AMECEA NEWS 26/2004

Dear Friends,

Every year God gives us a chance to allow His Only begotten son to be born in our hearts. That time is here now and Advent Season has started.

It is also a time when we look back and count the numerous gifts and blessing our Lord has granted to each one of us. This year, I call upon each one of you to give gratitude to God for friends and many achievement and challenges of the year.

I take this time to express my sincere gratitude to God and you fellow communicators for what we have enabled us to achieve in building the Kingdom of God. I thank too our benefactors for their generous support to our programs throughout the year. Your support has seen as through and has enabled us to carry out our responsibilities effectively. We trust that you will continue to support us in the coming year.

Be assured of our gratitude and prayers during this Advent and Christmas Seasons.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2005!

Fr. Moses Hamungole
Social Communications Office

AMECEA

PROGRESS FOR THE 15TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY

The forthcoming 15th AMECEA Plenary Assembly plans are in advanced stage. The plenary is scheduled for June 1 - 11, 2005 in Kampala Uganda.

The theme of the Plenary is "Responding to the Challenges of HIV/AIDS within the AMECEA Region". A fulltime Coordinator has been appointed to spearhead the preparations for the plenary in Uganda. Several meetings have been held at AMECEA Secretariat and in Uganda to plan for this plenary. The most recent one was for the National Health Coordinators in AMECEA region. The coordinators met on November 29 -30, 2004 to draw the plenary timetable for the study session. National Conferences Secretaries General will later meet to draw the plenary timetable for the business session.

KENYA

COMBONI PROVINCE GETS A NEW SUPERIOR

The Kenya Province of the Comboni Missionaries has a new Superior. Fr Mariano Tibaldo MCCJ, 49, will take over at the beginning of 2005.

"The Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries has appointed a new Provincial Superior, who will lead the Province of Kenya for the next 3 years," the incumbent Provincial Superior Fr Umberto Pescantini MCCJ, told CISA. "He is Rev Fr Mariano Tibaldo. He will assume office on January 1, 2005."

Fr Mariano comes from Italy (Vicenza), where he was born in January 1955.(Source: CISA)

MALAWI

A NEW SHEPHERD FOR MANGOCHI

His Holiness Pope John Paul II on November 20, 2004 appointed Rev. Fr. Luciano Nervi, SMM as the new Bishop of Mangochi Diocese in Malawi. At the same time he accepted the renunciation of the Pastoral government of the Diocese of Mangochi presented by Bishop Alessandro Assolari who is the first bishop of the diocese in conformity with the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop-Elect Nervi born in Sforzatica di Dalmine, Italy in 1938 has a licentiate in theology from the Lateran University, a degree in Letters and a diploma in journalism and social sciences from the Catholic University of Milan. He has taught in Italy, has been a missionary in Malawi at the service of Mangochi Diocese at Utale, parish priest, Vicar General and Regional Superior of the Montfort Missionaries. Since 1987 he has been in Italy

Mangochi Diocese was erected as an Apostolic prefecture on May 29, 1969 and later as a diocese on September 17, 1973 as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Blantyre. Bishop-Elect Nervi becomes the second bishop of the diocese. (Source: VIS/AMECEA)

UGANDA

NEW ORDINARY INSTALLED

Rt. Rev Joseph Antony Zziwa has been installed as the new Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, replacing Bishop Joseph Mukwaya, who resigned as the ordinary of the diocese in August 2004 on health grounds. He was born on February 16, 1956 at Kasambya in Mubende District and ordained priest on November 16, 1980 at Mubende parish by the Late His Eminence Cardinal Nsubuga. He was installed Coadjutor Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana on March 16, 2002. He holds a doctorate in Church history and theological studies from Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

Bishop Zziwa is the third bishop of the diocese after its first and founder bishop now his Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala was transferred to Kampala Archdiocese. Kiyinda Mityana diocese comprises of the civil districts of Mubende, Kiboga and Gomba county of Mpigi Districts. Originally it was part of Kampala Archdiocese. It was erected on July 17, 1981 and promulgated August 21, 1981.

Prior to his episcopal elevation, Bishop Zziwa taught Church History and Patrology at Ggaba National Major Seminary in Kampala. He is currently the Chairman of the Social Communications at the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC).

ZAMBIA

NDOLA GETS A BISHOP

The Holy Father, His Holiness Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2004 appointed Rt. Rev. Noel O'Regan, S.M.A. of Solwezi Diocese in Zambia as bishop of Ndola. Ndola Diocese went vacant after the sudden death of the then Bishop Dennis De Jong on September 16, 2003 in his sleep. Ndola has a population of 2,000,000 people among the 750,000 Catholics.

Bishop O'Regan was born in Cork, Ireland on December 14, 1941. He was ordained priest on December 18, 1967. He was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Solwezi on December 21, 1993 and later Bishop on August 30, 1995. He was consecrated Bishop of Solwezi on December 10, 1995.

CO-AJUTOR ARCHBISHOP FOR LUSAKA

The Holy Father, His Holiness Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2004 appointed Bishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Mpika, Zambia as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. Until his appointment he was the Ordinary Bishop of Mpika Diocese. Archbishop Mpundu was born on May 21, 1945 in Kapatu Parish in Kasama Archdiocese. He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1972. On April 14, 1987, he was appointed the bishop of then Mbala Diocese now Mpika Diocese. His Episcopal ordination was on June 21, 1987. He will also be the apostolic administrator of Mpika Diocese.
Lusaka has a population about 3.2 million people among them 729,896 Catholics.

ZAMBIA WORLD WIDE WEB ADDRESS

The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has a website. The address is http://www.catholiczambia.org.zm

ANOTHER CATHOLIC RADIO GETS A FULL BROADCASTING LICENSE

The Catholic Radio Station in Mongu Diocese in Zambia Oblate Radio Liseli has been granted a full broadcasting license. The radio has been on Test Broadcast since May 2004. This becomes the 7th Catholic Radio Station in Zambia to be granted a full broadcasting license. The other six are: Yatsani, Icengelo, Radio Maria Chipata, Chikuni and Yangeni Radio Stations. The radio is on 105.5 Frequent Modulation (FM).

CHURCHES CALL FOR THANKSGIVING

The three Christian Church mother bodies: the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Episcopal Conference released a pastoral statement to the people of Zambia on the October 17, 2004 during the Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Day for Zambia's Forty Years of Independence. Zambia became independent on October 24th 1964.

In this letter, the Churches hoped that the Zambians had realized that "independence was not the end but rather the beginning of a long and difficult road towards nation building". They renewed their call for unity, dedication and hard work from each and every citizen as some conditions for a successful realization of nation building. According to these church bodies over the years Zambia has enjoyed relative peace, stability and unity and has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees from some neighboring countries beset by civil strife.

Although in colonial era little was done to invest in human and infrastructure development, there has been a great challenge to provide both education and health services to all the citizens since independence. This success was achieved through massive investment in health and educational facilities. In the past forty years of independence, hospitals and rural health centers have been constructed in all the districts. Infrastructure in education, in terms of primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, outstanding among them being the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University, has been built and these have, over the years, produced the required human capital for the nation. The policy of free education and health services played a critical role to accelerate the necessary investment in human development. Today Zambia is a significant exporter of highly skilled personnel as a testimony to this investment. The country has also invested in other important infrastructure like roads, electricity, telecommunications, and information technology.

The letter also pointed out the areas in which the Church has been involved in nation building. Quoting it "As we commemorate the fortieth anniversary of Zambia's independence, we celebrate the fact that as a church we have not been mere spectators in nation building and national development." The church has continued to renew its signicant contributions in health, education, rural agricultural development programmes, youth empowerment and fight against HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects on the family and society at large. Corruption both in highest and lowest levels is bleeding the country to death. Increase in poverty is cause of inadequate support to health and education sectors.

In conclusion, the churches reminded the Zambians that humanity is based on everlasting hope therefore, not withstanding the numerous challenges facing the country they should never give up. The said " we should still discern opportunities God has endowed us with". To them Zambia can prosper again but only if each of them contributes his/her share of hard work, commitment, selflessness and honesty. Reminding the country that Christianity is founded on the principles that human beings are God's children and should therefore treat one another charitably and justly with respect and dignity. This will assist in repairing and improving the world around where the hope of the future of the country lies.

ZEC SUBMITS COMMENTS TO CONSTITUTION REVIEW COMMISSION

The Zambia Episcopal Conference has made a submission to the Mong'omba Constitutional Review Commission on issues that are of particular concern to the Catholic Church in Zambia.

The Conference does not seek to make an exhaustive submission on all constitutional issues on behalf of all Catholic Christians. This is because ZEC recognizes that Christians can make submissions as individuals on any matter of concern.
The Zambia Episcopal Conference has called for the enactment of a constitution that exalts and effectively entrenches institutional protection of fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

The Zambia Episcopal Conference has also appealed to the commission to consider the adoption of the constitution through a popularly constituted and representative body.

The Zambia Episcopal Conference has also repeated its calls for the Church and State to remain separate. The conference further stated that a nation is not Christian by declaration but by deeds. " Zambia can be a Christian nation only if a life of dedication, honesty and hard work is upheld."

The Zambia Episcopal Conference strongly feels that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation must be omitted in the new constitution, as it is not "justiciable."

The Conference hopes that the Constitution Review Process will meet the aspirations of the Zambian people. This is contained in the pastoral letter on the Constitution Review Process "Let My People go." (Source: Ian Mwiinga)

DJIBOUTI

DJIBOUTI GETS SOME MISSIONARIES

On September 15, 2004, the Catholic Church in Djibouti was blessed with three Consolata Fathers and 4 Consolata Sisters. The priests were drawn from Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Italy. They will work in Caritas Djibouti, assistant director of an elementary school and the other will promote dialogue with Islam. Islamic religion is the biggest percentage in the country. The sisters are from Argentina, Kenya, Poland and Italy. Two of them are nurses and the other two are social workers. Their presence is will be of great help to the Church in Djibouti.

SOMALI

HOPE RENEWED

The Catholic Church in Somali is hopeful that it will now operate normally after Transitional Government was formed. The functioning of a government will guarantee a minimum of security. The hope was raised when in August a parliament was formed and in October a Transitional President was elected in Nairobi. The country has been without a government since 1990 when the then government was overthrown.

MADAGASCAR

BISHOPS PLENARY CONCLUDED

The Catholic Bishops of Madagascar met recently in the Plenary Assembly where they discussed among other issues, the Africa's Year of the Bible, the Year of the Eucharist and the figure of the priest.

The Bishops, meeting opened with a day of retreat which was led by Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar, Most Rev. Augustine Kasujja, also discussed the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The priesthood, vocations, formation and the lights and shadows of the priestly life are other topics, which, were discussed. In the plenary representatives from the men and women religious, clergy and laity were present with the bishops on the life and witness of the priest.

The Africa's Year of the Bible whose theme is "Know, Love, Live and Proclaim the Word of God" will be celebrated al over the continent in 2005 according to the Catholic Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM). The celebrations are planned at all levels of Family of God from parishes, diocesan, regional and continental level.

Dear Reader, kindly keep our office updated on the change of e-mail and postal address. Also we invite
the national and diocesan communications coordinators and other collaborators to send us news
on events in their religious congregations, dioceses and countries. Send to
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