ZAMBIA: ZEC Celebrating 125 years of Faith during the Year of Mercy
The Catholic Church in Zambia will be
clocking 125 years in a year-long celebration that is set to commence in August
2016 and will continue till August 2017.
According to Rev. Fr. Justine Matepa, the
Pastoral Coordinator of Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), these celebrations will
go hand in hand with the Jubilee year of Mercy.
Pastoral Coordinator of Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), these celebrations will
go hand in hand with the Jubilee year of Mercy.
“Zambia this year will be celebrating 125
years since the coming of the first missionaries who brought the catholic faith
in the country. The conference has therefore tried to blend the two occasions,
the celebration of 125 of catholic faith in the country and the Jubilee Year of
Mercy,” Fr. Matepa explained adding that the theme of the celebrations will be 125
years of God’s Love and Mercy.
years since the coming of the first missionaries who brought the catholic faith
in the country. The conference has therefore tried to blend the two occasions,
the celebration of 125 of catholic faith in the country and the Jubilee Year of
Mercy,” Fr. Matepa explained adding that the theme of the celebrations will be 125
years of God’s Love and Mercy.
“The theme was chosen in such a way that we
don’t lose out on either of the significant celebration that is equally
important to us as a country,” he said.
don’t lose out on either of the significant celebration that is equally
important to us as a country,” he said.
The launch of the Jubilee Year of Mercy at
Zambia Episcopal Conference was done at the individual Dioceses. However, the
conference held a big preparatory meeting for all the dioceses. Usually the
conference holds an Annual National Pastoral meeting, an annual event where all
the diocesan pastoral coordinators and secretaries, the catechetical and
biblical coordinators are invited to participate.
Zambia Episcopal Conference was done at the individual Dioceses. However, the
conference held a big preparatory meeting for all the dioceses. Usually the
conference holds an Annual National Pastoral meeting, an annual event where all
the diocesan pastoral coordinators and secretaries, the catechetical and
biblical coordinators are invited to participate.
So in April 2015, the conference held a
three-days meeting where it dedicated one full day to the preparations of the proceedings
and how to embrace the year of mercy.
three-days meeting where it dedicated one full day to the preparations of the proceedings
and how to embrace the year of mercy.
So we had a joint preparatory meeting for
deliberations on our immediate actions plus our future endeavors which were
approved by the Bishop upon presentation. Prominently was the suggestion to launch
the Jubilee Year of Faith beginning
at Diocesan level, going down to the deaneries and eventually to the parish
levels; this according to Fr. Matepa has already happened.
deliberations on our immediate actions plus our future endeavors which were
approved by the Bishop upon presentation. Prominently was the suggestion to launch
the Jubilee Year of Faith beginning
at Diocesan level, going down to the deaneries and eventually to the parish
levels; this according to Fr. Matepa has already happened.
Through the office of the Pontifical Mission
Society, there is a wrapper (Chitenge)
a cotton fabric with the logo The Year of Mercy and an image of Pope
Francis printed, which is being sold and so far is doing quite well. Fr. Matepa
explained that it is a symbolic representation of what is going on in terms of
visibility around the country and within the church for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Society, there is a wrapper (Chitenge)
a cotton fabric with the logo The Year of Mercy and an image of Pope
Francis printed, which is being sold and so far is doing quite well. Fr. Matepa
explained that it is a symbolic representation of what is going on in terms of
visibility around the country and within the church for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
“We also realized that we needed to do
something for the children and for the youth in order to include them in the
celebrations of the Jubilee Year of Mercy
and so we have come up with catechetical retreat material as a national office
on recommendation of the same committee and that material will now be will be
circulated by the third week of Lent to all Dioceses,” he said. Additionally the
material has already been tested on a group of youth animators for the
Archdiocese of Lusaka who received the material for the children and the Holy
Childhood animators.
something for the children and for the youth in order to include them in the
celebrations of the Jubilee Year of Mercy
and so we have come up with catechetical retreat material as a national office
on recommendation of the same committee and that material will now be will be
circulated by the third week of Lent to all Dioceses,” he said. Additionally the
material has already been tested on a group of youth animators for the
Archdiocese of Lusaka who received the material for the children and the Holy
Childhood animators.
By AMECEA
Online News Reporter
Online News Reporter
