OUR DIOCESE

A Newsletter from Mpika Diocese

February 2002

Important Dates

Changes

Fr. Thomas Mantini from Mulilansolo to Mulanga as Priest-in-charge and teams up with Fr. Francis Kasolo from Chalabesa. Fr. Joseph Besa from Mulanga to Mulilansolo as Priest-in-charge and Fr. Telesphore Tafuna from Mulanga to Chalabesa. Fr. Waldemar Potrapeluk joins the Chinsali Parish Team.

Self-Sustainability

On 18 January 2002, Chilonga, St. Andrew's and St. Mark's Parish Financial Boards held a one-day workshop at St. Mark's Parish, Isoka. The priests accompanied Chilonga and St. Andrew's Financial Boards. The three boards had very fruitful exchanges on the efforts in making their parishes more self-sustainable. They resolved that such encounters should be encouraged in future. Altogether, they were 16 members in attendance. St. Andrew's and Chilonga are grateful to St. Mark's for the warm hospitality.

Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

On the evening of 1 February 2002 the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary gathered at Chilonga for a celebration on the following day and their regional meeting from 3-5 February 2002. On Saturday 2 February Sister Mary Geraldine Lynch celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession. The Eucharist was concelebrated by Frs. Daniel Kashimoto and Francis Ntenga from Chilonga in the SSHJM Convent?s Chapel and followed by a jubilee meal. The Sisters of the Child Jesus shared in the celebrations. During mass all women religious present renewed their commitment to consecrated life.

Welcome back

• Fr. Waldemar Potrapeluk (Fidei Donum Priest) who has returned after his sabbatical in the USA and Poland.

Leaving

• Sr. Phyllis Mkanda, LSMI who left Chalabesa RHC for Katondwe RHC in Lusaka Archdiocese

Mpika Immigration Office

The Immigration Office in Mpika has re-opened. All expatriate Missionaries and lay volunteers especially those in Mpika shall be reporting to this office for up-dating their passports and permits.

Condolences to

• ALMs on the death of Erica Pazzeta on 7 February in Nepi near Rome. Erica was a VMM and worked as a midwife in Kayambi Hospital for about 8 years in the 70s. She got parkinson's disease and had to leave Zambia. She had suffered for a long time and the last 5 years of her life, she was completely paralyzed.
• Sisters of the Child Jesus on the death of Sr. Margarita Malenguka aged 88 on 19 February in Chilubula. She was buried on 21^st February.

We pray for the deceased as well as the bereaved.

Psycho-Social Counselling Course

A course in psycho-social counseling will be held in Mpika ICL from 4-15 March. This will be followed by six weeks of practical work under a trained counselor. Then a further week in May at ICL will follow. All those seeking a place need to have their grade 12 certificates. They also need to find sponsors.

Diocesan HIV/AIDS/HBC Coordinator

The Office of AIDS/HIV Coordinator has literature and magazines on HIV/AIDS. All Anti-AIDS Units and Projects can get in touch with the coordinator for these materials.

Missionaries of Africa in Mongu Diocese

From Fr. Robert Lavertu came the message that he and Fr. Charles Obanya are slowly settling down in Mongu. For the time being, Frs. Lavertu, Charles and Henry are still living in three separate parishes, learning Silozi. The Diocese has shortage of personnel and the people are grateful for the efforts being made by the three missionaries. Namushakende is a new parish just opened some 25 km south of Mongu. The three hope to move to one place and start working at and slowly establishing the structures of their parish. The big problem in the Western Province is the sand, sand, sand. Only four-wheel drive vehicles can be used.

Fr. Robert and Fr. Charles send their regards to all priests, religious, catechists, lay leaders and Christians at large in the Diocese. They are asking for prayers and promise to remember everybody in their prayers.

News from Overseas

Fr. Ulrich Piwek sent a message that Fr Konrad Berg is very sick. His cancer cannot be stopped anymore and he is so weak that he cannot speak although he still recognizes his visitors. Let us remember him in our prayers.

Reminder

Parish Priests should bring their Holy Oil vessels in time for the Mass of the Holy Oils on Maundy Thursday, 28 March 2002 at St. Joseph's Church at 9:30 hrs. Priests, religious and Christians who wish to attend are welcome. Priests wishing to concelebrate should bring their own albs and stoles for the occasion.

Please note:

1. All those with E-mail addresses are requested to forward them to the Bishop's Secretary so that they can receive "Our Diocese" electronically.
2. Please send us news of notable events in your parish for inclusion in "Our Diocese".
3. Don't forget to check your pigeonhole for mail when you visit the diocesan headquarters