ZAMBIA: Be a Source of Hope, Archbishop Mpundu Challenges Priests.
Lusaka Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator and Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu has challenged priests to be a source of hope.
In his homily on Thursday, 22nd March, 2018 during the Chrism Mass held at the Cathedral of Child Jesus in Lusaka, Archbishop Mpundu said the critical mission of a priest is to tell a Christ story of hope, bring comfort to those who are weak and have no ‘voice’.
“We Priests have a position from which we can speak on behalf of people who have no voice because it is not easy to put a Catholic priest in prison. Let us speak for those who cannot speak. But not in a partisan way, for we do not take part in partisan politics,” he said.
He advised priests not to be partisan and to help everyone without segregation. “We have a mission to bring the Good News of Jesus to all people. Even when we start helping the poor with our 10 percent, we should not just help Catholics,” he added.
Archbishop Mpundu said that it is heart-breaking at how poverty has escalated in Zambia, a reason why the Church should fill the gap by helping one another adding that the Church should help the needy like the early Christian community did.
“The Church should fill the gap by helping one another. That has been our tradition as the Catholic Church but in the course of time we have lost it due to specialized groups that came in. We can do it. We must do it,” he said.
And Archbishop Mpundu encouraged Pastors or Shepherds to be servants of God’s people like Jesus.
Mass led by Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka
“It should start with us the Pastors. Even from the little we get. We have little allowances but we should reserve a tenth to give to the poor. We have to walk our talk, starting with the allowance of the Bishop,” Archbishop Mpundu urged the priests.
The outgoing Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Lusaka added that a priest should also help people to change as he is a messenger of hope.
On Holy Thursday morning, the bishop is joined by the priests of the Diocese; at the Cathedral to celebrate the chrism Mass that manifests the unity of the priests with their bishop.
During the mass, the bishop blesses three oils – the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the infirm and holy chrism – which will be used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the diocese for the year and priests renewed their priestly commitment.
∽End∽
By Mwenya Mukuka, ZCCB Communications Office
