The Official Online Journal of the Catholic Secretariat

IMPACT
Online
September - December 2015

Issue

12/2

Sent on mission to make disciples of all

nations and bear fruit in abundance
to do the work of
God in whichever
apostolates the
Sisters will be
sent.
And
Lusaka
Reverend Sisters holding Certificates on their Graduation at Kalundu Study Centre Archdiocese Vicar
General,
Mons.
19 Sisters have graduated with Certificate in Lead- Oliver Mukunta encouraged all
ership and Formation from Kalundu Study Centre in the Sisters to live consecrated
Lusaka on November 7, 2015.
life with the humility and simAnd Speaking at the Graduation Ceremony, the
plicity of life.
Centre Administrator Sr. Euphrasia Chanda urged all
The 19 Sisters who graduated
graduands to be ambassador for Christ. Basing on
come from different Religious
this years theme: Sent on mission to make disciples
Congregations from Lesotho,
of all nations and bear fruit in abundance, Sr. ChanMalawi, Namibia, South Africa,
da exhorted the Sisters to remain focus and willing
Zimbabwe, Tanzania and from
within Zambia.

www.catholiczambia.org.zm

Fr. Leonard Namuvhumba appointed

Vice-Rector of Blessed Bakanja College
Rev. Fr. Leonard
Namuvhumba has
been appointed by
AMECEA as vice
Rector
of
the
Blessed Bakanga
College in Nairobi, Kenya.
Until his appointment Fr. Namuvumba
has been Spiritual Director of the St.
Dominics Major Seminary for eight
years from 2008.
Fr. Namuvhumba was ordained for the
archdiocese of Lusaka in 1994. He holds
a PHD in Spiritual Theology, Bachelor
Degrees in Theology and Counselling.
Prior to his studies, Fr. Namuvumba
worked in many parishes of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. He was also appointed
Episcopal Vicar for three years before
Kabwe became a diocese.

ZAMBIA CATHOLIC NATIONAL TV IN OFFING

Fr Winfield Kunda
The Independent Broadcasting
Authority (IBA) has granted
Zambia Episcopal Conference
(ZEC) national TV construction
permit.

ZEC Director for Communication Father

Winfield Kunda who disclosed the development added that the national Catholic TV
station will be called LUMEN TV Zambia
and be based in Lusaka.
Father Kunda who says the development
has excited the Church in Zambia for it has
waited for more than 10 years for a TV licence, however said the development is a
mammoth task that calls for support from
all Catholics and people of good will.
Father Kunda says that once Lumen TV (Z)
becomes operational it will be broadcasting
throughout the country and appealed for

content contribution from all the

church run media production houses
in Zambia to make it a success.
In a letter dated 10th August, 2015
and addressed to the Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General
Father Cleophas Lungu, the Independent Broadcasting Authority Director general Josephine Mapoma
authorised the Catholic Church in
Zambia to be a content provider to
the Zambia National Broadcasting
Cooperation (ZNBC) bouquet via its
national TV station.

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

ZAMBIA AND VATICAN CELEBRATES GOLDENJUBILEE RELATIONS

The Vatican says its bond with Zambia has been inserted into vibrant and
active fabric of Zambian life.
This has contributed to the promotion
of freedom of activity for the church
and dignity of the human person.
Holy Sees Secretary for Relations
with States, Monsignor Richard Gallagher said this at the Vatican Embassy in Lusaka during the reception to
mark the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Zambia.
Such relations have seen the fruitful
growth the Catholic Church, with her
institutions open to all, without distinction and without any other aim,
save that of the progress and the care
of the dignity of each person Monsignor Gallagher noted.
He also acknowledged the appreciation of the successive governments in
Zambia of the Catholic Church.
And Monsignor Gallagher said in a
country identified with Christianity its
unthinkable that the weak and the
poor should be left behind saying any
project for development must start
with them and be directed to them ,
knowing that the one who does believe in Christ cannot be concerned
for the poor.
By reason of the Christian quality
that has always characterised the
identity of the country, and of which
Zambia is proud, being a champion of
the values of unity, peace and equali-

ty, it is unthinkable that the

weak and the poor should be
left behind. He said.
The Church has to cry for
the poor, because they are
her members and in her the
find solace He added.
Meanwhile Monsignor Gallagher has pledged the Catholic Churchs support and collaboration in building an ever
more beautiful and vigorous
Zambia, where the care of
the environment is an integral part of the development,
as the Holy Father Pope Francis recently said in his encyclical letter: Love, overflowing
with small gestures of mutual
care, is also civic and political
and it makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a
better world. Love for society
and commitment to the com-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BISHOP ALICK BANDA

The Management and Staff of the Catholic Secretariat wishes
a happy birth day (15th November) to Rt. Rev. Dr. Alick Banda, Bishop of Ndola and current Zambia Episcopal Conference.
NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

mon good are outstanding

expressions of a charity
which affects not only relationships between individuals but also macrorelationships, social, economic and political ones.
The Holy Sees Secretary
for Relations with States,
Monsignor Richard Gallagher arrived in Zambia on
November 7, 2015 to officiate at the 50th Anniversary
celebrations of the establishment of the diplomatic
relations between the Holy
See and Zambia.
During his official visit to
Zambia, Archbishop Gallagher he met President
Edgar Lungu, Foreign
affairs Minister Harry Kalaba and celebrated Mass at
Cathedral of Child Jesus.
Pope Paul IV opened the
Nunciature in Zambia on
27th October, 1965 with
Archbishop Alfredo Poledrini being the first Apostolic Nuncio.

Pope Francis makes changes to the Annulment Process

Pope Francis has
substantially
and
significantly altered
the process for those
seeking annulments
of marriages in the
Catholic
Church,
eliminating sometimes lengthy and
redundant judicial
procedures and empowering local bishops to make judgments on their own
in particularly evident cases.
The changes were announced at the Vatican on 8 September
2015 with the release of two formal documents signed by the
pope known as motu proprios - which, translated from their
Latin titles, are called The Gentle Judge, The Lord Jesus
and The Meek and Merciful Jesus. These changes reflect a
decided and new shift in delegating power from the churchs
central command to local prelates around the world. The
Changes are designed to speed up and simplify the often

lengthy procedure of marriage annulments.

In a short introduction to the new
changes, Pope Francis explains that
he wanted to balance the churchs
timeless worry to provide for the
salvation of souls with the enormous number of faithful that too
often are detached from the juridical structures of the Church at the
cause of physical or moral distance.
In total harmony with these desires, I have decided to give with
this Motu proprio arrangements
that do not favour the nullifying of
marriages but the promptness of
the processes, states Francis, so
that the heart of the faithful that
wait for the clarification of their
state may not be oppressed for a
long time by the darkness of
doubt.
The changes will eliminate a re-

quirement that all annulment decisions get a second judgment and will
allow local bishops to
expedite the annulment
process for some cases.
The annulment process
will
be
free
of
charge. The revisions
also expand the role of
local bishops in judging
nullification proceedings.
An annulment in the
Catholic Church is a decree from a church tribunal that a marriage between two persons was
invalidly
contracted.
Such a decree is often
sought by persons who
are seeking to celebrate
a different marriage.
Source: NCR, Vatican News,

CMS DIRECTOR MOURNS RADIO ICENGELO JOURNALIST

Catholic Media Services (CMS)
Executive Director Father Winfield Kunda has said the Communication family of the Catholic
Church in Zambia mourns with
deep sense of loss over the death
of Radio Icengelo trainee Journalist Jessica Phiri.
Jessica Phiri died in the Netherlands after drowning in the sea.
Radio Icengelo Director, Father
Nicolas Mubanga who confirmed
the development, said 20 year
old Jessica was in Germany for 11
months on a volunteer programme under the partnership
between the Catholic Diocese of
Ndola and the Catholic Diocese of
Limburg.
Father Mubanga said Jessica died

Late Jessica Phiri

on 5th August 2015 after drowning
in the sea in Netherlands where
she had gone for a short holiday.
He explained that Jessica died in
the sea after losing contact with
the ground and a strong current
pulled her under water and her
body was found washed offshore
on Saturday 8th august, 2015.
Jessicas body arrived from in Zam-

bia from Netherlands on 18th

August, 2015 and burial took
place on 19th August, 2015.
Meanwhile Zambia Episcopal
Conference Director for Communication expressed shock
that the cold hand of death
could steal a young life of Jessica Phiri who was dedicated to
communicating Christ through
the radio programmes she produced and presented on radio
Icengelo.
Father Winfield Kunda said that
the Communication family of
the Catholic Church in Zambia is
deeply saddened at such a loss
and prayed for the family during such challenging time.

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

CARITAS-ZAMBIA, OTHER FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION TO

MONITOR ZAMBIAS 2016 ELECTIONS
With such observation, he announced that CCMG thus
during the period leading to the 2016 tripartite elections, will monitor, document and publicise political
activities in the electoral process which will include
Voter Registration, the legal framework, and the general campaign environment.

As Zambia goes to the polls next in 2016, Zambia

Episcopal Conference (ZEC) through CaritasZambia has joined other faith based organization to
monitor the elections.
The monitoring group consisting of Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) , Council of Churches in
Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia
(EFZ) and the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR), has been named Christian Churches
Monitoring Group (CCMG).
And speaking at the launch of CCMG, Mongu Diocese Bishop Evans Chinyemba,OMI, said that
CCMG was mindful of the fact that the outcome of
an election is not necessarily determined by the
events of the voting day but even more so by the
fairness and integrity of the entire electoral process
that leads to the voting day.
Editorial Team

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Managing Editor
Contact Us
Rev. Fr. Winfield Kunda
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Executive Director
Kapingila House
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6 BRT Kabulonga Rd, Lusaka
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P O Box 31965
Lusaka
Mwenya Mukuka
Tel: +260 211 26 2613
Communications Officer
Fax: +260 211 26 36 26
Zambia Episcopal Conference Email: winku03@gmail.com

CCMG will place 110 highly trained district monitors

across the country with a few towns that are highly
populated having more than one monitor per district at
polling stations to observe the voting process include
conducting parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) on the
Presidential Poll.
Bishop Chinyemba, OMI, who is also ZEC Bishop
Director for Caritas Zambia, further expressed concern
by the sustained intolerance among politicians across
political parties saying Zambia is a multiparty democracy with opportunities for all for freedom of association and speech.
The Lord Bishop also appealed to the media to exert its
professional ethics and avail the public with quality
and objective information that will help the voters
make informed choices during elections adding that the
media must not hire itself to be a fora for politicians to
insult each other and slender as this will not benefit
voters in any way in knowing what the candidates
stand for.
Christian Church Monitoring Group (CCMG) has received financial support from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) for monitoring
work as well as technical assistance from the National
Democratic Institute (NDI). However, CCMG is responsible for all aspects of the project.
If you are receiving IMPACT magazine as unsolicited mail and wish
to unsubscribe, please contact, with words UNSUBSCRIBE the undersigned who will remove your email address from the emailing list.
mmukuka@zec.org.zm, winku03@gmail.com
NEW IMPACT Online invites articles from a wide selection of the
Catholic Church. Views expressed in the newsletter are therefore not
necessarily the official position of the Zambia Episcopal Conference.
Contribute to NEW IMPACT by sending your Letters and Articles to
mwenyamukuka@yahoo.co.uk .

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

ZEC GIVES KUDOS TO AMECEA

Workshop participants posing for a photograph

The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has acknowledged
the continued improvement in
services offered to member countries at the Association of Member Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Secretariat.
ZEC Bishop Director for Communications, Right Reverend Moses Hamungole made the observation when he addressed 50 participants to a capacity building
workshop from all Curial Offices
of the 11 Catholic Dioceses in
Zambia held at Kasisi Retreat
Center in Lusaka from 1st to 5th
September, 2015.
He said such development makes
AMECEA relevant to its members and contribute to enabling
the pastoral agents get necessary
skills for their collaboration in the
evangelisation mission and administration of the local church
and ultimately the universal
church.
Right Reverend Hamungole who
is also the Bishop of Monze Diocese said that after getting new
skills, participants of the capacity
building workshop should be the
first ones to suggest some chang-

es for the good of the diocese and

entire family of God in the local
church, especially this time when
most Bishops are worried about
how to mobilise financial and human resource.
He also appealed for capacity
building workshop for Bishops
saying they also need to sharpen
their skills to respond to new challenges in the local and universal
church.
The Monze Diocese Bishop further
challenged the Zambia Catholic
University to make itself more visible and publicise its activities
through participating in various
diocesan programmes and events.
The workshop had Vicar Generals,
Pastoral Coordinators, Financial
Administrators and other Administrators as participants.
Meanwhile speaking at the start of
the workshop, Zambia Episcopal
Conference (ZEC) Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu said
the development shows how AMECEA is relevant to the Zambian
Church said the training workshop
is a privileged moment to share
best practices in terms of management of personnel, structures and
resources.
And AMECEA dep-

uty Secretary General Father Chrisantus

Ndaga noted the highlights of the training workshop as Leadership and Management, Youth ministry and chaplaincy, Information Communications and
Planning and project management.
The training conducted by the Catholic
University and AMECEA also had a
session on planning and methods of
fundraising.
Other key benefits of the Capacity
Building program which was supported
by the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) included
supporting the Catholic Bishops in capacity building to establish and maintain an effective, diverse and motivated
workforce at diocesan level to ensure
excellence in support of the regions
pastoral outreach by empowering all
the parts of the region.
Father Ndaga also announced that modalities are underway for a possibility
to hold a similar training in Eritrea
where VISA challenges still exist.
AMECEA is a regional catholic body
consisting of eight countries namely
Malawi, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, Zambia, Uganda and Ethiopia.

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

PHOTO FOCUS

President Edgar Lungu with Pope's Secretary for Relations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher (R)
and Archdiocese of Lusaka Archbishop George Mpundu (L) when he paid a Courtesy call on the
Head of State at State house in Lusaka.

Archbishop Gallagher (C) celebrating mass at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus on Lusaka to
celebrate Golden Jubilee of Zambia-Holy See Diplomatic Relations. Besides him on the
altar is Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu, His Excellency Archbishop Julio Murati

President Edgar Lungu with Pope's Secretary for Relations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and
the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia Julio Murat when he paid a Courtesy call on the Head of State at
State house in Lusaka.

From Left : Apostolic Nuncio Julio Murat , Zambias Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba

Catholic Bishops posing for a photo with Catholic Secretariat staff after celebrating with them. This was before the staff of their last plenary meeting of
2015.

Catholic Bishops inspecting their Foxdale land in Lusaka.

and Pope's Secretary for Relations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher with other people
at the Nunciature In Lusaka.

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

BISHOP CHINYEMBA URGES CATHOLICS TO

SPEAK AGAINST MISUSE OF POWER
sioned. To remain silent is to
have sold ones conscience,
he said.

Bishop Chinyemba,OMI
Mongu Diocese Bishop, Rt.
Rev. Evans Chinyemba says Catholic Christians that remain mute
when political power is being misused are neglecting their baptismal
duty towards the attainment of a
just society.
Bishop Chinyemba said Catholics
have a duty and responsibility to be
actively involved in the countrys
governance issues.
If you cannot speak as a concerned laity, who else will speak?
When power is misused and you
remain silent, know that you are
neglecting your duty as a lay faithful. When attempts to silence masses are made and you remain mute,
you as laity you neglect your duty
as a baptised person who is mis-

Bishop Chinyemba said, inspired by the Gospel and

their political involvement,
the laity have a duty to shed
light on issues of justice, corruption, quality leadership,
economic well-being, housing, education, health care,
security, issues of youths
and many other interventions that would help build a
better Zambia.
He urged the laity to be the
first to speak out when national resources are being
misused.
Bishop Chinyemba said
while there are Catholic politicians who try to discharge
their duties well, sadly, some
of them have compromised
their faith and have neglected the spirit of service for
political gain saying they
chosen to lie in order to continue holding on to power at
various levels.

selves.
Take your rightful place
and present what is valuable to politics. I urge you
to bring to the political
field the values that make
you a good Christian and a
credible Catholic, He said.
Bishop Chinyemba said
this in his latest monthly
bulletin; Banahaesu addressed to his diocesan
faithful under the theme
Catholic lay faithful and
their participation in the
political life of a country.
Bishop Chinyemba said
Catholic Christians have a
duty and responsibility to
be actively involved in the
countrys governance issues saying the Church
leadership has clearly expressed such aspect at
various fora and through
some of its doctrinal documentation.

He added that other bad examples of Catholic lay faithful have entered politics not
to serve but to enrich themNEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

News from Dioceses

Bishop EmeritusA. A. Chisha celebrates Golden Jubilee
Bishop Emeritus of Mansa
of Mansa Diocese, Rt.
Rev. Aaron Andrew Chisha, on August 15, 2015,
celebrated his Golden Jubi-lee at St. Johns Cathedral Parish in the Archdiocese of Kasama.
A good number of Priests
and especially Sisters of
Mercy (SOM) from Mansa
Diocese attended the occasion.
Sisters of Mercy remember
Bishop Aaron An-drew Chisha, in a special way, for the

Sisters of Mercy (SOM) elect Sr. Rosemary

Mushibwe as their new Superior General
The Congregation of the Sisters
of Mercy have elected Sr. Rosemary Mushibwe as their Superior

Vicaress

and

three

Councillors namely, Srs.

Anna

In attendance there were three dioceses and

two archdioceses:- Lusaka Archdiocese 10
members; Kasama Archdiocese- 1 member;
Kabwe Diocese- 1 member; Ndola Diocese- 4
members and Mongu Diocese 5 members.
After the retreat elections were held and the
following were ushered into office at that National level. President Stella Chisunka- Lusaka
Archdiocese; Vice President- Stephen Mpabalwani- Ndola Diocese; Secretary Justina Yamba
Lusaka Archdiocese; Vice Secretary- Febby
Simusonkwe; Treasurer Josephine Chimpinde
Lusaka Archdiocese and Vice Treasurer
Maggie Mwila- Kasama Archdiocese; Committee members- Martina Mwala- Mongu diocese.
The other committee member will be selected
later from the Archdiocese of Lusaka. The presiding officer was Mr. Masuksu a member of
the National Council for the Laity.
The NEW SECRETARY GENERAL OF
MALAWI EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE
VISITS CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT

(ECM) Secretary General, Fr. Henry

She will be assisted by Sr. Mary

as

The Catholic Nurses of Zambia had their National Annual Retreat and AGM from 25 th
28th September, 2015 at the Selesian Centre,
Bauleni. The retreat Director was Fr, Justine
Matepa, National Pastoral Coordinator. The
theme for the retreat was consecrated Hands
for Love and Service.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi

General for the next six years.

Mwila

CATHOLIC NURSES GUILD OF

ZAMBIA HOLDS ANNUAL RETREAT

Saindi, undertook a 10 day long visit to

Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC)
Catholic Secretariat in Lusaka. Father

Mbobola, Elizabeth Mutale and

Saindi who landed in Zambia on Thurs-

Patricia Mulenga.

day, 15th October, 2015 toured various

This was their first chapter after

ZEC institutions and held meetings with

the

departmental heads.

demise

of

their

Father

Founder Most Rev. James Mwewa Spaita, Archbishop Emeritus

Fr. Henry Saindi (C) with CMSTV staff

And speaking to Catholic Media Services (CMS), Father Saindi described

the Catholic Secretariat in Zambia as

MONGU DIOCESAN COUNCIL FOR THE CATHOLIC

YOUTH (DCCY) GOES CAMPING

very organised and beautiful. I find

from launching the said book a number of

Hundreds of youths from parishes topics were discussed such as Vocation, Sacin Mongu Diocese camped at St. raments, Mariology, HIV and AIDS to mention
Martins Parish is Kaoma for four but a few.
days 27th 31st August, 2015. During the camping a book suitable for The youth had a privilege of encounters with
youth was launched by the Com- Bishop Evans Chinyemba, OMI for the whole
boni Sisters. The title of the book is day and he celebrated Mass with them to conDownload Jesus this book was clude the day.
written by a Comboni Sister. Apart

people are so friendly they dont look

this place very organised and beautiful.

You have good structures too and the
like they are carrying funerals Fr.
Saindi said. Father Saindi was appointed Episcopal of Malawi Secretary General in June, 2015.
Fr. Saindi who described his familiarisation tour of ZEC as a learning moment
to him and whatever he was going to

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

Reflection
By Mwenya Mukuka, ZEC Communications Officer

HURT !
Have you ever been hurt by
someone you love? I suppose you
have. Most of us have had the
experience of being hurt by
someone who loves us. It does
not take much. Someone who
loves us is able to hurt us much
more deeply than someone who
does not. An action or a word
that could have been ignored had
it come from another person is
not easy to ignore or forget.
Suddenly we find questions in our
hearts and minds. We find an
ache that will not easily go away.
We think our questions have been
put to one side, and then they
start all over again. We try to
search for a reason why the hurt
has been inflicted upon us. The
more we love the one who hurt is,
the more we struggle to find a
reasonable explanation for their
behaviour. It is all the harder if we
cannot find that reasonable explanation.

Once upon a time, man sought medical

attention at a clinic after beaten by his
son. The mans tongue was very badly cut
and the bleeding was profuse. The son
had been looking for money for beer. His
father had refused to give him the money
he wanted.
Time and again the man said that the real
hurt was not the physical wounds his son
had caused. The real wound was in his
heart, where we could not see. The real
injury was the knowledge that his own
son could beat his father.
And how would you feel that as a man a
woman you intend to marry be impregnated by someone else?
Joseph must have also felt very hurt
when he realized that Mary was pregnant
and that the baby in her womb was not
his. There must have been so many questions he would have asked. Why did she
do this to him who loved her so much?
How could Mary be unfaithful? How
could someone who seemed to be so
good seem to have done something so
wrong?

Joseph was a normal man. He did not want to

marry a girl who was pregnant with someone
elses child. Yet Joseph knew that if he a public the fact that Mary was not pregnant for
him, she would be stoned to death. Could Joseph bear to see the woman he loved being
insulted by the people of Nazareth? Could he
see her put on trial? Could he watch everybody drag her to the execution site and throw
rocks at her until she was killed and her beautiful body broken beyond recognition?
No, Joseph was an honourable man. He was a
good man, actually a gentleman. That is why,
of all the men throughout history God chose
him to be the protector of Mary and Jesus.
Joseph must have been so grateful to the angel who appeared and told him that Mary had
not been unfaithful to him. He must have felt
so humbled when he gradually began to realize that there was something very special
about this baby. He must have felt very inadequate when he realized the importance of the
vocation God had given him. He must have
thought many times that God was choosing a
strange way in which to save the world. God
had chosen a village girl and a carpenter to be
the family to which he would send his son.
What a strange way to save the world.
Lord, its not always easy to see your plans for
my life. Sometimes, when situations cause me
pain, I find it hard to accept that you are helping me grow towards you. I find it difficult that
you are leading me to fulfil the vocation you
gave me. Help me to be like Joseph.
Help me to trust and be faithful to your plans
for me, Amen.

NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

Celebrating a Golden Jubilee of Diplomatic Relations between

the Holy See and Zambia
By Fr. Cleophas Lungu, ZEC Secretary General

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for the Relations with
States of the Holy See addressing guests (not in picture) during a reception at the Vatican Embassy in Lusaka to celebrate 50 year relationship
between Zambia and the Vatican.

Barely a year after Zambia gained its political independence, Pope Paul VI appointed
Archbishop Alfredo Poledrini on 27th October 1965 as the first Apostolic Nuncio to
Zambia. Thus, the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of
Zambia were duly established. In turn,
President Kenneth Kaunda appointed H. E.
Mr Simon Chikwanda Katilungu as the first
Zambian Ambassador to the Holy See. To
mark the 50th anniversary of the same, we
were blessed with the official visit of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for the Relations with States of the
Holy See, who presided over a jubilant celebration of the Holy Mass in the Cathedral
of the Child Jesus in Lusaka, on 8th November 2015. With and through him, we received personal greetings and the apostolic
blessings from the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who through the Apostolic Nunciature,

is ever close to us and wishes the people of Zambia well. Archbishop Gallagher did well to quote the famous
words of Pope Francis, which he addressed to the Catholic Bishops in Zambia during their Visit Ad Limina on 17th
November 2014: It is at once evident
how plentiful the spiritual harvest in
your vast country already is blessed
with Catholic run clinics, hospitals and
schools, many parishes alive and
growing across Zambia, a wide diversity of lay ministries, and substantial
numbers of vocations to the priesthood. With the whole Church, we can
give thanks to God for what he has
already accomplished in the people
entrusted to your care. Indeed, the
mission of Holy See rendered through
the Nunciature, is the mission to
strengthen the faith of the Local
NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

Church and bonds of communion

with the Successor of St. Peter.
In the words of Archbishop Gallagher, ... the active role of the
Catholic Church in Zambia has
been appreciated and recognised by successful governments. We are grateful to various Presidents, for such respectful relations and recognition. Looking to the future with
hope, he was quick to add that
his prayer was that the cordial
relations between the Church
and the State would continue to
mature and grow strong. The
Popes envoy also underlined the
need for the Church and State to
pay special attention to the cry of
the poor and the weak while
pledging that The Catholic
Church is happy to collaborate,
as she always has done and will
continue to do, in the hope of
building a country ever more
beautiful and vigorous, where
the care of the environment is
an integral part of development. As we prepare to celebrate the forthcoming Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, the
Catholic Church in Zambia will do
well to remember, ponder and
act upon the challenging words
of His Holiness, Pope Francis, in
his discourse to the Bishops of
the Zambia Episcopal Conference: irrigate with your corporal and spiritual works of mercy the vineyard of the Lord
which stretches across Zambia
like the great Zambezi River.

10

ANNULMENT- THE MARRIAGE THAT NEVER WAS.

An explanation on the meaning of marriage annulment that the Catholic Church carries out
By Father Winfield Kunda, ZEC Communications Director

Recently a number of media houses carried a judicial finding that a marriage had not been
story suggesting that the Catholic Church brought into effect on the wedding day, as the
through Pope Francis has allowed divorce. faith community had presumed.
This was when Pope Francis made some People can enter into what is purportedly to
changes to the process of marriage annul- mean marriage only to discover that some
ments.
information was withheld which, if known at
When Pope Francis made a few changes to that time to either one of the contracting parthe process of marriage annulments, it be- ties or even the Church, the marriage ceremocame clear from the discussions among Cath- ny would not have taken place. This invalidates
olics and none Catholics alike that not every- the marriage.
one knows what marriage annulment really The Church law declares that marriage is
means. Most people think marriage annul- brought about through: (1) the consent of the
ment is another term to describe divorce. bride and the groom, (2) legitimately manifestSome were even saying Pope Francis was ed, (3) by those qualified according to the law
changing the Catholic Church laws and that he (the bride and the groom). So if the consent
was going against the teaching of Christ. Some was defective marriage was not brought
even went to attack the Pope by stating that about. If the consent was not legitimately
he was becoming too
liberal in so far as it
The Church holds that no a marriage
comes to the matters of
which is ratified and consummated
the Catholic Church.
What is really marriage
cannot by dissolved by any human
annulment? First and
foremost, annulment is
power or by any cause other than
not divorce. According to
death
the teaching of the
Church, the Church cannot
allow divorce of a validly contracted marriage. manifested marriage was not brought about
The Church holds that no a marriage which is either and if one or both of the people were
ratified and consummated cannot by dis- unqualified according to law the marriage
solved by any human power or by any cause was not brought about.
other than death (cf. Canon law 1141). This is A person ready for marriage should be one who
also in fidelity to the teaching of Jesus Christ freely, knowingly enters into marriage knowing
who said that marriage is indissoluble (Mark that it entails permanent partnership ordered
10:11-12; I Cor 7: 10-11).
toward the procreation of children. Union (one
A declaration of nullity is not dissolution of
man, one woman) and indissolubility (marriage
marriage. It is not a Church divorce as others
is for life) are essential properties of marriage.
put it. Annulment simply means that the
If either or both parties exclude, one such esmarriage, after examining information availsential properties, that marriage is invalid
able now, on what was considered to be legal- from the word go. Consent is paramount for
ly taken place at the time of the wedding, was those entering marriage. If a person was forced
from the beginning not validly contracted. In
into marriage, e.g., fearing to be bewitched if
other words, the marriage was never there
one does not marry in in a particular family,
because it lacked what constitutes a valid
may defect the consent and thus invalidate
marriage according to the laws and teaching
marriage. One must also have knowledge of
of the Church. Annulment is the Churchs
whom he or she is marrying. If one is in error
NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

of the one he or she is marrying,

then the marriage is invalid.
The other aspect that validates
marriage is the legitimate manifestation of marriage itself. The
celebration of the marriage
should be done before the witnesses - priest and other church
witnesses and that it should be
consummated or else the marriage could be considered invalid.
The Church law outlines those
who do not qualify to validly contract marriage, e.g., impotents
(not infertility), age, close relations, those who have made vow
of celibacy, or those already validly married and so on. If at the
time of the wedding one person
or both contracting marriage had
any of these impediments, then
the wedding was invalid.
It is often common to discover
later that some information were
not available at the time the wedding ceremony took place. As a
person who has worked as a parish priest before, I know what I
am talking about. People are able
to withhold information at the
time the wedding ceremony is
about to take place. There are
many reasons why persons intending to contract church marriage may withhold information
from either their partner or the
witnesses, in this case the Church.
Some of these reasons would include simulation, fear, and traditional beliefs, or even deception.
For instance, a man who at the
time of the wedding was already
in other relationships with other
women would not want his bride
or the priest to know about this
for fear that the wedding will not

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ANNULMENT- THE MARRIAGE THAT NEVER WAS.

From page 8

take place. This person has already excluded one essential properties of marriage union. It is doubtful
whether he believes or consents to be in a one manone woman exclusive relationship.
That invalidates marriage. So once the church carries
out its own investigations and discovers any defect
such as this, it invalidates that marriage. This is what
we call annulment.
The Church carries its own process to judge whether
the marriage was invalid from the moment it was contracted or not. The Church does this through its own
courts called the Marriage Tribunal. Anyone faithful
claiming that or suspecting that their marriage is invalid can bring the case before the tribunal which sits
usually at the Diocesan Offices. The tribunal then examines all the facts in view of the Churchs teaching
and laws on marriage before it passes
judgement on a particular case. The
tribunal will declare whether the
nullity of marriage is proven or not
proven. If it is proven, it simply
means there was no marriage even
if the ceremony was conducted in
the Church. In this case, either party is now free to contract marriage
in Church if they so wish.
If the tribunal judges that the nullity
of marriage is not proven, then the
marriage from the first instance was
valid. Here the Church will not do anything on the marriage because it has no authority to grant divorce. In
situation where couples are no longer living together,
and most probably have been granted divorce by civil
authority local courts or other courts- the Church
considers that as separation.
One may ask, what happens to the relationship that
existed between the man and the woman during those

marriage years? What of

the children, if any, born
out of that union? The
declaration of the nullity
does not deny that love
existed in that relationship and that cannot be
wiped away. Even the
wedding ceremony that
took place will not be
wiped away either. That relationship
remains part of individual and collective history. The children born out of
that union are considered legitimate
in church law, similar to those born
out of wedlock. However what we
have is a declaration that marriage did
not come about on the wedding day.
The declaration of nullity or annulment does not dissolve or erase the
ceremony or whatever has happened
after the ceremony. But still in the
eyes of the Church there was no marriage.
The process of nullification is a tedious long and at times frustrating process especially on the part of the per-

Pope Francis has changed. He

wants to shorten the process. This
does not imply that any case or
cases sent to the marriage tribunal will be nullified. The procedure of declaring annulments still
remains the same. What has
changed is the time it will be taking for the tribunal to pass judgement on the case to declare it
annulled or not annulled.
It is import to note that annulments have existed in the Church
for centuries. This is not something new. It would be sad to
think that it is Pope Francis who is
introducing a new teaching in the
church. The Church has been dealing with marriage cases through
the same process as far back as
the middle ages. We hope that
those affected with marital cases
may find easer through this process so that their cases may be
disposed off more so that Pope
Francis has proposed that it be
done freely without any cost to it.
It is also paramount to
note that any person
intending to enter marriage- church marriage
should be mature
enough, fully aware of
the teaching of the
Church and that they
do not exclude any law
or teaching of the
church as they enter
marriage.

We hope that those affected with

marital cases may find easer through
this process so that their cases may
be disposed off more so that Pope
Francis has proposed that it be done
freely without any cost to it.
son who want the church nullify their
marriage. At times it can even take
longer than ten years. This process is
also very expensive. In the meantime
one cannot participate fully in the life
of the Church especially if they have
already starting leaving in another
relationship. This is the process which
NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

12

IS THE HOLY SEE A SECULAR OR

POLITICAL STATE? By Fr. Winfield Kunda
independent juridical institution of
Recently the Holy Sees Secretary for not just a spiritual leader of about 1.2
the Catholic Church so as to make it
Relations with States, Monsignor Richbillion Catholics of the world; he is also
ard Gallagher was in Zambia to officiate the head of state of the smallest state
operate freely with regards to its spirat the 50th Anniversary celebrations of
itual authority. It is through diplocalled the Vatican. The Church through
the establishment of the diplomatic rematic service that the Holy Father,
him, develops diplomatic relations with
lations between the Holy See and Zamexercises as head of the Catholic
other nations.
bia.
Church communion with the bishops
After the fall of the great Roman
The Celebration started with Sunday
Empire in the early centuries, the Church world over and acts to guarantee the
Mass on 8th November 2015 at the Calife of the local churches with respect
assumed the responsibilities to run the
thedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka and
to the civil authorities. The Church
secular affairs of society in most of Euconcluded with a reception at the Vatithrough diplomatic relations prorope. The Church became the centre for
can embassy on Monday, 10th Novemmotes and supports areas where the
education, health, social and cultural
ber, 2015.
advancement of common good for
Archbishop Gallagher received favoura- learning. It also exercised the right to
human development should be enble media coverage during his visit to
send and receive official representatives
riched:
this nation. This development brought
to those empires not under its Christensome questions especially on social meThe Holy See is called to act in facilidom. When, towards the end of the 15th
dia.
tating co-existence and a common
Some people asked how a
life among the various nations,
It is through diplomatic service that the in promoting collaboration,
Church can have a relationship with a country. Many obcooperation among peoples,
Holy Father, exercises as head of the
served that such a relationship
with a structured solidarity that
can only be there on political
Catholic Church communion with the
favours the common good and
understanding. Some concludbishops world over and acts to guaran- the good of each othed that the Vatican is an actively political state no wonder tee the life of the local churches with re- er (Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
Vatican Secretary of State,
it can afford an ambassador
spect to the civil authorities
2015).
even Secretary for Relations
The Catholic Churchs diplowith states.
matic services have contributed greatHas the church explained itself fully on
century, states began to emerge, the
this matter?
ly toward human development, interPope exchanged representatives with
There are various schools of
national cooperation, justice and
them.
thoughts which argue that the church
peace. It has facilitated championing
As Archbishop Richard Paul Galshould not involve itself in politics and
of concern for the poor to which its
lagher, Holy See Secretary for Relations
worse still become Secular. Many peomaster, Jesus was particularly sent
with States observed, The Church has
ple have noted that the Church should
for. In this case the Vatican despite
participated in the international
only be concerned with spiritual matters [relations] from its very origins, and in
being the Holy See, has used secular
and detach itself totally from politics.
interventions in nations to propagate
that manner has contributed, through
These schools of thoughts have said
the Gospel demand of being disciples
the centuries, to the formation of the
leadership of the church should leave
to all nations and preach the Word of
practices and the proper institutions of
politicians run the affairs of society.
Christ to all creation (Mark 16:15).
diplomatic life.
However, this is not the case. The
ROLE OF VATICAN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE Congratulations to Zambia and the
Church has time and again involved itself The role of diplomatic service of the Holy Vatican for the 50 year relationship.
in the political sphere of society. It
See is to represent a moral authority and Looking forward to another half a censhould be taken note of that the Pope is
tury association.
NEW IMPACT Online | Sept - Dec 2015

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SECOND SESSION OF THE SYNOD ON THE

FAMILY COMMENCES IN ROME
The Second Session of
the Synod on the Family
opened on 5th October
in the Vatican in Rome
with Pope Francis calling on the Bishops to
remain open in their deliberations to the call of
the Holy Spirit, repeating
his frequent assertion
that God is a God of surprises.
Pope Francis opened a
three week gathering
calling on the gathered
prelates to work in their
deliberations with
apostolic courage, evangelical humility, and trust
-filled prayer.
The Synod, the pope
said, is not a parliament
or a senate, but an
ecclesial expression of
a church that walks together to read reality
with eyes of faith and the
heart of God.
It is the Church that
questions itself on its fidelity to the deposit of
the faith, so that it does
not represent a museum
to be looked at or only to
be safeguarded, but a living spring from which the
church drinks to quench
thirst and illuminate the
deposit of life, the pontiff said of the Synod.
The Synod is also a
protected space where
the Church goes through
the action of the Holy
Spirit, said Francis.
In the Synod, the Spirit
speaks through the language of all people who
allow themselves to be
guided by God who always surprises, by God
who reveals to the little

Pope Francis waves as he leaves the opening session of the

Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 5. (CNS
photo/Paul Haring)
ones that which he has hidden from the wise and intelligent, he said.
By God who created the law and the Sabbath for people and not
vice versa, by God who leaves the 99 sheep to find the one missing
sheep, by God who is always greater than our logic and our calculations, he continued.
Calling on the prelates to exercise evangelical humility and trustfilled prayer, the pope said the first quality means emptying oneself
of ones own convictions and prejudices in order to listen to our brother bishops and fill ourselves with God.
Such humility, he said, leads us not to point a finger in judgment of
others, but to extend a hand to help them up again without ever feeling superior to them.
Trust-filled prayer, Francis said, is the action of the heart when it is
open to God, when it keeps quiet our own moods to listen to the soft
voice of God who speaks in silence.
Without listening to God, all of our words will be just words that
dont quench or satisfy, the pontiff told the assembled gathering.
Without leaving ourselves to be guided by the Spirit all our decisions
will be just decorations that instead of exalting the Gospel cover and
hide it.
Pope Francis spoke to the Synod Monday in short remarks after a
morning prayer service.
A total of 279 priests and prelates are attending the synod and all
the prelates have been appointed by Francis as voting members of
the synod.
Others whoa are attending and are participating in the discussions
include , a number of auditors and a few married couples. These do
not have voting power to the final documents.

Story by NCR

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