LUSAKA, FEBRUARY, 2021(CISA)-On the occasion of the 25th world day of prayer for the consecrated, Bishop Patrick Chisanga, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Director for the Commission for the Consecrated has called on all men and women religious to introspect and recommit to the values of consecrated life.
“I invite you to take this annual celebration as the opportune occasion for introspection and recommitment to the values of your consecration … above all, let the community and personal daily prayer and meditation on the Word of God be the springboard that propels you into your everyday life and activities,” Bishop Chisanga said in a February 2 statement.
The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mansa mentioned in appreciation the service of men and women religious in the country in various sectors.
“The Church in Zambia does recognise, with deep gratitude, your presence and apostolic activities in all dioceses. Through your presence and ministry in the health facilities, schools, nutrition centres as well as other integral human development programmes, our Lord Jesus Christ guarantees his continued living presence among his people, especially those on the margins of society. May you fan into an even bigger flame the passion for Christ and the spirit of witnessing by which the dignity of every human person is promoted and upheld,” he said.
The prelate echoed recent calls by the ZCCB to clergy, religious, laity, and people of good will to keenly adherence to preventive measures and early testing for coronavirus.
“Such calls cannot be overemphasised, especially for you, religious men and women, given the nature of your pastoral and professional apostolates that render you to be quite vulnerable to contracting the virus. I am alive to the fact that, especially in this second wave, some members of your religious institutes have, in fact, contracted the dreaded virus in the course of carrying out their respective apostolates and have unwittingly brought it into their communities. May the healing touch of our Lord Jesus Christ restore the health of those who have fallen ill and bring them wholeness so as to return to active ministry,” Bishop Chisanga said.
Instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997 the Church celebrates the world day for consecrated life together with that of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2.
