to 18, 2016, the Pope and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill met in Cuba after almost a millennium since the separation of the two Churches. As a result at the local Church level, an assembly like the one of Palm Sunday in Lusaka today adds value in the efforts to bring people together. The message was clear: Christ is our Identity. We are called to be one (Jn 17) no matter our differences, origins, colours, ideologies to mention just a few. The procession was even embellished by the participants sharing the palms with the drivers and passengers in cars on wait to allow the procession to pass and some children getting lost and join other Churches as each Church finalized the celebration in their particular church after the procession. We wish that the Palm Sunday will remain a platform to inspire the spirit of togetherness and welcome Jesus with joy. (Zechariah 9, 9)
I am hereby informing you about the sad news I have received from home this afternoon that my Aunt, Felicitous Chanda, who is the elder sister of my Mother, has passed on in the early hours of today, 8th March 2016 in Kabwe, Zambia. May her sour rest in eternal peace.
President Edgard Lungu of Zambia went to pray at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, the English Parish in Paris, on Sunday the 7th February. The Mass was a normal Sunday service with the usual congregation. Father Authur Mc Cann, Parish Priest, presided and was assisted by our two confreres, Jacques Amyot d’Inville, who worked in Zambia a long time ago, and Bernard Baudon who worked in Tanzania. I arrived in the middle of the Mass because I did not get the right time. The President was accompanied by his delegation. He also had several agents of the French security around him. The delegation was not very important. According to me, the guests were very few because they are not many Zambians in France. At the end of the Mass, I joined the priests who were greeting the people and the President and his wife came to shake hands. We just said few words, even in Bemba. I hoped to see Harry Kalaba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a former novice at Kahangala in Zambia. I was told he was there but I have not met him. After Mass the delegation went to have a meal in the suburb of Paris.
Our community is growing not only in numbers but also in faith and love. We thank our present three staff members that are doing their best to keep us focused on our missionary vocation. Soon Fr. Jones Kawisha will be coming to join the formation team, and he is most welcome. Seven students have been appointed to this formation House and they will be starting their academic year in July 2016, during the second semester for some. We finally express our gratitude to all of you who contribute in making our community lively. Happy Lenten season to you all and may God bless you.
A terrible car accident happened on the New Year’s Eve, 31st December 2015, between Mukushi and Serenje. On their way from the funeral of their nephew, who himself was hit by a car few days before, Sister Francis Wapakwenda, SCJ., Ls, 78 years old, and a cousin called Abigail died in a car accident. The later, pregnant, died on her way to the hospital. In the same accident, Sister Cecilia Mulenga, aged 43, was critically injured. She was operated on her neck in Lusaka and recovered for this surgery. But other complications occurred while she was treated. She died on Friday afternoon the 19th February 2016 around 17:30 at St. Jean-Paul II Hospital in Lusaka. She has been with ups and downs since the accident largely paralysed from the neck. But she was showing good spirit on Friday morning; “I will be dancing tonight,” she said. Indeed, she is dancing now in heaven.
