Catholic Church
Brief history of the Catholic Church in Zambia
| 1795 | Portuguese Expedition into Zambia from Tete (Mozambique) into the Luangwa valley onto the escarpment near Mpika, then across the Chambeshi river near Seaway towards Kazembe in the Luapula valley. This expedition, led by the Brazilian Astronomer Dr. Lacerta and his chaplain Father Pinto, was seen as an exploration of the Northern parts of the Zambezi “Sui Juris” Mission, entrusted to the Portuguese by the pope. The Eucharist was celebrated every morning. On the way back from Kazembe the expedition was ambushed by Bisa warriors near Chungu in the Lwingu district. All sacred objects and the remains of Lacerda himself who has died near Kazembe were lost and scattered about. |
| 1830 | A more successful expedition by the Portuguese Gamitto via the same trade route. |
| 1881-1885 | Three unsuccessful attempts by the Jesuit Fathers from the southern Zambezi Mission to establish a foothold across the Zambezi river in Zambia. During one of these crossings the boat overturned near Lusu rapids above the Sioma-Ngonya falls at Sesheke. A Brother drowned. A steel cross can still be seen as memorial.The Fathers founded a mission below the Mosi-o-Tunya falls but succumbed with malaria and dissentry. |
| 1891 | White Fathers settled at old Mambwe along the newly constructed Stevenson Road that connected Lake Malawi at Kalonga with Lake Tanganyika at Mpulungu and formed the border between Zambia and Tanzania. After an unsuccessful 5 years stay at Mponde (Malawi) they had traveled North via Lake Malawi. First negotiations by Fr. Van Oost with Chief Makasa of the Bemba about future establishments took place at that time. Fr. Van Oost died and was buried at Mambwe Mwela. |
| 1895 | Formation of Kayambi Mission, near the capital of Senior Chief Makasa by Fr. Joseph Dupont. The area was dedicated to Mary Queen of the Angels. Many of the first Christians were young people, redeemed from slavery, whose parents could not be traced. |
| 12/2/1897 | Joseph “Moto-Moto” Dupont was appointed first Apostolic Vicar of the Vicariate of Nyassa. This comprised the present day Luapula, Northern and Eastern Provinces and the whole of Malawi. |
| 24/10/1898 | Mwamba III Mubanga Cipoya, one of the paramount chiefs of the Bemba receives and accepts the protection of Bwana Moto-Moto Dupont while dying in his capital Milungu, near Kasama. |
| 6/1899 | Foundation of the mission-enclave Chilubula (=Redemption, Liberation) dedicated to Queen Mary, Help of Christians. First capital See of Bishop Joseph Dupont. |
| 10/1899 | Foundation of Chilonga by Fr. Molinier. The Mission, in the Bemba/Bisa area of Mpika is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. |
| 1903 | Foundation of a mission among the Bisa on Chilubi Island in the Bangweulu. The missionaries were invited to settle among them. Foundation of Lubwe Mission, dedicated to St. Joseph. |
| 1905 | First mission among the Lungu, northwest of Kasama. The Foundation is dedicated to St. Leo.First establishments by Jesuit Fathers among the Lenje-Soli near Lusaka. The mission is called Kasisi and dedicated to St. Peter Claver It is part of the Prefecture of the Zambezi with its headquarters in Harare (Salisbury).First foundation among the the Tonga on the Plateau near Chisekesi. The mission, called Chikunu was dedicated to Mary Immaculate |
| 1910 | Foundation of Chibote, Our Lady of Peace. |
| 1911 | Bishop J. “Moto-Moto” Dupont leaves for Thibar in Tunisia (North Africa) where he died and was buried. |
| 1912 | Foundation of Katondwe, near Feira (Luangwa) by the Jesuit Fathers, dedicated to the Holy Spirit. |
| 1913 | Consecration of Bishop Etienne Larue, successor of Bishop Dupont.Division of the huge Vicariate of Nyassa. The South-East kept the name Nyassa while the Northern and Luapula Regions were called Bangweulu. |
| 1914 | Outbreak of the First World War in Europe. |
| 1922 | Foundation of Malole, near the capital of the Bemba Paramount Chief Chitimukulu. Dedicated to Mary, Mediatrix of all graces.Establishment of St. Francis the Sales Parish with the first Church in Lusaka along Wamulwa Road. For some time it was served by the community of Kasisi Mission.Foundation of Rosa Mission, to the North of Kasama. |
| 1923 | First parish in the mining town of Kabwe, dedicated to the Sacred Heart.First Mission in the eastern part of Zambia: Foundation of Miming among the Anise near Petauke by missionaries from the Vicariate of Nyassa (Malawi). |
| 17/10/1927 | The vast areas of the Southern, Western and North-Western, Central and Copperbelt Provinces are finally separated from the Vicariate of Zambezi in Harare. The Apostolic Prefecture of Broken Hill (Kabwe) is erected with as first Prefect Apostolic the Reverend Bruno Wolnik, SJ. |
| 1931 | Lufubu Mission in the Luapula Valley.
The territories of Livingstone and Barotseland are assigned to the Irish Capuchins. |
| 1931 | The first minor seminary is opened and a mission dedicated to St. Joseph is established at Lubushi, west of Kasama.The Capuchins of the Broken Hill Vicariate assist to establish a parish at Livingstone in honor of St. Theresa
Arrival of a team of Franciscan Conventuals from Italy. They establish themselves |
| 1932 | Foundation of Masala (Holy Trinity), Luanshya (Immaculate Conception), Kalumbwa (St. Joeseph) by the Conventuals, in Ndola; Kabunda, near Mwansa (St. Stephan) by the White Fathers and Loanja by the Capuchins, among the Lozi. |
| 23/5/1933 | The North East is separated from the Vicariate of Bangweulu and erected as a Mission Sui Juris, administered by Fr. van Sambeek, W.F.Foundation of the Sacred Heart Parish in Kitwe. |
| 1934 | Fr. van Sambeek establishes missions at Ilondola (Maria Magdalena de Puzzi), in Chinsali district and at Chalabesa (St. Joseph) among the Bisa in Mpika DistrictEstablishment of Ibenga (St. Theresa) by the Franciscan Conventuals. |
| 1935 | Foundations: Lwena, Holy Family (Kasama); Mulobola, John of the Cross (Kasama); Mapula, St. Francis de Sales (near Mwansa) by the White Fathers, Lukulu by the Capuchins.Bishop Larue of the Vicariate of Bangweulu resignes and is succeeded by Bishop Alexander Roy as Vicar Apostolic. |
| 1936 | The erection of a new Prefecture Apostolic, separated from Broken Hill Prefecture, with Fr. Killian Flynn as Vicar Apostolic (OFMCap)Foundations: Chassa, St. Peter and Paul, by the White Fathers from Nyassa (Malawi)Establishment of Katibunga, Christ the King (Mpika) and Mulilansolo near Isoka, St. John the Apostle, (Chinsali) by Fr. van Sambeek.A new mission at Shicili in the Vicariate of Livingstone and a parish at Roan, Section 1, near Ndola are dedicated to the Sacred Heart. |
| 1937 | Erection of Fort Jameson (Chipata) as Prefecture, now independent from the Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa in Malawi. The first Bishop is Fr. Martin, W.F.The birth of St. Ignatius Parish in Lusaka |
| 1/7/1937 | The Lwangwa Sui Juris Mission becomes the Vicariate of Lwangwa with J. Horst, WF as Bishop. |
| 1938 | Erection of the Prefecture of Ndola with Bishop F. Mazzieri (OFMConv) as Vicar Apostolic, separated from the Broken Hill Vicariate.Foundations: Msupadzi, Our Lady of Assumption (Chipata); Mporokoso, Our Lady, Queen of Peace (Kasama); Mangango, St. Joseph (Livingstone); Twingi, Christ the King (Mansa) and at Mambwe (near Mbala, Abercorn) a new mission dedicated to St. Theresa. |
| 1939 | Foundations: Lumezi, Our Lady of Victory (Chipata); Regiment Parish, St. Francis Xavier (Lusaka); Mulanga Mission, St. Peter Claver, among the Bisa near Chinsali (Mbala); Kantenshi Parish, St. Lawrence (Ndola). |
| 1940 | Foundations: Maramba Parish, Christ the King (Livingstone); Mufulira, St. Patrick (Ndola). |
| 1941 | Foundations: Kalala, St. Francis, near Solwezi (Ndola). |
| 1942 | Foundations: Kasaba (Mansa), dedicated to St. Margaret. |
| 1943 | Foundations: Wasukile Parish, St. Francis (Ndola). |
| 1944 | Foundations: Mikomfwa, Anthony of Padua (Ndola). |
| 1964 | Foundations: Ipusukilo, Sacred Heart (Kasama); Msakaluba, Our Lady of Victory (Mansa); Chingola, St. Peter and Paul (Ndola).The Prefecture of Broken Hill moves its headquarters to Lusaka. |
| 1947 | Fr. Courtemanche succeeds Msgr. Martin as Bishop of Fort Jameson (Chipata). |
| 1948 | Fr. J. van den Biessen succeeds Msgr. Horst as Vicar Apostolic of the Lwangwa Vicariate.
Foundations: Chikowa, Our Lady (Chipata); Ngwena, Our Lady of Assumption (Ndola). |
| 1949 | Fr. M. Daubechies follows Msgr. A. Roy as Vicar Apostolic of Bangweulu.
Ndola becomes a Vicariate. |
| 1950 | Livingstone becomes a Vicariate with Msgr. T. O’Shea as its head.
Lusaka is made a Vicariate with Msgr. Adam Kozlowiecki, SJ as Apostolic Vicar. Foundations: Lumimba, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Chipata); St. John’s Parish at Kasama; Chilanga, St. Mary’s (Lusaka); Francisdale (Ndola); Chipata, St. Anne (Fort Jameson); Chikungu Mission, St. Joseph (Chipata); Vubwi, Martyrs of Uganda (Chipata); Chinika, St. Joseph (Lusaka); Chivuna, St. John and Paul (Monze); Fumbo, Our Lady of Consolation (Solwezi). |
| 1952 | The Prefecture of Mansa is established with Fr. Rene Pallioux as first Apostolic Prefect . |
| 1953 | Fort Jameson (Chipata) is raised to the status of a Apostolic Vicariate .
Foundations: Kanyanga and Nyinga (Chipata); Sioma (Livingstone); Bwacha Parish (Lusaka); Kapiri Mposhi (Lusaka); |
| 1954 | Foundations: Chinyingi (Livingstone); Matero Parish (Lusaka); Misangwa Ndubeni (Ndola). |
| 1955 | Foundations: Zambezi (Livingtone); Mansa Cathedral, The Assumption of Our Lady (Mansa). |
| 1956 | Foundations: Mandevu (Lusaka); Kawambwa (Mansa); Chifubu (Ndola); Kabushi (Ndola); Lubengele (Chilalabombwe, Ndola). |
| 1957 | Foundations: Kafue (Lusaka); Choma (Monze); Kalulushi (Ndola) |
| 1958 | Foundations: Kabwata (Lusaka); Railway Kabwe (Lusaka); Mindolo (Ndola). |
| 1959 | Structure of Hierarchy: Chipata, Kasama, Livingstone, Lusaka, Mbala and Ndola become dioceses.
The Solwezi Prefecture is separated from Ndola Diocese: R. Hillerich (OFMConv) becomes the first Apostolic Prefect Foundations: Kalomo (Monze), Lumulanga (Livinstone), Roan Section II (Ndola), Mwinilunga (Solwezi). Also at this time the Cathedral of Solwezi, St. Daniel, was built. In the Abercorn (Mbala) Diocese, the Rt. Reverend A. Fürstenberg succeeds Bishop van der Biessen. |
| 1960 | Foundations: Nsombo, St. James (Kasama) and Nalionwa, St. Michael (Livingstone).
During the following period (1960-1985) a host of new parishes were established mainly in the new peri-urban areas that mushroom around the major towns of Zambia since Independence. |
| 1961 | Mansa becomes a Diocese |
| 1962 | The new Diocese of Monze is formed. It was formerly the southern part of the Diocese of Lusaka. The Rt Rev James Corboy SJ is the first Bishop. |
| 1965 | The new Bishop of Kasama is Archbishop C. Chabukashana. |
| 1969 | The new Bishop of Lusaka is Archbishop E. Milingo |
| 1970 | The new Bishop of Chipata is Bishop M. Mazombwe
The new Bishop of Solwezi is Bishop S. A. Potani |
| 1971 | The new Bishop of Mansa is Bishop E. Mutale |
| 1974 | The new Bishop of Livingstone is Bishop A. Mung’andu |
| 1975 | The new Bishop of Ndola is Bishop D. de Jong. |
| 1977 | Solwezi becomes a Diocese. |
| 1987 | Bishop T-G. Mpundu becomes the new Bishop of Mbala Diocese. |
| The College of Bishops, called the Zambia Episcopal Conference, was established around Independence and the Catholic Secretariat was opened in 1965. |
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