1 Newsletter of the Southern Africa Province November 2012, No 13 Inside St. Lawrence church: painting of the risen Christ made by Michael Kapalamula from Malawi who was trained by Claude Boucher Editorial Today’s edition of the Motomoto Echo comes with news, news, and more news! Just as the month of November dawns with the Solemnity of All Saints, a feast to remember and to live according to our Christian calling, so does this particular November edition come with news to remember and to live out our mission meaningfully. We remember our beloved confreres and family who shared with us life and vocation. Remembering them brings out the importance of the introduction of Small Christian Communities (Kalilombe), the beginnings of Christianity in Mzuzu and Lilongwe dioceses (Joseph and Georges-Albert); the birth of Catholicism in Bembaland through Motomoto himself, Joseph Dupont. While such memories have life in themselves, this edition of our newsletter also emphasizes our current experience in ministry; as we open new parishes; graduate in academic studies; meet challenges in today’s African parishes; celebrate initial formation of future missionaries; and indeed, in the honor granted to Lalonda for works of mercy in Zambia. In doing so this issue radiates an active life going on in the Province and beyond. The Universal Church has invited us to deepen this life through the celebration of the Year of Faith as our “opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.” Alongside this universal celebration is also the challenge th posed to us by the 125 Anniversary of the Antislavery Campaign of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie. As we read through this newsletter let us all get in touch with that personal call to remember our past but also to live life positively while denouncing today’s evils. I end by urging all the confreres in the sectors of our province to send in information about your missionary activities. It is through your shared activities that we will continue to remember and live out our faith stories with confidence and trust. Happy reading to you all and God bless. Christopher Chileshe Solemnity of All Saints - 2012 2 New Parish in Lusaka Come to have life abundantly It is under this motto that the new Parish of St. Lawrence opened the celebration of its dedication on the 16th September 2012. Even though the new church is quite impressive in size, the celebration took place outside under a most welcome fresh wind. The Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu officiated mass. St. Lawrence grew from Kabwata Parish where we also have confreres. Both places are separated by only few kilometres. Various lay groups and movements are very active together with 18 small Christian communities located in Misisi and Kamwala South. Other activities include a maize mill, a car park, block making, computer centre, carpentry, basic school and Home of Hope Centre for street children. Brief historical events: September 1997: first blocks of classrooms – Community School. November 25, 1998: official acquisition of the land. 1998: beginning of Home of Hope by the Catholic Women’s League. 1999: development of the Special Needs Centre. 2000: construction of the Multipurpose Hall. 2004: beginning of Catechetical instruction. 2005: construction of the priest’s house and first celebration of the first communion and children’s baptisms. 2007: construction of the research Clinic and computer Centre. November 2009: beginning of the construction of the actual church. March 2010: arrival of Theresians Sisters. June 12, 2011: opening and blessing of the church by His Eminence Medardo Cardinal J. Mazombwe. January 15, 2012: arrival of the first Missionaries of Africa’s community of Antoon van Kessel, Jacek Rakowski and then stagiaire Ernest Katembo Ngetha. Septembre 16, 2012: dedication de Saint Lawrence Catholic Church by T.G. Mpundu 3 Death of Patrick Kalilombe Patrick Kalilombe, M.Afr died on Monday evening, 24th September 2012, at Zomba Central Hospital, Malawi, at the age of 79 years of which 55 of missionary life in Great Britain, U.S.A, and Malawi. He will be remembered for implementing the concept of Small Christian Communities called Miphakati. This was initiated by his book written in 1973 entitled «Christ’s Church in Lilongwe – Today and Tomorrow» (Mpingo wa Khristu: Lero ndi Kutsogolo). The basic concept calls for self- ministry, self-propagation of the Word of God and self-reliance of self- finance. This book coincided with the first Mini Synod of the diocese of Lilongwe involving the entire Catholic Church within the diocese. The resolutions were published in a book entitled «Mpingo Ndife Tonse», meaning «We are the Church». th The funeral took place at Likuni Parish, Lilongwe, on Friday the 28 September. All the Bishops of Malawi were present together with His Eminence Cardinal Mc Carrich from the United States of America, Seminarians, diocesan priests and Christians. The Vice-President of Malawi, the Honourable Khumbo Kachali, represented his Excellency Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi. 28/08/1933: Birth at Chenchamba village near Mua, son of Peter and Helena Kalilombe 1944 – 1949: secondary education at Our Lady of the Child Jesus’ Minor Seminary at Kasina, Dedza 1949 – 1954: Philosophical studies at Kachebere Major Seminary at Mchinji 1954 – 1955: Spiritual Year at Maison-Carrée, Algeria 1955 – 1957: Theological studies at Thibar, Tunisia 26/06/1957: Oath at Thibar 03/02/1958: Priesthood at Carthage, Tunisia 1958 – 1962: Biblical Scriptures studies at the Gregorian University in Rome 30/08/1962: Bembeke, Malawi 13/10/1964: Teacher at Kachebere Major Seminary 07/03/1969: Rector at Kachebere Major Seminary 12/09/1970: Major retreat at Villa Cavalletti, Italy 03/06/1972: Appointed as Bishop of Lilongwe, Malawi 27/08/1972: Episcopal ordination 01/01/1974: Chapter Delegate in Rome 10/10/1976: Session in Jerusalem 01/01/1979: Studies at Bekerley, California U.S.A. 07/11/1982: Sutton Coldfield, Great Britain 01/01/1984: Lecturer at Birmingham, Great Britain 15/09/1996: Lecturer in London 17/09/1996: Session in Jerusalem 25/08/1997: Silver Jubilee as Bishop at Mua Parish, Malawi 01/12/1997: Lecturer at Oxford, Great Britain 25/10/1999 – 2008: Lecturer at Chancellor College in Zomba, Malawi 01/07/2000: Appointed to SAP, Malawi 24/09/2012: Return to the Lord at Zomba Central Hospital, Malawi 28/09/2012: burial at Likuni Parish, Lilongwe More pictures at: http://www.mafrome.org/mgr_patrick_kalilombe.htm 4 Porta Fide Concept of the Logo The logo is composed of a square, bordered field on which a boat, symbolizing the Church, is represented as sailing on a graphically minimal representation of waves. The main mast of the boat is a cross from which sails are displayed in the form of dynamic signs which compose the trigram of Christ (HIS). The background to the sails is a sun which, associated with the trigram, refers also to the Eucharist. Website: www.annusfidei.va Opening the Door of Faith October 11th marks the beginning of a specially designated Year of Faith for the Church. The year is dedicated to reminding us that our journey of faith is an ongoing encounter with the risen Christ. As such, the period will offer a renewed focus on the foundations of Church teaching. Pope Benedict XVI announced the event in a letter titled Porta fidei, or “door of faith”, which explains that faith allows us to cross the threshold into a life of communion with God. The opening date coincides with both the 50th anniversary of the start of Vatican II and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each plays a vital role in our ability to interpret Church teaching accurately and productively. Both will figure prominently throughout the year. The apostolic letter announcing the year states that the goal of the period is to arouse believers’ desire to fully profess our faith with renewed conviction, confidence and hope, while also intensifying an understanding of liturgy as celebration. Various ways are suggested to accomplish this, from conferences and study days on the Catechism through to pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land. Modern technology is called upon as a way to increase exposure to both the Catechism and the documents of Vatican II. Pope Benedict sees the year as an opportunity to “usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.” Our Condolences By Catherine Mulroney, Living with Christ, October 2012, page 180 Dear Confreres, I have just received the sad news that the mother of Philippe Docq passed away this afternoon at 2pm. Let us pray for him, the whole family and especially his mother. May she rest in peace. Christopher Chileshe, Provincial of SAP, October 12. Dear confreres, It is only today that we learned of the death of Mr Paul Ocung, the father of our confrere George Okwii. Mr Paul Ocung has been ill for some time and it's only last week that we heard that he was in a coma. Burial will be tomorrow in his home in Teso District, Soroti Diocese. Fr. George Okwii at present is attending the Bible Session in Jerusalem and right now incidentally George is with the group in Galilee. We have not yet been in contact with George himself, but asked our confreres in St. Anne to forward the sad news to him. I expressed our condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them of our prayer. May his soul rest in eternal peace! Rudi Lehnertz, M.Afr, Provincial of Uganda, October 17. 5 Remembering our confreres Josef Dreselhaus Dear Friends, This afternoon (23/10/2012) Josef Dreselhaus died peacefully in a nearby home for elderly people.