ZAMBIA: Yearlong Silver Jubilee of Zambia’s Mongu Diocese to Honor those who Sacrificed for the Local Church

Mwenya Mukuka

The Catholic Diocese of Mongu has launched its silver jubilee celebration under the theme: Walking with Christ Our Hope.

In his Silver Jubilee message recently, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mongu, Rt. Rev. Evans Chinyemba, OMI announced that the jubilee celebration journey launched on 23^rd April 2022 shall close on 26th August, 2023 with a Public Mass in Mongu.

Bishop Chinyemba added that activities that speak to the life of the Jubilee and the Diocese have been organized to celebrate the time and fruits of many women and men who sacrificed their all to be all for Mongu diocese.
The Jesuits visited the modern day Mongu Diocese in 1881 and 1883.

In 1930 another Jesuit Fr Siemienski, SJ from the Broken Hill Prefecture visited Mongu and had celebration of Mass for the emigrant Catholics who were residing in Mongu area.

On 28th July 1936 the area was created a Prefecture of Victoria Falls and Monsignor Vincent Killian Flynn, OFM Cap was named the first Prefect Apostolic.
On 10th March, 1950 the territory of Victoria Falls Prefecture was made as Vicariate Apostolic and Bishop Phelim 0’Shea, OFM Cap was the first Vicar Apostolic.

On 25th April, 1950 the territory became Livingstone Diocese and Bishop Phelim 0’Shea was made the first Bishop until his retirement in 1974 when late Archbishop Adrian Mung’andu was made the Bishop of Livingstone in 1974 until he was transferred to Lusaka Archdiocese in 1984.
“On 22nd May, 1985 Bishop Raymond Mpezele was named the Ordinary of Livingstone. These historical facts once again indicate to us where we have come from. We pick up the pieces left by history. As shared, Catholic Faith established in this territory with the coming of the Irish Capuchin Friars 1931 who settled in Livingstone area and eventually came to the Lukulu area in 1934 a territory that comprised of some parts of Southern and North Western and Barotseland territories. From the time the Jesuit set foot in this area, the journey began,” bishop Chinyemba said.

The Catholic Diocese of Mongu was created on 14th June, 1997 from some parts of Livingstone Diocese with Bishop Paul Duffy, OMI being the first Bishop.