AMECEA: Late Bishop Hamungole Remembered for Supporting Evangelization Through Digital Technologies
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The late Bishop Moses Hamungole who until his death on Wednesday, January 13, was the Local Ordinary of Zambia’s Monze Diocese, has been remembered as a Prelate who encouraged the use of digital technologies as media of proclaiming the word of God in the contemporary society.
In his condolences message on behalf of the Church in the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region, the chairman Rt. Rev. Charles Sampa Kasonde said, “The Church in AMECEA region shall certainly remember Bishop Hamungole for the 6 years (2002-2008) he served as Coordinator for Social Communications during which he organized many capacity building workshops for national coordinators and Catholic media staff.”
“Even after his appointment as Bishop of Monze Diocese, he continued to be a resource person, supporting the Church in AMECEA region and beyond in her efforts to enhance the use of digital technologies for evangelization,” disclosed Bishop Kasonde in a statement dated Thursday, January 14.
Addressing the President of Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Rt. Rev. George Cosmas Lungu in his condolences message, the Catholic Church in Monze Diocese and immediate family members of Bishop Hamungole, Rt. Rev. Kasonde of Zambia’s Solwezi Diocese noted that the late Prelate shared his dream for the Church’s pastoral communications apostolate “With utter humility and generosity.”
Besides serving as the Coordinator for Social Communications at AMECEA Secretariat in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Bishop Hamungole worked as Studio Manager at Yatsani Radio in Zambia, Director of the English and Kiswahili Africa Service at the Vatican Radio in Rome, Italy and President of SIGNIS Africa which is an association for the Catholic communication professionals.
Eulogizing Bishop Hamungole as a man who was assertive and could confidently share his opinion, the current Director of English and Kiswahili Africa Service at the Vatican Radio in Rome Fr. Paul Samasumo underscored, “Bishop Moses and I come a very long way. Our work in Church communication brought us together.”
“I will always remember him as one who was never afraid to speak his mind. What you saw is what you got. If ever there was single minded determination, then he was it,” the Zambian cleric said in a message shared with AMECEA online adding that the late Prelate never gave up on something simply because it was difficult.”
Bishop Hamungole who tested positive of Covid-19 on Saturday, January 2, posted in a Facebook page when undergoing medication that he was “in stable condition in hospital,”
“I have personally decided to write you about my health condition since last Saturday. Before that I had what I thought was an ordinary flu which on Saturday was confirmed COVID-19 case at Monze Mission hospital,” Bishop Hamungole posted and added, “From Monze I was in a stable condition. I have remained in the stable condition. Yesterday evening they resumed the treatment and I have been told my oxygen levels were fine.”
The late Bishop will be laid to rest on Saturday, January 16, at the cathedral grounds in Monze following strict observation of Covid-19 protocols.
In a statement from Monze Diocese by Fr Sebastian Milimo who served as Vicar General in the Diocese, there will be no requiem Mass and only a few specially selected people will attend the burial. Besides, the parishes are not to send any representatives to the burial.
“After the covid-l9 situation subsides, a requiem Mass at the Cathedral in Monze will be organized, where the Bishops of Zambia, all the priests and Religious of the diocese, and all the faithful can participate,” he highlighted in a statement shared with AMECEA Online Thursday, January 14.
“Let us all be united in our prayers for the repose of the soul of Bishop Moses Hamungole. May his soul rest in peace,” Fr. Milimo implored.
