INTERNATIONAL SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
P O Box 310300: Chelston; Lusaka;
ZAMBIAKEANE PEREGERINATIONS
31 May 2011
In April the Zambian Bothers were very surprised at the death of Brother John Meade in Dublin. Further shock was felt in Ireland at the sudden death of Brother Patrick McGinnity. Paddy died unexpectedly on Thursday, 5 May, the Founder’s Feastday. His funeral too place in St Therèse Church, Mount Merrion, followed by burial in Deans Grange Cemetery. When in Oatlands Paddy’s room was immediately beside mine. He customarily accompanied me to morning Mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook. May he rest in peace.Following tradition the Mater Dei District held its annual assembly at UNZA. Proceedings were facilitated by members of the province renewal team, Michael Godfrey and Joe Mosely. Brian Bond and Moy Hitchen of the International NGO Advocacy team. Proceedings concluded on Thursday, Edmund’s Feast Day, with Eucharist. This was followed by supper and a celebration. The Novitiate Community attended the concluding events.
Due to the death of John Meade there was a vacancy on the District Leadership Team. Following a decisive vote of the Brothers present the Congregation Leader appointed Brother Alfred Banda, Community Leader, St Edmund’s, Mazabuka, to the council. This appointment met with unanimous approval. The council now consists of Seamus O’Reilly, Leader, and Zambians, Clement Sindazi, Revy Hang’andu & Alfred Banda.There was a wonderfully large assembly in St Ignatius’ Church, on Saturday, 14 May, for the Month’s Mind Mass for John Meade, celebrated by Joe Keaney SJ; reception was held later at nearby Nalabutu residence. The attendance of religious and laity, acknowledged John’s extraordinary commitment to the Church and education in Zambia. Seamus Reilly paid a excellent and appropriate tribute to John after Mass.Sadly, another former member of the Nalubutu Road community, William Liguori Gillespie, died on Wednesday, 18th May, in England. Liguori spent many years in western Africa, and the ten years previous to his going home to England, in Lusaka. May he rest in peace. His funeral takes place today {31 May.] A Memorial Mass will be offered here in Lusaka later in June.Another death! The sad news of the death of Br John Evangelist Carroll did not come as a shock as he had been unwell for some time. Suffering from amnesia for several years his final days were distressing. Johnny will be remembered especially for his many years teaching courses on Founderology and Congregation History at the Roman International Tertianship. May he rest in peace. His funeral will be on Saturday.Father Eugene O’Reilly SPA, a distinguished missionary priest in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa, died this month. His funeral took place at the Marian Shrine, On Friday, 20 May. May he rest in peace.Also in May, commencing on Thursday, the fifth, the novices were assigned to new ministries. These assignments range from visiting the sick at home under the auspices of Home Based Care; the Mother Teresa hostel for marginalised men and women; teaching in schools which do not receive any State aid, and which usually attract children whose education had been neglected. This work has been challenging, but the novices are facing the difficulties with courage and determination. Parallel with this ministry the usual schedule of classes continues on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The novices usually attend personal ministries on Saturday. We attended the three-day seminar on the relevance of vows in an African context at Kalemba Hall, facilitated by Martin of the Sacred Heart Brothers.Nano Nagle House is currently hosting a programme for religious in mid-life, usually preparing for leadership roles. The usual eclectic variety of men and women religious are attending. Our Indian Province is represented by Edwin D’Souza [Kurseong] and Sunil Britto [Shillong.]
June looks like being a busy month: besides the regular routine the CLT are coming from Rome for meetings with all Province Leaders. Philip Pinto will address a meeting open to the public here at ISC on Saturday 18 June.We were privileged to entertain a group for breakfast from Iona College. New Rochelle, New York, on 19 May. They just arrived at the nearby international airport. They were on their way to Mazabuka.On 8 May we were represented at the celebrations in the Cathedral of the Holy Child marking the Golden Jubilee of the local congregation, the Handmaids of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Also on 21 May some of our novices, not involved in Ministry, attended the First Profession of the Camboni Novices.We congratulate Clement Sindazi, Puriey Musunga and Sydney Muponda on the excellence and comprehensiveness of the newly-developed Mater Dei District website: < www.cbmaterdeiz.blogspot.com >.
On Thursday, 19 May, we welcomed a group from Iona College, New Rochelle, USA. They arrived, accompanied by Br Amandi Mboya [Tanzania] early in the morning at the International Airport, on their way to Mazabuka. They were greeted by Brs Alfred Banda [Mazabuka] and Puriey Musunga [Kabwe.] On Saturday, 21st we welcomed a group from Oatlands College. I was really delighted to reconnect with the Principal, Keith Ryan, who was leader. They will visit Livingstone and then Kabwe. They were greeted by Puriey Musunga. It gave me a thrill to meet teachers and students from Oatlands, my Irish ‘permanent’ residence.As you are possibly reading this, on 1 June, the Birthday of Blessed Edmund Rice, the Postulants from Mazabuka and the local Jesuit novices visit for Eucharist, games and braai. An enjoyable day is in prospect. In preparation the novices here are diligently prepared artistic production using various media.Visiting at the moment, conducting workshops at ISC is Senan D’Souza, South Africa. When here he gave excellent advice to the novices on matters artistic. We look forward to welcoming all Provincials who meet the CLT here next month. Their programme involves the ISC community and novices. Philip Pinto will conduct a public seminar here on Saturday, 18 June.1234567
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting.