DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER

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Vol. No. 6

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LIVINGSTONE

Easter Witness

aster is time when we reflect on the Passsion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter experience brings to us the awareness that, the forces of evil or death have no power over the authority of God. The resurrection of Christ gives the conviction that the path that Jesus pursued is ours to follow. We who suffer the pain of death, shall resurrect in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Among the first witnesses to the resurrection of Christ were women (cf. Jn. 20.1-18). They announced the Good News about the Risen Lord to other disciples (cf. Mt. 28.1-20). As we celebrate Easter, we ask ourselves, are we ready like the Women of the Resurrection, to be witnesses of the Risen Lord in todays world? Many factors may hinder women from being true witnesses of the Risen Lord. Topping the list would be the issue of violence against them. Zambia has in the recent past, seen an upswing of the brutality againt women. This to a greater extent can intimidate the womenfolk to be real witnesses of Jesus Resurrection. May Easter be a time when we defeat all forms that work against the call of humanity to being true witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. No amount of threat, brutality or intimidation should frustrate us in being real men and women called to be witnesses of Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. As Scripture states: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Rom. 8.35). In Christ the Risen Lord, we remain conqureres. Wishing you a Blessed Easter!

Holy Childhood visits Children's Wards at Livingstone General Hospital

January to March, 2012

joko Mission Health Post was officially opened by Sesheke District Administrative Officer, Mr. Sachibuye Mwanangombe on February 24, 2012. The function was graced by Fr. Clement Temba, CSSP, Fr. Boris Dabo, Parish Priest of Njoko Mission, some senior Ministry of Health Personnel from Sesheke and other important dignitaries. Mr. Mwanangombe thanked the people of Njoko for the cooperation shown during the construction of the health post. Fr. Clement explained that the building of the health post was a great sign of cooperation between the Church and the government. The health post was built with the cooperation of friends of Njoko Mission from Croatia. This facility will serve 1,600 people, who previous accessed health services at Kalobolelwa (20 Km west of Njoko mission, across the Zambezi River) and Mangamu (50 Km east of Njoko mission, along the Zambezi River).

Njoko Mission Health Post Opens

n Saturday, March 17, 2012, over one hundred fifty (150) Catholic children were eager to bring comfort and consolation to their fellow children bed-ridden in the Livingstone General Hospitals Paediatrics In-Patient Block. The Pontifical Mission Society of the Holy Childhood operates as the Churchs official instrument in helping children become aware of their missionary responsibility to fellow children and other agegroups. Guided by this understanding, the Holy Childhood of Livingstone town parishes undertook the evangelization assignment of visiting and donating to the four wards of the Paediatrics Block situated within the Livingstone General Hospitals premises. They were from St. Theresas, Our Lady of the Angels, Christ the King - Maramba, Maria Regina - Linda, St. Francis - Dambwa and St. Peters - Airport parishes. Receiving the children and animators to the hospital, the Coverage Nurse, Mrs Chikumbi, representing the hospital, acknowledged that the gesture shown by the children was a touching and challenging one. She thanked the Catholic 1 Church for continued cognizance of and response to the needs of the Paediatrics Wards, in particular, and the General Hospital, as a whole. In the Hand-over Speech, the Diocesan Director of the PMS stated that through this act of love to sick children, the Holy Childhood were demonstrating their desire to continue being witnesses to the Good News. He further asserted that the visit was a challenge to all individuals, organisations, business houses and Churches to bring help to sick children. Donated from the Parishes and Diocesan PMS Office were assorted utensils, food stuffs and toiletries. May God bless the Holy Childhood and bring healing to the children in the Paediatrics wards. M a y He grant his grace to the priests, sisters, animators and families who are involved in raising the missionary awareness in Catholic children.

Gender Based Violence Workshops in the Diocese

he diocese conducted two Gender Based Violence (GBV)workshops in the light of the Second African Synod. The workshops focused on creating awareness of GBV issues, and how they manifest themselves both in the Church and in the society. The participants (priests, religious, the youth and the laity), who were trained to be trainers for other groups in the diocese, made commitment to the spreading of information against GBV and try to end any form of GBV. The hope and prayer of the Church in Livingstone is that our society shall be free from any form of GBV, especially that we are all created in the same image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1: 26 - 28). The workshops were held in Livingstone on March 5, 2012.

he Zambia Episcopal Conference ZEC released a Pastoral Statement entitled: THAT THEY MAY HAVE ABUDANT LIFE (John 10:10) on January 29, 2012. The document reflects on various issues affecting Zambia. Among the topics addressed by the statement are: the Church and State relations, the New Republican Constitution-Making Process, Corruption, Appointments to Public offices, Management of Public Resources and Education in Zambia. Others include: Health and Hospices, Rwandese Refugees, the Barotseland Question and Agriculture. Moreover, the statement talks about Road Works Development, Rebasing of the Zambian Currency, Climate Change and Deforestation, Youth Unemployment and Wealth Creation. The document also addresses Gender based violence, Child Defilement in our Society and HIV/AIDS issues. To read the full document go to www. catholiczambia.org.zm

ZEC Pastoral Statement

he Priests Council was held from 10 to 11 January 2012 at Marambas Women Centre (Kopano Ya Miswalo). At the end of the meeting, a new executive was put in place, as follows: CHAIRMAN: Fr. Kebby Luwaya, VICE CHAIRMAN: Fr. Claude Lumamba, SECRETARY: Fr. Paul Mubiana and VICE SECRETARY: Fr. Albert Shiman. Congratulations to the new leaders.

New Executive of the Priests Council

ll to AGodCatholicsdayareeachinvited the offer their morning to and to pray for intentions sent to the Apostleship of Prayer, by the Holy Father. APRIL General Intention: That many young people may hear the call of Christ and follow him in the priesthood and religious life. Missionary Intention: That the risen Christ may be a sign of certain hope for the men and women of the African continent. MAY General Intention: That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society. Missionary Intention:That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus. JUNE General Intention: That believers may recognize in the 2 Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life. Missionary Intention: That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel.

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions

ollowing the resolutions of the Barotse National Council (BNC), held in Limulunga from 26 to 27 March 2012, that the Western Province should break away from the rest of Zambia, the three Church Mother Bodies in Zambia, came up with a joint statement on the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. Church bodies lauded the atmosphere under which the BNC was held. It was transparent and peaceful. The presence of the state security and defense personnel did not intimidate the people of Mongu to freely conduct their business at the council meeting. Also stressed in the statement was the call of the Church to the Government and the Barotse Royal Establishement (BRE) to engage in serious and sincere dialogue so that the issue of the Barotseland Agreement is put to a logical conclusion. The Church also called on the Government to immediately release to the public the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry report, to act as a catalyst for dialogue. The three mother bodies of the Church in Zambia released the statement to the press on March 30, 2012 in Lusaka.

The Church on Barotseland Agreement

he Diocesan Priests had a half-day meeting on January 12, 2012 at Maramba Parish. At the close of that gathering, the following were elected as new members of the Livingstone AZADCC: CHAIRMAN: Fr. Clifford Mulasikwanda, VICE CHAIRMAN: Fr. Jeffy Tembo, SECRETARY: Albert Shiman, TREASURER: Fr. Paul Mubiana and PROJECTS OFFICER: Fr. Claude Lumamba. Best wishes to the new executive.

Livingstone AZADCC New Leaders

on. Nathaniel Mubukwanu, MP and then Deputy Minister for Western Province, paid a courtesy call on the Vicar General, Fr. Clement Temba, CSSp on January 26, 2012. The purpose of the visit was to highlight the recent developments in Western Province, namely, the creation of Mulobezi District, that falls within Livingstone Diocese. The Minister called for continued partnership between the Church and the government. The Vicar General, speaking on behalf of the Bishop, expressed the willingness of the Diocese to continue working with the government, especially in health service delivery.

Western Province Minister visits Diocese

ope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Julio MURAT, Nunciature Counsellor, as Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of Archbishop, on January 27, 2012. Msgr. Murat was born in Turkey in 1961, ordained priest in 1986, and entered Holy See diplomatic service in 1994 and served in Indonesia, Pakistan, Belarus and Austria. He will soon arrive in Zambia. Congratulation to the New Nuncio! r. Perpetual Nagama Shaba made her Final Profession to Religious Life on Monday 26 March, 2012 at Our Lady of Angels Parish. Speaking during the Mass celebrated by His Lordship Bishop Raymond Mpezele, Fr. Cletus Mwiila challanged Sr. Perpetual to cultivate values of community life. He also called on her to espouse values other values that come with religious life, like the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Sr. Perpetual is the first Zambian sister to make Final Profession in the congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, FMSA.

Congratulations!

n Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at St. Theresa's Cathedral, His Lordship Bishop Raymond Mpezele, presided over the Chrism Mass. Earlier during the day, the priests in the diocese had a half-day recollection, at St. Francis' Parish, Dambwa. Fr. Rajesh D'souza Praveen who gave a reflection to the priests, challenged them to reflect on their prayer life.
All Diocesan Priests in the Diocese will have a meeting from 17 to 20 April, 2012 at Sesheke Parish. Remember to keep your priests in Prayer. The Editor, Diocesan Newsletter, P.O. Box 60138, Plot. No. 27/313 Musi-O-Tunya Rd., Livingstone. Tel. +260 213 321667 Fax. +260 213 324280 E-mail. seclivd@zamnet.zm

CHRISM MASS

Diocesan Priests Meeting

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