BLESSING OF ST. JOSEPH FREINADEMETZ

January is a blessed month for us sons and daughters of Arnold Janssen. Simply, it is because we celebrate feast day of two Saints, Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz.

Our Mission house community graced the feast of today with various activities within and with the people through the apostolates we are entrusted with. On outreach program, Fr. Romek in his sermon, he shared with Saint Theresa Parish and Prisoners about Life and mission of St. Joseph Freinademetz; while Fr. Theophan did the same with the parishioners of two Outstations belong to Dambwa Parish. Besides, there were two activities in the afternoon; a special talk on Joseph Freinademetz at 14.30 and the exposure of Blessed Sacrament at 17.30 in our Chapel, followed by an outing for supper together.

I was touched by the request of Fr. Romek to give a talk on St. Joseph Freinademetz to Vocation Club boys that was established here in Livingstone some time back. More than just sharing the facts about the life and mission of Freinademetz (simple catechesis), I reflected further on how I personally benefit from these two great saints in my 23 years missionary life undertakings here in Zambia. 

For me, Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz are more than founding fathers and models in life and mission. Personally I treasure them as saints and develop a special devotion to them ever since I came to know their journey of life. I plead God’s blessings through their intersession  for different purposes; may it be for spiritual welfare, or human development for better life of communities I live and work with, or pastoral plans and its implementations, more but a few to mention.

With gratitude I thank God for the many blessings I receive. As a respect and thanks giving, a Multipurpose Hall was built and dedicated to Blessed Joseph Freinademetz by then in Mukuni Parish; a Parish community was established and dedicated to Arnoldus Janssen protection also a Multipurpose Hall dedicated to St. Joseph Freinademetz, both of them in Mwandi Parish.

As we cherries Joseph Freinademetz and other SVD feasts, let us continue striving to share the gifts of our Founding Generations in our individual life, apostolates and parish ministries. We pray that Arnold Janssen, Joseph Freinademetz, SVD Blessed Martyrs and Patron Saints to intercede for blessings to the missions where we life and work.

By Klemens Amaunut, SVD