Our Diocese

A Newsletter from Mpika Diocese

November 2001

Important Dates

Catholic Youth Association (CAYA)

6.10.01 PARENT-YOUTH BCP

There was a Behavior Change Program seminar for parents and youth of St. Andrew’s Parish at Mpika High School and its
aims were

• to break the cultural silence between youth and parents
• to find common ways of fighting HIV/AIDS and to build on Christian values together.

Mr. Clement Mumbo facilitated this successful workshop which attracted 42 participants.

13.10.01 YOUTH BCP SEMINAR

A one-day seminar was organized by the youth of St. John’s center (Kuku) in Ichengelo Parish. CAYA of Ichengelo and St. Andrew’s
facilitated the seminar. Serious discussions and commitments to behavior change were observed. 27 youth attended.
16-20 October
Two of the CAYA BCP Facilitators and the Coordinator represented the Diocese at the National Consultative Meeting in Lusaka
organized by YAZ.
TRAINING OF FACILITATORS
BCP facilitators from Serenje, Chilonga, Kopa, Chalabesa, St. Andrew’s, Ichengelo, Isoka, Mulilansolo, Chinsali, Ilondola and
Mulanga did some Intensive Training at ICL.

Mpika Diocesan ZAS

The 2nd bi-annual ZAS meeting that took place on 20 October at the diocesan headquarters brought together 15 participants.
Sr. Sabina Namfukwe SCJ, the facilitator from Chilubula, also gave an in-put on Self-Evangelization.
After this inspiring in-put, the group celebrated the Eucharistic. Sr. Brenda Chembo SCJ was elected the new V/Chairlady to
replace the office bearer who has been transferred to another diocese.

National Council of Catholic Youth

The National Council of Catholic Youth (NCCY) AGM convened in Lusaka from 5-8 October 2001. Two youth and the Youth Promoter
attended. The HIV/AIDS situation in the country was one of the issues addressed at the meeting. The Council recognized abstinence
as the surest way of arresting the already explosive situation. It deplored the aggressive campaign that promotes the condom
as the main solution to the AIDS scourge and resolved to respond by vigorously promoting chastity. The youth’s determination is
inspired by the Holy Father’s words: &Dear young people, do not be content with anything less than the highest ideal! Do not
let yourselves be dispirited by those who are disillusioned with life and have grown deaf to the deepest and most authentic desires
of their heart… if you have an ardent desire for the Lord you will steer clear of the mediocrity and conformism so widespread
in our society.& (Pope John Paul II, Message to the Youth for the 17th World Youth Day)

Catholic secretariat christmas break

The Catholic Secretariat will close for Christmas recess from Friday 21 December 2001 at 12:30 hrs and reopen on Monday 7 January 2002.

Visitors

• Christophe Caizergues and Noel Ray (FIDESCO Representatives from France) came to the Diocese in the company of Arnaud David
  (Financial Administrator at the Catholic Secretariat) on 16 October. Christophe and Noel were checking the projects of FIDESCO
  volunteers in the Country. They were in the Diocese for 2 days.
• Ms. Lieke de Winther, CORDAID Projects Officer for Zambia, Ms. Bauke Westphal, CORDAID Finance Officer for Southern Africa
  and Ms. Mieke van Tilburg, CORDAID Projects Officer for Zambia paid a visit to the Diocese from 29-31 October 2001.
• PSO Evaluation Team, Dr. Van der Broek and Dr. Sitali came to the Diocese and held a short meeting with the Treasurer
  General, the Pastoral Coordinator and the Diocesan Health Coordinator after which they went to Chilonga Hospital for another
  evaluation with the Hospital Management.
• Sister John Vincent, Superior General of the Sacred Hearts Sisters from Chigwell, U.K.

Welcome to

Mr. Armin Harder, a German volunteer who will be working in our Diocesan Workshop.

Yusufu scouts

There have been a lot of activities by Yusufu Scouts in different Troops: camps, farming, long distance walks, some of them
lasting several days such as Mpepo to Ilondola, Mpika to Mpepo hikes. The competition in various fields is very stiff indeed.
Every year a deserving or winning group goes to the North Lwangwa National Park on an endurance walk in the merciless November
heat (among other activities). This years’ game viewing (courtesy of North Lwangwa Scouts and Management) was exceptionally good,
with herds of animals near the Mwaleshi river.

Condolences to:

• Staff of Ilondola RHC on the death of Mr. Paul Shula a worker at the Institution who died on 23 October 2001.
• the Apostolic Administrator of Chipata, the Provincial Superior and all the Missionaries of Africa, on the tragic and
  untimely death of Fr. Toon Buys. Fr. Buys sustained very serious burns when the tank of the paraffin fridge he was trying
  to refill caught fire and exploded on Sunday 11 November. He died two days later at Katete Hospital and was buried on 15
  ovember at Nyimba. Fr. Buys worked for many years in Kasama Archdiocese before going to Lusaka and finally to Chipata Diocese.
• Richard Chanda and Mulenga Francis (Diocesan HQ security department) whose elder sister passed away on 8 November 2001.
• Sr. Odilia Mangimela SCJ whose sister and brother-in-law passed away on 23 November and 25 November 2001 in Chilonga
  Hospital and Mpika Hospital respectively
• Sr. Giveness Chanda SCJ whose sister passed away in Kasama

We pray for the deceased as well as the bereaved.

Leaving

• Fr. Robert Lavertu, M.Afr. left for Mongu Diocese to lead the team of the new White Father’s foundation there. Fr. Bob came
  to our diocese in December 1962. Apart from the time he served in Canada, for missionary animation (two years) and Assistant
  Provincial (3 years x 2 terms) he has worked in the diocese continuously in various capacities for some 31 years, 17 of which
  as Pastoral Coordinator. We are very sorry to lose him but our loss is Mongu’s gain. We thank him for all the work he did in
  the diocese and wish him success for his new endeavor.
• Mr. Lutz Hamann left for Germany. Many thanks for all the work done in the past seven months.

Please note:

1. The last working day for the Diocesan Offices and Workshop is Thursday 20 December 2001; first working day in 2002 is Monday 7 January 2002.
2. All those with E-mail addresses are requested to forward them to the Bishop’s Secretary so that they can receive “Our Diocese” electronically.
3. Please send us news of notable events in your parish for inclusion in “Our Diocese”.
4. Don’t forget to check your pigeonhole for mail when you visit the diocesan headquarters