Pictures sent from Malawi by Julio Feliu, M.Afr.
Many thanks to him and the wonderful work of dedication of the people of Chinsapo.
Pictures sent from Malawi by Julio Feliu, M.Afr.
Many thanks to him and the wonderful work of dedication of the people of Chinsapo.
“What can I give back to the Lord for all his goodness? I shall move to the altar to invoke the name of the Lord.”
This is how I began my first mass I celebrated 50 years ago. I would like to do the same today at this Mass of thanksgiving. Only Him knows all those who have loved me, helped me and encouraged me without myself giving back much to them. My debts of love have simply accumulated over the years. Only the Lord can give them back what they deserved.
May the Lord bless you all dear parents, friends and benefactors. Jules Roy, M.Afr
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- At Kasama Parish
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- At the Franciscan’s Convent
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- At Dola Hill in Ndola
Dear Confreres,
I have just received a phone call from my father back home in the Congo announcing the sudden death of my grandfather, whose name is Lucien Upar. He has died at the age of 80. For many years, he had a problem of high pressure, but still could all kinds of works without any problem. Now he has gone. Please remember my grandfather in your prayers.
Richard Ujwigowa, M.Afr
By Bernard Chowa, M.Afr
“Wiki ya Ukarimu” (Week of Charity) takes place towards the end of every year in the Archdiocese of Mwanza. This year this event took place from 11 to 18 August 2013. Each day of the week, different groups such as the Lay, the children, the youth (Viwawa), the catholic women (Wawata), the consecrated, and many more other groups get the opportunity to have a seminar and a talk with the Archbishop. Each day ends with the Holy Mass presided by the Archbishop and many priests. The event takes place on the hill at the “Kawekamo Marian Shrines” once visited by then the Holy Father Pope John Paul II.
This week ends on Sunday and nearly all the priests of the Archdiocese attend. On this day, Mass starts at 10.00 hrs attended by members of all lay groups and many other Christians. After the Mass all return first for entertainment. At this time dances and plays are performed especially by the Sukuma Cultural Group from Bujora. (The Cultural Center has gone on well since it was founded by the White Fathers). After that, somebody gives a seminar to all the attendants. Then follows the most important event where by each parish is called to bring in money intended for the Archdiocese, for the building of the Cathedral, for the Catholic Radio and TV stations, a certain amount that every baptized has to give to the archdiocese among many more other “michango” (contributions). The lay may also give gifts like bags of cement and bags of rice from the previous harvest. At this occasion, other amounts are mentioned for each Parish in its capacity to be contributed for the next year/s to come.
Later the Archbishop (this time His Grace Jude Thadaeus Ruw’aichi, OFMA) addresses the whole congregation to explain important issues, during which he also invites questions.
Oswald Mallya, Francis Kangwa, Jaya Bordhan, Patrick Mumbi and Romaric Bationo went to Mongu for the funeral of the parents of our confrere Phelim Malumo who died suddenly in the same night. The mother was hospitalised. Her husband went to get some medicine for her in the evening, felt tired and lastly collapsed in a coma. In the meantime, his wife died at around 23 hours without the knowledge of the husband. Finally, he died too at around 3 hours.
Our confreres Phelim came quickly from Jerusalem where he is following a session. According to Oswald, the whole Mongu came to a standstill on Monday the 30th September when people gathered in the cathedral where Bishop Evans Chinyama officiated the liturgy.
Here below, some words sent by Phelim using his mobile phone.
Dear Confreres,
Greetings from Mongu.
I am recovering slowly from the tragic death of my parents. All went well. Still not yet owned and understood the event. But I am fine and I have been strong a bit to go through the funeral rites. The family is united and all is going in a Christian spirit. Most people have travelled back, but family members are still around.
Words of thanks for so many messages, spiritual and material support. I shall have some time to thank all.
When I came, I agreed with the Session staff that two weeks will be fine and then go back to continue the pilgrimage.
Thus I am waiting to hear about the re-entry permit from Tom. If that goes well, I was planning to fly either by the 9th or 10th October back to Jerusalem. If the re-entry is not accepted then it will not be possible to travel, then I have to rearrange my program. I shall come to Lusaka on the 7th next week Monday.
For now, your prayers! The family is trying to come to terms with the event and mystery of my parent’s death.
Many thanks for the material and spiritual support. Many thanks also to Serge for the effective communication and messages I have been receiving.
Until then, Gods’ blessings,
Phelim
Pictures from Francis Kangwa
Henk came to Woodlands last Sunday in view of going to see his sick sister. Unfortunately, his sister Nelly died on Monday at the age of 85. Henk left last night for Amsterdam to attend the funeral which will be held on Friday at St. Joseph church in Helmond.
May she rest in peace!
Henk still has another sister and three brothers. He will be back to Zambia on the 17th October.
The Father Louis Blondel Centre is the result of a team work inspired by a man whose life has been dedicated to the poorest and to the loneliest. Fr Louis spent more than 22 years in South Africa, as a missionary of Africa, and was involved in many supportive projects in Soweto, Zondi and Orange Farm. In 2008, he decided to stay in Diepsloot and was planning a youth centre when his life was cut short and he was shot dead by an intruder on the night of the 6th December 2009.
This Centre is dedicated to the upliftment of the Youth of Diepsloot and may it become a beacon of reconciliation in our still violent and divided Society.
It is with thanks to the family and Friends of Fr. Louis and the French business community who funded the building. A special thanks to Lafarge SA and Prominent Paints.
Press Statement on behalf of Caritas Zambia by Samuel Mulafulafu, Executive Director, Caritas Zambia
For a visitor who may have come to Zambia in the recent months this year, he/she would be wondering whether there is still a functioning State in Zambia. The level of chaos, hooliganism and lawlessness in Zambia has reached such unprecedented levels that one would be right to question whether there is a functioning government in Zambia. The dangerous part of this situation is that the political party in power, the Patriotic Front (PF), which was elected by the people to guarantee their rights, peace and security and justice, is deeply at the centre of these problems. The majority ordinary Zambians are yearning for a peaceful life that satisfies their basic needs, yet those they entrusted with this duty of promoting the common good have abdicated their role in preference for endless squabbles for power and fights for dominion and hegemony? Even as this exhortation is being written, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is severely rationing water causing great danger to patients and visitors to the hospital and yet our leaders don’t see such problems as priorities when compared to political squabbles. READ MORE
Also:
In-Fighting in the Ruling Party
Illegal Land Occupation
Freedom of Information Bill
The Constitution making process
Treasuring the Dance of Life
Challenges to Religious Formation in an ever-changing World
New interview with Michael A. King who has been dean, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Vice President, Eastern Mennonite University, since July 1, 2010.
Michael shares with us his vocation journey, his vision on Seminary Formation in an ever-changing World and the way he treasures the Dance of Life.
He says: “We never encounter the world outside of a story or stories that have already told us countless things about the world, our place in it, and how we should then live.”
He invites us to be aware of the danger of living caught in a fictional world: “Even a script rooted reliably in history and God and able to tell us what is really true remains fictional unless we appropriate it.” Part one Part two
From the magazine Around the Archdiocese, September 15, 2013
By Karen Byrne
Pastoral Associate, Epiphany Parish, Mason City
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Zambia and Zimbabwe with Father Harry Koelker and others to visit the three missions that parishes in the Archdiocese of Dubuque support through the Missionaries of Africa (Good Shepherd Parish – Lusaka and Kasamba Parish). Father Harry, a retired priest of the archdiocese, worked with St. Ludmila’s in Cedar Rapids, St. Joseph’s/Epiphany Parish in Mason City and Sacred Heart in Oelwein to begin supporting these missions in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Sr. Carol Hoverman, Director of Communications
Editor, The Witness, Archdiocese of Dubuque, U.S.A.
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- Women participants at The Women’s Project in Harare Zimbabwe. The bags of food are the family’s monthly donation of food purchased from American donations
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- Good Shepherd Parish Lusaka, Zambia
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- Pre-school students in Kasamba Parish
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- Father Harry Koelker visiting with children in a village in Southern Zambia.