ZAMBIA: Preparations for Extraordinary Mission Month of October 2019 (EMM Oct 2019) Kicks Off.
Preparations to celebrate the Extraordinary Mission month have kicked off in Lusaka today, 18th December, 2018 with about 22 participants representing all the dioceses in Zambia.
The arrangements have started with a meeting of Diocesan Pastoral Coordinators and Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) Directors in Lusaka at Kapingila house from 18th to 19th December, 2018.
And speaking during the opening of the meeting, Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the declaration of the extraordinary mission month of October 2019 should be a reminder to every Christian that the gift of faith received at baptism sends them on mission.
Making reference to the Zambian Bishops 2016 Pastoral Letter entitle Go out to the whole world, proclaim the gospel to all Creation (Mark 16:15), he said the missionary calling of the Church is for all that are baptized, ordained and consecrated to be on mission.
Father Lungu said the Church in Zambia celebrates and appreciates the work missionaries who brought the gift of faith saying that with their enthusiasm they set out to places at the risk of diseases, to places without roads, and without knowing the language of the people, but they did not mind.
He also said that the missionary work should not be left to the priests alone, but that the laity too must be involved.
In his opening remarks, ZCCB National Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Justin Matepa expressed his satisfaction with the representation of all the eleven dioceses. “Your presence here in this meeting shows the importance that the Catholic Bishops in Zambia are attaching to the extraordinary Mission Month of October 2019”. Fr. Matepa noted.
And in his introductory remarks, PMS National director spelled out the proposed four dimensions to prepare for and live out the Extraordinary Month of October 2019. Fr. Edwin Mulandu invited all participants to consider personal encounter with Jesus Christ; the witness of the Saints and Missionary Martyrs; Biblical, catechetical, spiritual and theological formation and Missionary charity as key aspects to guide the group in the deliberations during the preparations for the Extraordinary Mission month of October, 2019.
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By Mwenya Mukuka, ZCCB Communications Officer
