SISTERS ATTENTIVE TO THE CRY OF THE POOR
As one way of preparing for their final vows, the Franciscan Sisters of Assis, namely: Sr. Josephine Mukosa, Sr. Yvonne Chileshe, Sr. Magret Shabongwe and Sr. Agness Mumba spent three months of serving the poor in various apostolates at Mitanda home for the aged, children with special needs and the street children at Luigi Drop-in Centre in Ndola. Sr. Yvonne recalls the 25th of November,2023 as a great day, when they committed themselves totally to God through the profession of the evangelical counsels. She adds that serving the poor is a great experience of renewal as it helped them to step back into the Franciscan boots of serving the poor with love. We began our preparations three months prior to the day and in the process a number of workshops were held. Among the workshops held included: Non-violence Communication, Psychological counseling, Formation of conscience, Challenges of understanding living religious and vowed life, the Healing Family Tree and values. Sr. Yvonne Sr. Yvonne adds that the experience was like a second novitiate. While the sisters were doing their apostolates at the drop-in center for street children, they encountered two orphans with two different stories on how they found themselves on the streets. Sr. Margret narrates: One orphaned boy, who chose to go to on the street and beg, said he wished to go to school but he was living with his grandmother who could only afford one meal a day. And another boy, who had a father who could afford to take care of him run away from home because he could not bear the treatment from his stepmother. He added that the streets were more peaceful than his home. Sr. Margret. And Sr. Agness says she realised that not all street children are there because they are happy but because of the different situations they found themselves in. Meanwhile, the sisters say they were elited at the warm reception of the old people at Mitanda. It opened our minds to see how hospitable we could be despite the challenges we might be faced with. We felt a sense of duty to pray for the children from the streets, children with disabilities, and the aged. Some situations may be chosen whilst others are not a matter of choice. Sr. Agness Sr. Josephine concludes that the experience of the renewal program for their final vows helped them to step back into their Franciscan boots of serving the poor with love.
DAUGHTERS OF THE REDEEMER ORGANIC FARMING
The Catholic sisters in Zambia are engaged in different activities and apostolates. The Daughters of the Redeemer who have been in existence for more than 50 years have taken up an organic vegetable farming initiative under the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation sisters blended value programme. The organic vegetable farm, which started slightly earlier before the Conrad N. Hilton foundation’s blended value program is as a result of the congregation’s experience during the advent of the covid-19 pandemic. The Daughters of the Redeemer projects coordinator Sr. Matilda Mubanga has disclosed that during covid-19, the congregation’s enterprises, a school and conference centre, which were a source of income were closed. She says as a result, the congregation had to come up with an alternative enterprise as a source of income to sustain the congregation. During the covid-19 pandemic, the savings of the congregation were getting depleted because we fell back on what we had saved, so now, we were saying, what next, if we deplete our reserves, so the idea of coming up with a vegetable garden was discussed, we said since we have land which had not been utilised, we could put it to use and see how it could help the congregation and that’s how the organic vegetable farm started. Sr. Matilda Furthermore, she adds that the congregation also looked at how it could help the members of the community who were also struggling just like them during covid-19. She says the congregation therefore, decided to employee single mothers from the neighbouring N’gombe compound who were facing financial difficulties. And Sr. Rose Nyondo, one of the founding members of the Daughters of the Redeemer, says she is elated to be part of the farming enterprise which has been helped by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. She says that when the congregation started, it did not have much, so going into farming is one way of improving the congregation’s financial base. She adds that the farming project is one of the projects the congregation is running not only to help them but also the people they work with. Part of our charism is to work with Jesus in the poor. We work with women and subsistence farmers who start their projects on a very small piece of land and then they expand on it. Sr. Rose Nyondo Meanwhile, Daughters of the Redeemer assistant superior general and councillor in charge of projects Sr. Grace Fundafunda says that the initiative has enriched the congregation as it has given the sisters vital knowledge they need in farming. Sr. Grace notes that the sisters are now able to showcase the skills they have gained by putting into practice what they have learnt. I would like to thank and appreciate Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, ACWECA and Strathmore university for coming up with this initiative that has really helped us as a congregation. When the sisters were writing the business plan you could see their involvement, the knowledge they were gathering and after the training how dedicated they are to their work so much that even those of us who did not go for the training, are benefiting from the knowledge they have acquired. Sr. Grace And the farm Manager, Sr. Rosemary Bwalya, who is one of the sisters who took part in the training says that before the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation sisters blended value training, the farming practices they were using on the farm were not good, as such the training programme has helped them to acquire the knowledge and skills, they need in running the farm using the best farming practices. She adds that the training has brought about immense improvement on the farm as the sisters now have the knowledge on how to manage the crops, identify when to plant certain crops and when they are needed. She notes that the training has also helped her realise the importance of networking, working with different people, sharing of ideas, planning and working as a team. And Sr. Namakau Lilandwe who is also one of the trained sisters and congregational bursar explains that, at the beginning they started with one hector on a land that is about eight hectors, on which they planted about 2,000 cabbages, some tomatoes and different vegetables and from the sales of these crops they were able to pay the women they are working with, buy some farming equipment and also sink a second borehole at the farm. She adds that they have moved from one hector to four hectors, and they are able to plant different types of crops and also employee more women. She says there is an income coming in every month which has helped the congregation to support other activities such as the formation houses and buy farming inputs.
IBENGA GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL TOASTS DIAMOND JUBILEE
Right Reverand Benjamin Phiri, Catholic Bishop of Ndola Diocese has described Ibenga Girls Secondary School Diamond Jubilee celebration as victory of knowledge over ignorance as it has brought everyone closer to God. Speaking during his homily, Bishop Phiri reminded all to take the celebration as an appraisal of all their achievements. The diamond jubilee was celebrated under the theme “60 years of excellence in the light of Christ”. He noted that the establishment of the school by the Missionaries was meant to help them develop themselves in the process of knowing God so that they could pass on the knowledge for the salvation of souls. As we celebrate 60 years, we should evaluate ourselves if we have become better by relating well with others as God is in the neighbour. The children whom we train should be children pleasing to God. Someone may achieve academic education, become a great scientist talked about but if they do not know God, they are no better than the animal of the field. If we are able to relate better, then we are able to celebrate together. Bishop Benjamin And Bishop Phiri has encouraged the girls at Ibenga to remain focused on what made the school to be counted among the best schools in the country. Many girls come from afar to learn at Ibenga, as it is counted among the most prestigious and best schools in the country. Therefore, work hard if you want to pass. Bishop Benjamin Meanwhile, Bishop Phiri has advised the modern parents to impart good values and practices which will help the girls contribute positively to society. Nowadays, there are rights which children have which seem to obstruct any instruction of the child. Without any prejudice, God guides us and tells us what is right or wrong. True education is being able to know God. Christian education is paramount. Let us teach the children what God wants. Discipline, good behaviour by following what God wants will make the girls better citizens. Bishop Benjamin The celebration also acknowledged deserving people through the presentation of awards for distinguished service to the school during the period of its existence. Among those awarded were the late Bishop Francis Mazzierri posthumously the founder of the school and the first Head Mistress Sr. De Pace of the Dominican sisters and all past administrators. The representatives of the past managing agencies and heads in the three orders were acknowledged. Other notable awards went to the Alumni Chairperson Mrs. Joyce Chibuye for her unmatched commitment and one Ibenga girl who designed the diamond jubilee Chitenge. The school which is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Ndola was opened in 1963 by the Dominican sisters. The sisters worked until 1994 when they handed over the school to the Franciscan missionary sisters of Assisi. The sisters ran the school till 2020 when the Daughters of the Redeemer took over.