FIRST MEETING OF FRIENDS OF THE
NOVITIATE (FoN) IN ZAMBIA.
In the observation of the Zambia
Mission since his arrival almost a year ago, Fr. George Clement Angmor, SVD,
the Novice Master began taking several initiatives both in the novitiate
community and the mission at large. The recent of these is the organization of
the Friends of the Novitiate (FoN) which would be inaugurated into the SVD Lay
Partners (SVDLP) in Kabwe, in the Catholic Diocese Kabwe of Zambia. This is the
first in the diocese and second in the Zambia mission, following the premier
group in the Holy Family Parish of Linda in the capital city of Lusaka,
established by Fr. Lawrence Likulano, SVD, Parish Priest and also, the Mission
Secretary.
The first meeting took place on Saturday, 21st May, 2022, at the Divine Word Novitiate at Dallas, a suburb of Kabwe. A total number of twelve people were in attendance for the programme out of the earlier enlisted sixteen people, with two excused on travels.
As part of the programme, the
novices made some Power Point presentations. Fraters Appiah Samuel started with
a presentation on Who are the Divine Word
Missionaries?, followed by Nyabwari Ombuna Cosmas, who presented on Who are the SVD Lay Partners?, and
concluding the presentations was What is
the novitiate? by Matiwaza Hanani. As part of the presentations, some video
clips from the SVD lay partners around the globe were shown. This gave them
more ideas on what SVD lay partners are doing and where to possibly start from.
Fr. George announced that the group
would be inaugurated on 17th July, 2022, the upcoming day of the
profession of first vows of the novices. This has been agreed to in
consultation with Fr. Lawrence Likulano, SVD, and Fr. Martin Kawana, SVD, the
Mission Superior. He also informed the house about the upcoming meeting of the
AFRAM SVD Lay Partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and suggested that
if some would be interested, arrangements could be made for them to
participate. It was also made known to the new friends, the websites of the
SVD, SSpS, SSpSAP and the Lay Partners, for them to visit and read more about
the Arnoldus Family.
In addition, Fr. George also read to
the group, a message from the SVD Generalate Mission Secretary, Fr. Stanislaus
Lazar, SVD. Among other things, he reminded them of the fact that like every
baptized person, we are called to be missionary disciples, and by becoming SVD
Lay Partners, they are being called to collaborate with the SVD as partners in
mission, learning and sharing in the Arnoldus Spirituality, promising that they
would be enriched by becoming part of the Arnoldus Family, much as we are also
enriched.
Out of those present for this first meeting, four were
nominated as interim executives. They are as follows from different parishes:
⮚
Chairperson –
Mrs. Chileshe Ndalia of Holy
Rosary, Mukobeko
⮚
Secretary –
Mr. Mike Munyama of St. Monica,
Lukanga
⮚
Financial Secretary – Ms. Julian Kwara Kambole of St. Charles
Lwanga,
Chindwin
⮚
Publicity Officer – Mrs. Mwansa Nyirongo of St. Charles
Lwanga,
Chindwin.
The following materials/hand-outs were given to them: Statutes of SVD friends in Zambia, Who are
the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD?, and
A Bouquet of Prayers (a leaflet of prayers).
For Ms. Pascalina Chanda, it was
beautiful and inspiring. She was surprised to come to the realization of what
others are doing around the world to reach out to those in need as lay
faithful. According to her, the programme has offered her the zeal to join
other lay faithful to come out with programmes and projects to help others,
especially, those in need as an SVD lay partner. And for Ms. Julian Kwara
Kambole, it was all-together good. It is a good initiative and worth
developing.
The programme lasted two and a half
hours, and came to an end with the praying of Vespers (Evening Prayers) and
having supper together, with some more socialization before departure.
Augustine Dery
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