Tag: Luapula Province

Holy Childhood of Mansa Cathedral Participates in Caring for Mother Earth

By Sr. Mary Rita, Sisters of Mercy – Mansa CNCS Hub Holy Childhood children from Mansa Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary recently joined an art competition promoting care for Mother Earth, organized by Zeela Junior Art Gallery and Homestay under the direction of Mrs. Charity Salasini of Lusaka. The Luapula Province award-giving ceremony took place in Samfya, with musician Pontiano Kaice as Master of Ceremony. In Mansa, Rev. Fr. Boyd Kasenge, on behalf of the Cathedral administrator, presented certificates during Sunday Mass. Each participant also received two tree seedlings, one fruit and one ordinary and a local sweeping broom to encourage environmental responsibility and appreciation of creation. “This gesture is a great lesson to our children. They are learning to appreciate and preserve God’s creation at a tender age,” Fr. Kasenge said. He urged parents to ensure children plant and care for the trees until they bear fruit and use the broom as a reminder to keep their surroundings clean. Referring to the theme of the prize-giving ceremony, the Junior Art Diary, which carried the message “We Luapula Lwandi Impanga E Noko” (My Home My Heritage), Mrs. Salasini said, “Our role is to promote Nature, Culture and Art to the young generation.” Guided by Holy Childhood animators Lucy Chintu, Foster Chama and others, the children produced drawings of their surroundings, including rivers, flowers, a girl watering trees, Jesus drinking water and cupped hands symbolizing Mother Earth. The ceremony was also graced by Mama Chilufya Kapwepwe, daughter of the late veteran politician Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, who showcased traditional foods under the project Imiti Ikula E Mpanga (The growing trees is the future vegetation). She encouraged children to embrace local foods such as sorghum, millet and cassava, adding that other traditional crops like kalimwa maize, groundnuts, beans, honey, Mpika salt, okra, impwa and dried vegetables could support both nutrition and business if well managed. Other schools that participated included Mundubi Primary from Chifunabuli, Kabumbu Primary from Mwata Kazembe and Kasoma Lunga schools from both the Islands and Samfya. Each group presented artwork reflecting its local environment. Meanwhile, Mr. Paul Musanse, representing Chief Kasoma Bangweulu, thanked the organizers and participants, urging them to continue teaching children the values of appreciating both nature and culture.

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.