Tag: Martin Kasongo

Dear Confrères!

Join me first of all in thanking God for the love and for all the mercies he lavished upon me by allowing me to be ordained priest to serve in his vineyard. Dear confreres, I write to you more especially to thank you for your support before, during and after ordination. Each and every one of you, near or far, in one way or another, contributed to the preparation and the success of my ordination. I really appreciate your spiritual, material and moral support. Your support was very strengthening to me. I was very privileged and blessed by your presence during ordination and thanksgiving mass. This gesture was very encouraging and assuring to both my family and the parish. Unity and support are the echoes I receive from my family, from the parishioners of Kabundi Parish (St. Stephen) and from all the people who participated in my ordination and thanksgiving Mass. The parish and my family testified and affirmed that I have people around me.

Allow me also, dear confreres, to thank the community of Ndola (Shinde Street), Didasio and Francis in particular for the energy they put in to welcome confreres and prepare for the reception in Ndola. Dear Didasio and Francis, I am very grateful for your help and support.

To all of you dear confreres, I say thank you very much and may God bless you. I also invite you to come in number and give the same support to our friend and confrere Frederick Mulenga Chungu on his priestly ordination this coming Saturday. May God bless us all and our families; may he make fruitful our life and our mission. United in prayer!

One Down: ‘One’ To Go; ordination of Martin Kasongo, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 10, 2017

In Priestly ordination

Fr. Martin Kasongo, M.Afr

By Everisto Mwelwa, M.Afr

One Zambian M.Afr was ordained on 4^th August 2017: there is yet another one to be ordained this month. So ‘One down: One to go’; Habemus Fr. Martin Kasongo, M.Afr. This brings the number of Zambian Missionaries of Africa to thirty-two.

All the roads from M.Afr communities in Zambia and abroad were leading to Ndola Diocese’s Cathedral of Christ the King. Confreres and M.Afr students filled up our house in Ndola to full capacity. A moment of fraternal sharing, updating and thanksgiving to God.

In his homily, the ordaining Bishop Dr. Alick Banda urged the twelve deacons to take a leaf from St. Jean-Marie Vianney, whose feast fell on that day. St. Vianney, though not so intellectually gifted, was ascetical, zealous, prayerful and humble. The deacons were urged to start and end the day on their knees; meaning in prayer. The Bishop also highlighted that the Catholic faith, after 125 years in Zambia, has given three General Superiors to three Missionary Congregations, namely the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), Dominican Sisters and Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. A commendable gesture of maturity in faith.

After the ordination ceremony, a reception was held at our house in Ndola. It was a colourful and prayerful occasion to thank God for the gift of Fr. Martin to the Church.

For Fr. Martin’s Thanksgiving Mass, confreres went to St. Stephen Parish in Kabundi, Chingola on Sunday the 6^th August. The parishioners and local clergy organised the celebration well and it was attended by many confreres. Thereafter, another reception was organised at the Salesians of Don Bosco’s school and residence in Chingola. Indeed, a moment of thanking God for the self-giving of Fr. Martin. The Zambian Sector of the Southern Africa Province (SAP) is thanking all the people of God who organised and attended these celebrations. May God bless you all.

Fr. Martin Kasongo, M.Afr is appointed to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Diocese of Kasongo (yes, same name!). Wishing him a fruitful and grace-filled ministry to the people of God in DR Congo.

On 19^th August 2017, all the roads will be leading to St. Peter’s Parish, Nchelenge in Mansa Diocese for the ordination of Deacon Frederick Mulenga Chungu, M.Afr. You are all invited and welcome to witness to this event. See you there.

: Fr. Martin Kasongo, M.Afr

Oath and Diaconate Ordination in Abidjan, December 2016, Ivory Coast.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 20, 2016

In Diaconate

Fredrick Mulenga, Brother Michael Mpindo, Martin Kasongo and Peter Nyirenda.

By Domingos Mirembwe, Levison Goodwell and Brian Banda.

On the 10^th December, the community of Fraternité Lavigerie witnessed the oath taking of nine confreres. Four of them are from SAP, namely Fredrick Mulenga (Zambia), Brother Michael Mpindo (Malawi), Martin Kasongo (Zambia) and Peter Nyirenda (Malawi). The oaths were pronounced at the parish of Sainte Marie d’Agouèto of Abobo in Abidjan during Mass and received by Father Stanley Lubungo, Superior General. Confreres and many other priests, religious and lay people witnessed the event.

At the same event, with the exception of Michael Mpindo who made his oath as a Brother, our new confreres were ordained deacons by Bishop Willy Ngumbi, our confrere who is also Bishop of Kindu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his homily, Bishop Ngumbi urged the newly engaged confreres to place their total trust in the Lord especially while facing challenges and difficulties.

Through the singing and utumpundu (acclamations), we felt and noticed the vibrant presence of the Zambian community working in Ivory Coast. They contributed to the joy of the event.

The ceremony of Oath and Diaconate was concluded with a meal which took place in the community of Fraternité Lavigerie. The compound was full of joy which was expressed in songs and dances.

We thank the SAP Province and the Society of the Missionaries of Africa for calling these young men. We commend them to your prayerful support as we place them under the protection of Mary Immaculate, Queen of Africa. To you our beloved new confreres, may God bless you and make successful and fruitful your missionary ministry. Congratulations and all the best!

: Fredrick Mulenga, Brother Michael Mpindo, Martin Kasongo and Peter Nyirenda.

Missionary Oath and Ordination of Michael Mpindo, Peter Nyirenda, Fredrick Mulenga Chungu and Martin Kasongo in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 27, 2016

In Diaconate, News

By Mpindo Michael, M.Afr

On behalf of all the SAP students, with praise and gratitude to Almighty God, I am writing cordially to thank you all for your generous support and would like to inform you that the fraternity Lavigérie of Abidjan invites you on Saturday December 10 to the Missionary Oath and Ordination of the following SAP students:

Michael Mpindo (Brother) Peter Nyirenda (Deacon)

Fredrick Mulenga Chungu (Deacon) Martin Kasongo (Deacon)

We are happy and consoled by the fact the Lord knows how to work and how to act even with insufficient tools and by his grace and especially through your prayers. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help and Mary his most beloved mother stands on our side (Pope Benedict XVI).

Link::

The beginning of the academic year 2014-2015 at Fraternité Lavigerie of Abidjan

Death of Mrs Violet, the mother of Martin Kasongo

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 3, 2015

In News

Dear Friends,

We just got a message from Georges Jacques in Abidjan about the sad news of the death of Mrs Violet, the mother of Martin Kasongo, student in our Forth Phase Centre. She was the elderly sister of his mother and the one who took care of Martin after the death of his parents. It seems that Mrs Violet was accidentally hit by a car in Mansa. The community in Abidjan is helping Martin in his grief and we all pray for him. May she rest in peace!

Wednesday 21, 2015

Dear confreres, I would like to inform you that I journeyed to and from Zambia safely. Now am back to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and have already resumed my academic activities.

On behalf of my family and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to pass my sincere gratitude to the society, to the province and to you all for your support and encouragement on the occasion of the death of mum. Your prayers and your words of encouragement were consoling and life giving: they helped me and my family to live the event with faith. Thank you very much and may the Good Lord bless you in your different areas of mission. My family sends you cordial greetings. United in prayer.

Kasongo Martin in Abidjan.

The beginning of the academic year 2014-2015 at Fraternité Lavigerie of Abidjan

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 23, 2014

In News

This academic year at Fraternité Lavigerie announces itself with a blessing of thirteen new community members. Among the thirteen, two of our brothers are originally from our province (SAP). These are: Michael Mpindo (Malawi) and Moses Simukonde (Zambia). We are very happy of their being part of our community. For this reason, we wish them a warm welcome at Fraternité Lavigerie. Akwaba to you our brothers! Our community consists of 37 members, 33 candidates and 4 formators.

The official opening of the academic year 2014-2015 for our community took place on Friday 19^thof September 2014. In order to mark our Eucharistic celebration with the event of the day, it was presided by Fr Jean Bipendo who was celebrating his birthday. In addition, we were equally happy to witness to the declaration of intent of nine second year brothers. For this reason, we address our congratulations to Martin Kasongo (Zambia), Fredrick Mulenga (Zambia) and Peter Nyirenda (Malawi). We wish them all the best of luck and may the good Lord continue nourishing their intelligence in their Theological studies so that they become his true servants tomorrow.

This year’s uniqueness presented itself in the way our community project was formulated. With the help of the image of a tree, we formulated it. In fact, as compared to previous years, this approach was new and was equally appreciated by a good number of community members. In this case, we officially inaugurated our theme for the year. Here it is: “Vivons Notre Arbre” which literally means “Let us live our tree”. To symbolize our theme in a special way, we planted a mango tree just after the Eucharistic celebration. This was done in our community compound. It was after this symbolic action that we continued with our celebration outside the dining hall. We wish our community of Fraternité Lavigerie a happy and successful academic year 2014-2015. We pray that the Lord helps us build a community worth of its name: Fraternité Lavigerie.

Humphrey Mukuka

: Traditionally, we give drinking water to our visitors as a sign of welcome.

: The whole community of the Fraternité Lavigerie of Abidjan 2014-2015.

: Moses Sense Simukonde and Michael Mpindo

: The group of the first year candidates at Fraternité Lavigerie 2014-2015.

: Martin Kasongo, Fredrick Mulenga and Peter Nyirenda.

: After the Eucharistic celebration the second year candidates take a promotion photo around the just planted community mango tree.

: Nine second year candidates pronounce their declaration of intent.

Martin Kasongo: my pastoral experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On May 7, 2013

In News, Vocation animation

I am Martin Kasongo from Chingola, Zambia. I have been a student in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa since 2006. I started my formation with the candidacy course in Kolibo, Serenje. I did my philosophy in Arusha and my novitiate in Bobo-Dioulasso. Thereafter, I was sent for my stage to Aru, north-eastern part of DRCongo in the diocese of Mahagi-Nioka.

My pastoral experience in a multi-cultural area like Aru was very enriching with its openness to all people coming from every corner of Congo and other countries. Bordering Uganda and South Sudan, it makes the Lugbaras culturally dynamic and special. They speak the Lugbarati.

Despite being introverts, the Lugbaras are welcoming and peaceful. One great thing that struck me is the way they have welcomed the Good News of Jesus. Evangelisation continues but I observed that these people are really doing their best for their spiritual and moral growth. They give themselves in taking care of their churches and the parish at large. This attitude shows their interest in the Word of God.

The Lugbaras are also hard workers. They take the education of their children in their own hands instead of counting on the government. But, they have difficulties sometimes to work in a spirit of collaboration or partnership because of lack of experience. I used to go to out-stations from Friday to Sunday. This experience was always very instructive for me. I was interested to understand how the catechists care for their Christians communities. During my visit in villages, I used to talk to the youth on issues of life, to all Christians on faith, and to catechists on perseverance. I visited the sick and the poor, encouraging them to hope in life in the face of hardships.

Being with people in these villages made me understand what Lavigerie meant by “being all things to all people.” The first step in any apostolate is our presence. So, let us be the instruments of the Lord who knows best how to guide us the way He wants.