ZAMBIA: Consecrated Life, a Light of the World Not to be Dimmed

By Mwenya Mukuka

Members of Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) have said that Consecrated persons must continue to carry out their everyday apostolate with the love and joy of the Gospel.

In a statement issued on 2^nd February, 2021, Mansa Diocese Bishop Rt. Rev. Patrick Chisanga, OFM Conv. who is ZCCB Director for the Consecrated Life commended consecrated persons in Zambia for their pastoral presence in various dioceses and further urged them to live a life of introspection.

“I invite you to take this annual celebration as an opportune occasion for introspection to recommitment to the values of your consecration … Above all, let the community and personal daily prayer and meditation on the Word of God be the springboard that propels you into your everyday life and activities,” Bishop Chisanga said.

“The Church in Zambia does recognize, with deep gratitude, your presence and apostolic activities in all dioceses. Through your presence and ministry in the health facilities, schools, nutrition centres as well as other integral human development programmes, our Lord Jesus Christ guarantees his continued presence among his people, especially those on the margins of society. May you fan into a bigger flame the passion for Christ and the spirit of witnessing by which the dignity of every human person is promoted and upheld,” Bishop Chisanga added.

Instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997, the World Day for Consecrated Life, the Church celebrates the selfless witness of the service of men and women Religious in the respective dioceses and parishes. Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day for Consecrated Life together with that of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Consecrated men and women live out their unique vocation through the profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience in Religious congregations, Secular institutes or private vows.

Meanwhile Bishop Chisanga reiterated ZCCB’s concern as expressed in the recent exhortation to all the Catholic Clergy, Religious, Laity and people of good will on Enhanced Adherence to Preventive Measures as well as early testing for COVID-19.

“Such calls cannot be over-emphasised, especially for you, Religious men and women. Given the nature of your pastoral and professional apostolates that render you to be quite vulnerable to contracting the virus, especially in this second wave, some members of your Religious institutes have, in fact, contracted the dreaded virus in the course of carrying out their respective apostolates and have unwittingly brought it into their communities. May the healing touch of our Lord Jesus Christ restore the health of those who have fallen ill and bring them wholeness so that they may return to active ministry,” Bishop Chisanga said.

He also commended to God’s mercy those Religious men and women who have succumbed to COVID-19.