OUR DIOCESE

A Newsletter from Mpika Diocese

March 2002

Important Dates

Novena to The Listening Heart of Jesus Christ

Last year’s novena prayers for vocations were introduced and this arrangement should be continued. We appreciate the seriousness that characterized the previous novena and hope that it will be the same this year. This year a Bemba version was made available to facilitate a wider participation of the lay faithful.

This year’s novena begins on 12 April and ends on 20 April. VOCATION SUNDAY is on 21 April. The novena prayers are designed in form of the Rosary, a style most people are acquainted with. Thus the Novena can be said at any time individually, as a family or SCC or at Church or the whole congregation together.

Let us together as a Church of Mpika Diocese ‘storm heaven with prayers’ for vocations to the Religious Life and Priesthood.

Chinsali Deanery

The Chinsali Deanery meeting took place as scheduled in Mulanga on 13 March. There were only 14 participants as other members were committed with important duties. The meeting started with Holy Mass presided by the Dean.

Chinsali Deanery Youth Rally

The meeting observed that the emphasis of the Youth Rally should be on deepening the faith and not on sports competition as has been the case in the past. It was therefore decided that the priest in charge of Youth in the different parishes together with Fr. Francis Kasolo form a Steering Committee to implement the resolution immediately.

Welcome

• Fr. Piotr Kolcz, Fidei Donum Priest from Katowice Archdiocese, Poland who has come to work in the diocese. He is currently learning Bemba at Ilondola Language Centre.
• Sr. Patricia Mwalula LSMI from Lusaka to Chalabesa RHC.
• Sr. Annie Chanda SCJ who takes over as Manager Clinical Care at Chilonga Hospital.
• Sr. Jane Kaputa LSMI from Mansa to St. Joseph’s Convent, Diocesan HQ.

Leaving

• Sr. Rosemary Luo and Sr. Theresa Bwalya SOLQA who left Mulilansolo for Tanzania. Sr. Luo was the Sister In Charge at the RHC.
• Sr. Grace M. Kaela SCJ who has left the Diocese for Mansa.
• Sr. Ignatia V. Kabwe SCJ who leaves Ilondola community for Ipusukilo, Kasama Archdiocese.
• Sr. Krystyna Jarzebak LSMI from HQ Convent to Lusaka Archdiocese.

To all of them we say: Thank you and God’s blessings in your future endeavors.

Diocesan HIV/AIDS/Home Based Care Programme

There will be a ‘UNAIDS’ Workshop on “Human Capacity Development” at ICL from 3-6 April for all organizations involved in HIV/AIDS projects.

The Diocesan Coordinator will visit Isoka Home Based Care Project from 8-10 April

There will be a quarterly HOME Based Care local coordinators’ meeting on 12 April at ICL.

Condolences to

• To the Jesuit Provincial and Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Zambia on the death of Fr. Felix Kalebwe on 26 February in Lusaka. Burial was on 1st March.
• The Bishop, clergy, religious and laity of Mansa Diocese on the tragic death in a road traffic accident of Fr. Benjamin Mulenga on the eve of Palm Sunday. He was put to rest on 26 March.
• Archbishop James Spaita of Kasama on the death of his mother on 25 March at her home in Lubwe. Burial was on 27 March.
• Sr. Elizabeth Mutamba SCJ on the death of her father on 26 March. Burial took place on 28 March.
• Sr. Catherine Chikopela on the death of her elder brother who passed away in Mbala on 22 March.

May the deceased be received in eternal peace and the bereaved receive the Lord’s consolation.

Diocesan Health Coordinator

After a few visits to the Rural Health Centers and Chilonga Hospital, a report on the health Institutions of the Diocese has been finalized at the beginning of March. We want to express our thanks to the Management Teams of these institutions for their efficient collaboration.

News from Overseas

After three years of battling against stomach cancer and enduring much suffering Fr. Konrad Berg, who worked in this diocese from 1968 to 1987 in Chilonga, St. Andrew’s and Katibunga parishes, finally passed away in Germany on 18 March and was buried on 26 March 2002. Konrad Berg was ordained on 26 July 1964 and arrived in the diocese as Fidei Donum Priest of Mainz Diocese in September 1968. He worked for two years in Chilonga parish before moving to Mpika in December 1970 where with Fr. Ulrich Piwek he co-founded St. Andrew’s Parish and therefore Ichengelo  Parish as well. Apart from Parish work which included a big portion of Katibunga area, he also taught RE at Mpika High School. He went back to Germany in April 1987 and was eventually appointed to Wald-Michelbach, the same parish where Fr. Klaus Holzamer, our former Treasurer General, is now parish priest. May the Risen Lord whom Fr. Konrad Berg served so faithfully to the end reward him with eternal happiness and peace.

Fr. Piwek wrote to us:

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We wish you all a very Happy Easter Season, Peace and Joy of our Risen Lord!