ZAMBIA: White Fathers Toast 150 Years As They Close Celebrations
Rev. Father Patrick Sebyera, M.Afr.
The Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the White Fathers have closed their 150 years celebrations in Zambia.
The Celebrations Organizing chairperson Fr. Patrick Sebyera, M.Afr., however, said that the grand closure celebrations which begun in 2018 are planned for Uganda in December, 2019.
Making reference to the just ended Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019, Fr. Sebyera said that the Church is till on mission.
“The Missionary Month has just closed but we must be aware that though it is closed, the mission goes on. We have to continue the mission of Jesus Christ together, spreading the Good News, so that the Church fulfill its mandate,” he said.
Fr. Sebyera has since expressed pleasure that the faith of local people has grown from the time the Missionaries of Africa came to evangelize Zambia. He said that the White Fathers opened and ran a number of parishes in Zambia, which have now been taken over by the local church. This, he said, is a remarkable sign that the local church is growing.
The White Father now ran only 9 parishes in Zambia.
Fr. Sebyera has since said that celebrations are also set for Lusaka on the 10th November 2019, for thanks giving to God who inspired Cardinal Charles Lavigerie in 1868 to found the Society of Missionaries of Africa.
He further added that the November 10 celebrations will also be of gratitude to God for having the priests the Congregation sent to to Zambia to plant the seed of faith.
The Society of the Missionaries of Africa focuses on evangelization and education, mostly in Africa.
A friend of the Missionaries of Africa,
Michael Sebele, noted the impact of the Missionaries of Africa in Zambia as he said that many people that were educated by the missionaries of Africa are holding positions of influence and are making great contribution to the development of the country.
He also said that the Missionaries of Africa are instrumental in combating modern day slaveries, more especially human trafficking, just like their founder stood against slave trade.
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