BISHOP LUNGU CALLS ON RELIGIOUS SISTERS TO RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR VOCATION
By Sr. Getrude Zimba Catholic Diocese of Chipata Bishop George Lungu has called upon religious sisters to reaffirm their commitment to their sacred vocation. Bishop Lungu was speaking during the silver jubilee celebration of Sr. Kennera Ngosa, Sr. Janet Zimba, Sr. Veronica E. Nyoni, and Sr. Brenda Mwanza, as well as the final vows of Sr. Catherine Mbewe and Sr. Melinda Mangule, and the first profession of novices Martha Phiri and Demetria Nyendwa from the Theresian Sisters of the Child Jesus at Chassa Parish in Sinda district. He urged the newly professed Sisters and those making perpetual vows to remain vigilant in their spiritual journey, noting that religious life requires personal and communal prayer. ”Religious life is not easy and it solely depends on God, it requires personal and communal prayer,” he said. Bishop Lungu warned against complacency, reminding the sisters that the devil preys on the idle, and urged them to continue striving for spiritual growth and development. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue and communication within the congregation, advocating for open discussion between the professed Sisters and their Superiors to resolve disputes and foster a spirit of unity and cooperation. During the celebration, Bishop Lungu honored the Sisters who have served for 25 years, wishing them continued success and encouraging them to serve as exemplary role models for the newly professed. ”I hope you will continue to inspire others and you will eventually celebrate your golden jubilee in the years to come,” he stated. Bishop Lungu said religious life requires dedication and perseverance, and that the sisters’ decision to give up personal possessions reflects their commitment to their vocation. ”The sisters have shown great love and I am deeply grateful for their devotion. My desire is to see an increase in vocations within the Church, inspiring more young women to dedicate themselves to serving the Lord,” he said. The celebration was held under the theme “Celebrating God’s Fidelity and Love.” .
FOREVER YOURS LORD
BY SR. TRYNESS MULUBWA Three Sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) have pronounced their lifelong commitment to be Christ’s brides eternally until death, marking a significant milestone in their lives. The three Sisters, Sr. Hellen Kalesu, Sr. Fridah Longolongo, and Sr. Christine Mukonde, pledged to continue serving the Lord and working towards the salvation of young people, especially the underprivileged, aiming to guide them to become virtuous Christians and upright citizens. Mass was held at St. James Parish Chimese in Mansa and was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Patrick Chisanga OFM.CONV, Bishop of Mansa. In his inspiring homily, Bishop Chisanga reminded the Sisters that God’s love is unconditional, irrespective of the actions of the Sisters, quoting, “God says I knew you before you were born, meaning before you did anything good or bad.” He also encouraged the Sisters to trust and obey their Superiors’ decisions, even when they may not fully comprehend them, and to have faith in the Lord who called them to this vocation. Furthermore, Bishop Chisanga urged the Sisters to cultivate discernment in their lives, cautioning them about the devil’s ability to disguise himself in various forms, such as fellow Sisters, Priests, or modern gadgets. He also stressed the importance of constructive criticism among the Sisters and the need to adapt their communities to accommodate one another. Additionally, he advised parents to be mindful of the information they share with their daughters.
SR. PRISCILLA MWANZA (DOR) HAILED
The Daughters of the Redeemer have laid to rest Sr. Priscilla Mwanza at Mt. Zion following her passing at the Cancer Disease Hospital in Lusaka on Monday, 30 September 2024. Speaking in his homily during the burial Mass, Very Reverend Fr. Andrew Simpasa SJ, Vicar General of the Lusaka Archdiocese, urged all Christians to be energized by the spirit of our Lord Jesus and dedicate their lives to the service of God and others. “This fragile life of ours must be disposed at the service of others. Let our Lord Jesus Christ be at the center of our lives so that we use our talents for the service of God and the gospel,” Fr. Simpasa said. He encouraged Christians to put their trust in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. “The mystery is that Jesus is the owner of time and space. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life,” the Vicar General stated. During the tributes, Sr. Odilia Chilombo, a companion in formation, described Sr. Priscilla as prayerful, dependable, respectful, and a light-hearted friend who valued opinions and boundaries of others. ”You stood firm in your faith through community prayer, Charismatic prayers and devotion to Our lady of Kibeho. You showed us that the best stories are told through raw, unfiltered realities, Sr. Odilia said. ”No matter the circumstances, you gave yourself fully and whole heartedly.” And Dr. Gracilia Mukumba, a Charismatic member, honoured Sr. Priscilla as a companion in the work of evangelisation in the Parish missions and a mentor who helped the group to grow spiritually. Dr. Mukumba also appreciated the Daughters of the Redeemer for pouring their love and care to Sr. Priscilla when she was being nursed. In addition, Reverend Fr. Steve Likucha, a representative from Malawi praised Sr. Priscilla for her motherly heart and example of total commitment to the church in her apostolate when she served in Zomba Diocese in Malawi. ”She interacted very well with everybody and was ever present for the church and Jesus’ mission. She was very loving, supportive and generous to all of us at the Bishops’ office,” Fr. Steve said. Meanwhile, Fr. Leonard Namuhumba, the Secretary for Education of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), described Sr. Priscilla during the vigil mass as a Sister who did small simple acts with love and commitment. Sr. Priscilla Mwanza was born on 4th April, 1958 and was put to rest at the Flower Garden of Jesus the Redeemer burial site in Mt. Zion.
DAUGHTERS OF THE REDEEMER (DOR) TOAST DUAL CELEBRATIONS
The Daughters of the Redeemer (DOR) Sisters had a mutual celebration of the feast of “the Exaltation of the cross” as well as the Silver Jubilee for Sr. Martha Doreen Kaseba on Saturday 14 September in Mt. Zion. The Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Simpasa SJ, the Vicar General of Archdiocese of Lusaka. In his homily, Fr. Simpasa said that the feast of the cross reminded us of the love of God for humanity. He encouraged the Christians to continue trusting in the Lord Jesus who is the ultimate victor and always walks with us in all our trials. ”Whatever we go through in life, be it trials or temptations, God has the final say. We never walk alone. If we preserver in doing good works, we will see the light of day,” Fr. Simpasa said. The Vicar General emphasized that for Christians to be true disciples, they need to pick up their cross and follow the Lord. ”If we deny to carry our cross, we are not worthy to be his disciples. Jesus transformed the cross which was a symbol of terror and fear into a symbol of life,” he stated. He urged all to continue serving the Lord with love in their life. In giving the reflection of her life, Sr. Kaseba presented a symbol of the praying hands and a candle signifying the presence of God in her life who always listened to her prayers whenever she called upon him. She summarised her faith journey as one of surrender and gratitude to the Almighty God. Sr. Martha has served the Church as a lecturer at the Catholic University in Kalulushi and currently Heads Mpelembe Secondary School in Kitwe. And Sr. Prisca Matenga, Superior General, thanked Sr. Martha’s parents for allowing her to become a religious sister during her vote of thanks. She also acknowledged Sr. Martha’s giftedness to the Congregation and appreciated everyone who helped make the celebration colorful. Among those present were many Christians from Lusaka Archdiocese, Ndola Archdiocese and Kabwe diocese where Sr. Martha hails from. Others were the Daughters candidates, aspirants, Postulants and novices. The Daughters of the Redeemer celebrate the “Exaltation of the cross “as the feast day of the Congregation.
NOTHING IS TOO LITTLE TO SHARE
“When I have some time free from work, I walk to Shoprite to talk and listen to their stories… By Sr. Martha Chanda The streets of Mansa in Luapula Province are not exempt from the presence of street children. In the vicinity of Shoprite, one can observe numerous children wandering, often hungry and begging for food and money. Their plight plainly highlights the realities of hunger and poverty within our society. Sr. Patricia Mubanga Mulenga is a Religious Sister from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy who has dedicated herself to the service of street children in Mansa. Inspired by her Congregation’s charism of compassion and the example given by the Founder Archbishop James Mwewa Spaita, who loved the homeless, coupled with her professional counselling skills, Sr. Patricia is able to interact with these children with competence and compassion. During her free time, she often walks to Shoprite to talk and listen to the children. She believes every child, regardless of their circumstances, is a child of God deserving of a better life. Sr. Patricia says she is inspired to lend a helping hand by the resilience of some of the children, who despite the numerous challenges on the streets are fending for their families. When I see them hungry and whenever I have something, I am compelled to give, not only food but in other ways as well. Sometimes my community and I go out of our way and share what we have from our table and sometimes from well-wishers. I find joy in cooking nice food for them to eat even if it is only one meal for a small group. The story of the five loaves and two fish in the bible always charges me on. Nothing is too little to share. Sr. Patricia. Sr. Patricia says she desires to establish a skills center were these children can be empowered with different practical skills rather than being on the streets. She is appealing to people of goodwill to partner with her in changing the lives of these children by empowering them with the needed skills, shelter and love.