AMECEA: Chairman applauds ZCCB for the 125 Anniversary of Catholic Faith in the Country
H.E. Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel,
The Chairman of AMECEA, H.E Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel ha applauded the Catholic Bishops of Zambia and the entire family of God for the 125 years of Catholic Faith.
In his solidarity message to the Family of God in Zambia, the AMECEA Chairman said, “While thanking God for the gift of faith and all the Missionaries who brought the Catholic faith to Zambia, ….We are invited to look back with gratitude to God and all the stakeholders for the achievements made, to reflect candidly on the present and see the current challenges and opportunities, and as well focus into the future with a view of coming up with better strategies for the work of evangelization.”
Cardinal Berhaneyesus commended the role played by the Catholic Church in Zambia to the wider AMECEA fraternity and the entire Eastern Africa Region. “Zambia has always played a very critical role in the life of AMECEA. As we celebrate today we honour the late Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe who died when serving as one of the Patrons of AMECEA but also served as Chairman of the Association for the years between 1979 and 1985. This is the period during which the new Catholic University of Eastern Africa was started.”
He remembered the late Adam Cardinal Kozlowiecki who served as the first Chairman of AMECEA (1961 and 1964) and Bishop Dennis de Jong who served as the Chairman of the Association between 1986 and 1989.
Besides these two Bishops; Cardinal Berhaneyesus also remembered two of the longest serving Secretary Generals of AMECEA from Zambia. These are Rev. Fr. Killian Flynn OFM (1961-1972) and Rev. Fr. Peter Lwaminda (1989-1999).
“Indeed the works of these great shepherds and priest should be counted among the fruits of the Catholic faith in Zambia. We also take glory in the success of the work of-evangelization in this country.” He said.
The Chairman commended various pastoral initiatives through which the Catholic Church in Zambia has touched and changed the lives of many people.
“As Chairman of AMECEA, I wish to join you, as you celebrate the 125 anniversary in affirming that the joys and hopes, the grief and the anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the grief and anxieties of the entire people of God in this nation,” he said adding “Congratulations to the Church in Zambia, God bless the work of the Church, God bless this great Nation.”
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By AMECEA Online News Reporter
