The role of women in evangelisation and sustainable development in Kasamba, Zambia.

Benjamin Itungabose

By Benjamin Itungabose, M.Afr

We had a gathering of all the leaders of the Catholic Women’s Organisation in Kasamba Parish two weeks ago. Were present the leaders of this lay group from each outstation. Those who came to animate the gathering were from the Diocese. The women shared about their role in the family and the Church. The main point on the Agenda was the “Seminarian Fund.” The leaders from the Diocese explained to them the aim of this Fund and the prime role that women have to feed it. Women have always been at the forefront in the education of children. Hence forming the future ministers of the Church is a responsibility of every Catholic woman. The leaders of the different outstations of our Parish were encouraged to go back to their respective Centres to sensitise all Catholic women to make their contribution. Each Catholic woman is required to pay 10 kwacha ($1). Those who participated in the gathering paid their contribution on the spot.

Besides the Seminarian Fund, the women were also given lessons on entrepreneurship. The diocesan treasurer together with the diocesan chairperson of the Catholic Women’s Organisation in Mansa Diocese taught them how to start and manage a business. Those who attended the lessons were absolutely delighted. The aim of the lessons was to encourage women to work hard in order to care for their families and the Church. At first they were worried about how to find a capital to start a business. But they were reminded that God has already given us the most valuable capital which is the land. This was a revelation which struck all the attendants. They went back home enlightened and ready to start working hard for a sustainable development of their families and the Church.

South Africa Budget 2017: An economic or spiritual matter?

By Russell Pollitt SJ

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan made a strong call to conversion in his 2017 Budget Speech. Quoting Pope Francis he said, “Reforming the social structures which perpetuate poverty and the exclusion of the poor first requires a conversion of mind and heart”. He went on to say, “We need to radically transform our economy so that we have a more diversified economy, with more jobs and inclusivity in ownership and participation”.

There is no doubt that South Africa is sitting on a fast-ticking social time bomb. Crunching numbers and good fiscal control alone will no longer keep the wolves at bay.

Gordhan’s Budget Speech alluded many times to key themes in Catholic Social Teaching (CST): option for the poor, trust, solidarity, human dignity, the call to community, responsibility and accountability. The 2017 Budget pointed to a bigger problem which is not simply economic: at the heart of South Africa’s woes is a spiritual crisis. We must build a true community of kinship. This is our strongest antidote to the crisis.

It is tempting to look at the figures presented in the Budget and notice the ways in which I am affected. Petrol will rise by 39c, alcohol and cigarettes by between 6%-10%, those who earn more will pay more tax on a sliding scale. But it would be short-sighted (and maybe even selfish) to stop there. The bigger picture is essential and, it seems, that’s exactly what Gordhan chose to paint this year.

South Africa can no longer afford to allow a few to live extravagant lives while millions live below the poverty line with little or no hope for their future or that of their children. The country can no longer allow leaders to feather their own nests. It can no longer allow corporates and multinationals to avoid tax liabilities.

Difficult global economic and political conditions notwithstanding, it is personal and social transformation which will empower us to live with social and moral integrity. Transformation is a term which is often used in political rhetoric. It is, however, theologically rich and, in that sense, might save us from a pending social and economic crisis. Transformation is not political. It points to a systemic re-ordering and re-prioritising where it counts most: morally.

Towards the end of the Budget Speech Gordhan paraphrased what he said last year. He urged us to make right choices and do the right things so that we build a just and fair society, founded on the principles of human dignity and equality. He asked activists, workers, the business community, clergy, professionals and citizens to actively engage in shaping the transformation agenda so that we do realise a just and equitable society –a society founded on kinship.

The bottom line is that if we want prosperity and peace we must submit ourselves and our lives to transformation, to living a key Gospel truth: we are our brother and sister’s keepers.

We have a collective and social moral responsibility to build the society we want to live in. When we take that responsibility seriously then a community of kinship begins to emerge.

We would do well too if we recall that uncomfortable yet piercing Gospel truth: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)

Follow Russell Pollitt on twitter @rpollittsj

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SAP Young Confreres meeting in FENZA, Zambia.

SAP Young Confreres are meeting in FENZA, Zambia, to share their experiences as missionaries. They all have a few years of ministry and full of zeal. The participants are: Remacle Lamec Ciza from Henley-KwaMphumuza, South Africa, Frank Mbala Kalala from Sussundenga, Mozambique, Benjamin Itungabose from Kasamba, Zambia, Mathew Banseh from Lumimba, Zambia, Douglas Moumanyi Ogato from Serenje, Zambia, Lawrence Tukamushaba from Kasama, Zambia, Africano Mucunguzi from Mua, Malawi, Emmanuel Barongo from Kanengo, Malawi, Alain Christian Muhineza from Namushakende, Zambia and Jean-Bosco Nibigira from Dombe, Mozambique.

Animators: Deogratias Ngowi from Merrivale, South Africa and Justin Sebakunzi from Lua-Luo Spiritual Formation Centre, Zambia. Also on the picture: Felix Phiri, SAP Provincial.

We celebrate our 150th Anniversary!

A short history.

The Society of the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr) was founded in Algeria, in 1868 by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers; he would later be-come Cardinal Lavigerie (July 1882). From the beginning, this new missionary society took the Arab dress: the “gandoura”, with, as a religious sign, a rosary worn like a necklace. This earned them the name “White Fathers”. One year later, in 1869, Cardinal Lavigerie also founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA). Today, there are 1,232 Missionaries of Africa, from 37 Nationalities, working in 42 Countries, 22 of which are in Africa. They live in 217 communities; with a further 486 candidates at various stages of formation.

South Africa.

At the request of the Malawi Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in 1969 the Missionaries of Africa finally came down to South Africa in order to minister to the 70,000 Malawian migrants working in the lucrative mines around Johannesburg, Rustenburg and Witbank. The Malawian Catholic Mine Chaplaincy soon became the Catholic Mine Chaplaincy as the first missionary communities answered the call of all migrant mine workers, drawn from the neighbouring countries, to have a Catholic presence in their mine. Twenty years later the mine chaplaincy was integrated into each Diocese, through parish structures.

Our commitments over the years.

As the Missionaries of Africa became more known; new requests for communities were sent to the General House in Rome. The response was positive, and in rather quick succession, missionary communities were founded in Bethlehem Diocese: Phuthaditjhaba/Qwaqwa and eventually Bohlokong; in Pretoria Archdiocese in the KwaNdebele region: Tweefontein, Siyabuswa and Diepsloot; in Witbank Diocese: Kamhlushwa, Malelane and eventually KwaGuqa; in Johannesburg Archdiocese: Soweto (Zola, Zondi, Emdeni and Protea North), Orange Farm, and later, Lenasia.

From 1998 to 2004, three of our Missionaries ran the Lumko Institute in Benoni. The most recent insertion is a formation house in Durban Archdiocese: Merri-vale has more than 30 theology students from various African countries who study theology at Cedara St. Joseph Institute. Furthermore, we have two parishes near Pietermaritsburg: Henley and KwaMpumuza. Our students enjoy going there for their weekend apostolate.

A community in Edenglen, Johannesburg, acts as a hub for administration and vocation animation, while welcoming many visitors. At the same time, the priests of this community offer much appreciated services to local parishes, groups, schools and religious communities of that area and beyond.

And the mission goes on…

In their almost 50 years in South Africa (2019), the Missionaries of Africa living in communities, have tried to respond to requests for primary evangelisation, and moving on when the local Church has been established. Due to dwindling numbers and the maturity of the local Church in South Africa, today communities are found in the formation house in Merrivale, Henley,  KwaMpumuza, Bethlehem, Lenasia and Edenglen; 17 confreres in all.

The contribution has been modest but sincere; a missionary effort to building a vibrant local Church. The presence of a Formation House bodes well for the future and will ensure a Missionaries of Africa presence in South Africa for the foreseeable future.

We sincerely hope and pray that this Jubilee celebration will finally arouse in some young men the desire of a true vocation as Missionaries of Africa. What a wonderful gift from the South African Church this would be to us! Please, pray for us!

With God’s blessings.

Missionaries of Africa, P.O. Box 10057, Edenglen 1613, South Africa. Tel: 011 452 5283.

SACBC Justice and Peace Commission in South Africa Calls for a More Effective Regulation of Banks.

Bishop Abel Gabuza, the chairperson of SACBC Justice and Peace Commission, has called on the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance to consider further regulation of banks if the banks are found guilty of collusion by the competition tribunal.

“If the tribunal confirms commission’s findings, we urge the treasury and the standing committee on finance to institute more effective regulation of banks, in furtherance of the common good, to prevent further market abuse.” Says Bishop Gabuza.

According to Bishop Gabuza, this should include efforts to speed up the finalisation of the Financial Regulation Bill. “We particularly insist on the establishment of the market conduct regulator.” 

Bishop Gabuza has commended the standing committee on finance for its efforts to appraise the concentration levels in the banking sector. 

“In any sector, when too much power is concentrated in too few hands, the biggest losers are often the poor and low income earners. In so far as it is undertaken in a manner which is consistent with international benchmarks and the interests of the poor, we support government efforts to break the dominance of South Africa’s largest banks and increase access to the economy.”

Bishop has also called for stronger culture of ethics in the banking sector. “The bank collusion is a reminder that we need to strengthen ethical infrastructure in the financial sector. We are often worried that, since the banking sector is important for increased investment and faster economic growth, it is often treated as if it is a sector that should be above ethics and the law. Just like other sectors, the banking sector should be subjected to ethical imperatives and regulatory frameworks that promote the common good. Profit making and greed should not be the only guiding principles.” Added Bishop Gabuza.

SACBC Justice and Peace Commission “shall continue to speak out against corruption in the financial sector, with the same vigour that we use when we condemn corruption in the public sector. Both private sector corruption and public sector corruption arise from the spirit of greed and the worship of money. Both constitute stealing from the poor. Both divert resources necessary to uplift the poor from poverty and destitution. We shall not therefore remain silent in the face of any corruption and fraud.”

Click here to open the PDF file of this document.

For further information, kindly contact:

Bishop Abel Gabuza. Cell number:  0825494324  –  Phone number: 053 831 1861 or 053 831 1862. Email: dagabuza@gmail.com

Archbishop William Slattery: Cell: 0834685473