ZAMBIA: Bishop of Ndola Diocese Advocates for Unity of Purpose for the Development of Local Churches
Bishop Benjamin Phiri of Ndola Diocese, Zambia
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Catholic Bishop of Zambia’s Ndola Diocese Rt. Rev. Benjamin Phiri has emphasized that the realization of growth and development in the local churches call for collaboration, having a common vision and unity from all actors in the diocese.
“There is nothing much that can be achieved in the local churches if each pastoral urgent works as an isolated individual,” Bishop Benjamin Phiri shared with AMECEA Online in an interview on Wednesday, May 11, stressing that “It is important to have a unity of purpose, and a unity of vision so as to build the local Church with a common motivation.”
Advocating for this unity and solidarity, the Prelate who was appointed the Local Ordinary of Ndola in July 2020, underscores that it is second year since his diocese took up the theme of unity to instill on people’s mind, the significance of working together.
“Last year’s theme for the Diocese was on unity and since this was overtaken by Covid-19 situation, we saw the need to continue with the same theme this year especially as a good preparation in view of the forthcoming synod of bishops,” the former auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese explained further that he drew the inspiration from his Coat of Arms.
“My Episcopal Coat of Arms is depicting unity which says: “So that we may be one through the cross.” This is because the cross is the uniting factor for all believers and it is the cross that was meant to be a symbol of humility and of defeat. Actually the cross is the symbol of defeat,” the Bishop who served as an auxiliary for nine years disclosed adding that, “It is for this reason I thought it better we focus on this theme of unity.”
According to the Prelate he has been having meetings with various actors in the Church including the Religious, clergy and lay faithful, “to imprint on them the importance of working in collaboration and putting efforts together to be the Local Church.”
The Bishop has acknowledged that focusing on the theme of unity for the past one year, “the spirit of working together is increasing among the pastoral agents and we hope to achieve more with this collaboration.”
“We had a situation where the operations of individual Religious groups and priests were not so much centralized and they were all working on their own,” the Bishop disclosed and narrated further, “Already as at now, there is more openness and more collaboration since I also deliberately involve different Religious groups in various activities to enhance togetherness.”
“The Religious do not come into a Diocese to get busy with their own activities,” Bishop Phiri warned during the Wednesday interview, “… but they join the Diocese to support the efforts of the local Church to achieve what is in line with evangelization. Hence in their various apostolates they have to work in collaboration to witness Christ and evangelize for the salvation of souls.”
He added, “We therefore need to be focused and our efforts should complement and supplement each other so we can all achieve our common target of evangelization and saving souls.”
