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Father who are SVDs, what do they do? So, you are not married? These and similar questions, many young boys asked me. The groups of boys and the places could be different, but very often, the questions are the same. It helps me to work out more and more systematic and organized programme. I'm sure if we were working in many places in Zambia, there would not be a need for an organized Vocation Promotion programme.

What do you do? What does my work look like? Well, saying briefly, I do selective catching boys. At times, I become a poacher entering an illegal land with a beautiful cover, which allows me to move secretly without being spotted. There I do plant SVD seeds and quietly move from the places and leave the remaining work to the Lord.

Zambia, comparing with Zimbabwe and Botswana has much bigger number of vocations, especially in the places where the Catholic Church is 100 years old. The Church has rooted enough deep into families making them feel responsible for their own church. Although the number could be big, it still needs proper screening due to different factors pushing them to the Religious Life. Recent poor economic situation and lack of employment, make young boys to consider Religious Life as a form for a future living. In this situation, an extra programme of screening is needed.
At the beginning of my Vocation Promotion programme, I was just concentrating on proclaiming the good news about Divine Word Missionaries. Soon, I realized that my programme was lacking something. It was to dry and not fully responding to the need of the youths. Definitely, where SVD are present, there must be bible. This made me to programme more efficiently. Also with such programme I was more welcomed to the places where I would hardly with an SVD programme alone. For sure, it was a challenge for me to study more the bible. I still remember very well, where I got so strong challenge to take the bible very seriously and to prepare myself adequately. It was in Chipata, almost three years ago, where I was to have bible vocation weekend with the youths. Firstly, there were more than three hundred youths, boys and girls waiting for me. Secondly, the organizers asked me if my programme could be transmitted alive in the radio - Radio Maria. I was very much surprised and shaking a bit: well, what could I say?

I agreed. At the beginning of the programme, I was quite shy and my voice was not fully confident. I was worried about my English. I think, after 30 minutes I stopped worrying. Then I realized, everything was going on smoothly. The last day, when we were talking about vocation, the programme was quite fanny and very alive. It was done in the form of an interview.

Those interested in the religious life where answering questions together with me through the microphone. In the same way, the married vocation, was conducted. A girl who was seriously interest came to be interviewed on the question what kind of husband she would like to have, she said: "I'd like to have 'musungu' (white man) like you".  She was more than serious.
Everyone was laughing, making me even more shy. Anyway, the whole programme went on very well and the people of Chipata were very happy asking me to come again with such programme. Although everything went on well for me, it was very good reason to take the bible very seriously. Today I can say, I'm ready for any of this kind of surprises.

As much as possible, I involve in my vocation programme SVD confreres working in Zambia, mostly during vocation camps in Kabwe and Livingstone. Also, our SVD students are involved in promoting vocations. Actually, they are a life example to the young boys aspiring to join us. Unfortunately, their possibilities are limited, because of their busy schedule at the seminary and at the formation house. The students only help me during the vocation camps in Kabwe and they are also in touch with our aspirants from Kabwe.

This time, we have some SVD priests ordained in Zambia. Each ordination is a wonderful celebration and vocation promotion to our Congregation. It was also nice that each ordination so far was done in a different place. During the last ordination of Fr. Theophan Misengo in Kasama Diocese, there was a strong presence of the Divine Word Missionaries working in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. I got already a good response from some young boys writing to me. Maybe in the future, there will be another "Theophan" from that part of Zambia. 

As I go through schools and parishes bible programme, what I do apart from the programme is to make different people be friend to SVD . Normally, I enter the place as a stranger and I leave it as a friend. I have got already a number of letters from young boys, who came to know SVD through different priest, sisters and teachers. Now they are SVD vocation promoters. Finally, what I can say is that in my programme, what I do is to help the young people to fall in love with the Divine Word Missionaries.
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                    more photos from the Formation House

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I call it new because of a reason or two. Truly speaking, the formation house has been in Kabwe for some years now, but I can't help calling it new because of what it shows itself to be. They say that familiarity brings contempt. I 'am quiet familiar with the place. I have been here for more than two years. So it is also quiet easy to be contemptuous and pay a blind eye to any changes that are taking place. As they say, 'it is a continuation with change.' Firstly, since I have been here , we have not been able to add up to twelve, the number of Jesus' disciples. We are twelve in our community.

Fr. Omir Oliveira from Brazil is the prefect in charge of the philosophy students and  Fr. Wojciech  from Poland is in charge of the postulants. We are five philosophy students and the same number for postulants. So, if we were to declare war on each other, it could be a fight of elephants, only the poor grass would suffer.

We are just starting this 2002 - 2003 academic year and as a community, we have started at a good note. Responsibilities were given to each member of the community. In the field of mental gymnastics, the young man in charge of the library is Br. Jonas Phiri, from Livingstone. He is doing his second year of philosophy. In charge of all the works at the house is Br. Peter Chibale, from Chembe - Zambia.  He also sees to it that we are in contact with our lord. He is the worship co-ordinator. He is doing his first year of philosophy studies. In charge of the fuel station, the kitchen, Br Peter Sindazi is in control. He is from Chinsali, northern Zambia. He is also doing his first year philosophy. Br. Fabian Kalaluka Mate is the man who helps refresh our minds and bodies by being the recreation and sports co-ordinator. He is from Sichili - Zambia. The students representative is Keith Hamaimbo, a lad from Livingstone. He is also the academics co-ordinator. He is doing his second year of philosophy. As assistants in these above mentioned areas, our brother postulants are not an exception. 

Br Joe Ncube, a young man who was at loggerheads with our dogs such that one day, early in the morning as he was going to the chapel, the male dog was about to bite him. He was saved by Fr Wojciech who threatened to run over the dog with the vehicle. When we were sympathizing with Joe, we were surprised when he said that, "it wasn't the dog attacking me, I was attacking the dog." It's a relief to mention that they are now good friends with the dog. He gave charms to the dog by giving it bones and lots of food. Joe  is from Bulawayo - Zimbabwe.  Br. Nathan Nyanga, an energetic young man from mamba - Zambia. Brian Ngubiani is from within Kabwe from Ngungu parish. Maximilian Kolbe Bwalya is from the copper belt province of Zambia from Chililabombwe. The last man, but not the least in the line of defence is Mark Tachiona Mutelo. We call him 'touch'.  He is from Bulawayo - Zimbabwe.

The formation house has undergone a lot of change. The extension of  the Postulancy house has just been completed. It looks wonderful. The philosophers are staying in the main house. Our two gardens seem to be doing fine especially with the supplementation of water from the new water reservoir.  Now you can come at the house without fear because the dogs have a new house. I mean during the day. At night, they are all over the place in collaboration with the watchman, making sure that all is protected. As for our going to Mpima Major Seminary for our lectures, we can now go as fast as the pen of a scribe. We have new bicycles.

We do our pastoral work with various groups at our SVD run parish. We are involved with the youths, choir, home based care, altar boys and some of our brothers go to the sisters of mercy, an orphanage centre.

 
Our famous game is uno.  We enjoy it so much such that its fun.
As for football, we combine with seminarians from other two formation houses. It is sad to note that the first game we played with a certain team from the next compound we lost two nil. We have just completed the new volleyball court. Coming back to study, we are proud to say  that our library is now computerized. Although it was tough when entering the books in the computer. This academic year seems to have started on a good note. I hope and pray that all will be fine even as we end it. I pray for the intercession of our mother Mary and Blessed Arnold Jansen , that we may be a people who continually strive to make the earth a better place. I pray for reciprocated understanding among the community members and this, we can attain by being in dialogue and open minded to one another.
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For the past seven years, Zambian district has been very much opened to laity, who came through our Germany/Austrian Provinces for an year or two to help as volunteers to Zambia. They are young people who have different skills and are willing to give a bit of their time for the mission. Fr. Marek took over from Fr. Stan, the task of coordinating (being a link) this experience among us. It has been a good sign of cooperation between the SVD and the MAZ. May, through the example, other people, even from Zambia awake for the mission in different mission fields to help those are in more need of their work and presence. The ones who have been in Zambia so far are:

     1. Jurgen - from Germany: who worked as a nurse at Chindwin Parish. He established a Parish Clinic over there. He was also very much involved with the young people of that parish.
     2. Swen - German: who worked as an electrician in different projects of Livingstone Diocese
     3. Oliver Herbert - German: who worked as a nurse/administration at Sichili Mission Hospital. He stayed with community at Sichili.
     4. Martin - German: who worked as a carpenter for the Youth Community Training Centre (orphan's project) at the Diocese of Livingstone. He stayed for a year in our Dambwa community.
     5. Marcos - Austria: who worked in a youth's project together with the Salesian in the Cooperbelt Province of Zambia. 
     6. Sebastian - German: who is at present working at the Youth Community Training Centre at the Diocese of Livingstone. He is also helping Fr. Marek at the Communication Print Media.

See the words of the present one working with us in Zambia:

"When people ask me how I like Zambia, I just answer that they should please ask me again in about half an year. Everyday I get so many new impressions, hard to digest by time and hard to say if I like then or not. So, my expectations, or rather, my wish for the next 15 months is to get more involved into life here in Zambia, to recognize coherences concerning life and tradition of the people and, of course, to learn more about myself and to get new perspectives for my life. Living together with missionaries and local priest will hopefully help me to get an insight in spiritual life and faith of the people and to find my own point towards faith.

I know I cannot improve situations round here, but maybe  I can help with this and that and contribute with that I've learned in Germany. Thanks to my family and everybody who supported me."
Sebastian

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                    more photos from the Vocation Camp

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Are you a missionary? Missionaries are often sent out of their own countries to go and work with people of a different ethnical and cultural location, but you have done your postulancy, philosophical studies and even pastoral year just here in Kabwe. Is there something wrong in your missionary orientation? As I try to make myself relevant in my parish pastoral duties, I continuously try to give some concrete answers to some Youth, Adults and even a number of religious, though all that un convincing to some, regarding my missionary work in my native country Zambia as a Zambian missionary.

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Anyway, I work at St. Charles Lwanga Parish in a former mining town, Kabwe. Kabwe, a town in Lusaka Archdiocese, is predominantly inhabited by the Lenje ethnic group. Lenje is one of the 73 ethnic groups in Zambia. Amazingly, for any liturgical functions, we use Bemba language. Lusaka Archdiocese has three Liturgical languages; English, Bemba and Nyanja. This is due to the multiplicity of the ethnic groups in Zambia.
St. Charles Lwanga Parish comprises of mainly soldiers and their families from Chindwin and Kohima barracks, some primary and secondary school teachers, retired employees from the defunct mines who are now self employed and some people from the suburbs who are not in formal employment at all.

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The parishioners are hungry for the word of God and zealous for any missionary who is ready to share the mission of Christ with them. For this reason, their faith is somehow strong though they still need a lot of spiritual support and nourishment. Their liturgical celebrations are always lively. Each one of them participates in the liturgical celebrations consciously and actively, indeed, they are a celebrating people. No wonder, in my pastoral duties, I am always motivated by a Bemba adage which says: "A person who runs after birds gets tired but the one who runs after people does not get tired". I have really realized and experienced the wisdom behind the already mentioned Bemba adage. You may try it as well in your missionary duties.

On the other hand, St. Charles Lwanga parish is not spared from the HIV/ADS scourge. A number of my parishioners especially from Chindwin and Kohima barracks are either infected or affected by the HIV Virus. I have a number of chronic patients/families which are do visit on Tuesday and Wednesday. What I do is just to give the patients hope, emotional and spiritual support they need most as I journey with them until their point of death. It is both a challenging and painful experience. Sadly, most of these patients lack food.

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Often, before I pray with the patients I do ask them if they had eaten or not. In most cases, the patients tell me they eat whenever they get the food. Usually, I do feel hopeless because I cannot meet their nutritional requirements. Patients hope to get some food from me but they cannot get. We just stare at one another. However, there is still hope even in a hopeless situation. I become happier whenever I have funeral masses for these friends of mine. So far, four of my patients have died from the time I started the ministry to the sick this year in February.

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Furthermore, I would like to share with you some extracts from a letter I received from one of the condemned to death prisoner at the Mukobeko maximum prison here in Kabwe. This letter has motivated me to visit and share with the prisoners once in a while.
It reads:

Dearest Fr. Lawrence,
Greetings and prayers from death row!
I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard. I felt the answer in my heart, although he spoke not a word....
This is now my 22 years on death row, riding an emotional roller-coaster of hell. When I was arrested in 1980, I was just a young boy. I have grown up in my cell, all my youth has been swallowed up here. It has been an excruciating time to go through, but through the Grace of God and prayers of our mother Mary in heaven that I am still alive...
When you come, please, bring me some food. There is hunger in here...
Sincerely yours on death row!

22 years suffering on death row!

These experiences of visiting the sick and the dying as well as some Prisoners condemned to death apart from my ordinary parish pastoral duties, are posing more soul searching challenges in my life as a young priest. I am asking myself so many questions such as, what is the essence of life? Why is it that life can be so short for some people? These questions sound somehow philosophical but they are real. I have more questions than answers to these touching experiences of mine. Your suggestions are most welcome but I would prefer to end my article here.

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If one is an SVD one never really knows where that will lead. I was finishing my final term as formation director at Divine Word Theologate and had planned to go to St. Anselm’s, an svd parish in Chicago serving the African-American community, as my next assignment. This was all set until Fr. Wojtek, formation director of the postulants in Kabwe, invited me to teach there. It seemed odd at first but all those concerned worked all things out, so here I am.

Naturally, the journey started back in Pittsburgh, PA where I was born in 1933 of the marriage of Simon and Theresa Arnold. One sister and one brother followed so our family was relatively small. I went to Catholic primary school in Pittsburgh until in 7^th grade I heard a talk by an SVD formation director, Fr. Walter Hafner, and decided to go to the SVD minor seminary at the end of the 8^th grade.

I proceeded on through novitiate, college and seminary and was ordained in 1961. Although I had asked to go to Indonesia as my first assignment I was sent to Rome instead to so further study in fundamental theology. When I got there Fr. Spreti asked me to switch to Canon Law since they needed someone for a new seminary in Colombia who could teach Canon Law and English.

After finishing in 1963, instead of going to Colombia, I was appointed to teach Canon Law and Moral Theology at our seminary at Techny. When Techny closed in 1969 I asked to do a degree in Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago so I could become a trained counsellor. I finally finished with a doctorate in 1976 and then worked to get my supervised training so I could receive a state license in psychotherapy and counselling. I worked in prison for a year and in a mental health centre for three years. After these four years of training I opened a counselling centre at Techny and worked there for nine years.

I needed surgery at that time to replace a damaged heart valve with an artificial one. I had the opportunity during the recovery time to participate in our renewal course in Nemi for four months and spent another four months in Canada researching the work o the theologian Bernard Lonergan. On my way back from Nemi I had stopped in England to visit confreres and was offered a teaching position at he Missionary Institute London. So I spent four years there teaching Pastoral Theology.

After that I was asked to be a formation director at Divine Word Theologate, which brings me back full circle.

I’ve already begun working with the inter-postulancy programme here in Kabwe and have an enthusiastic group of students in an introductory course in the early scriptures. I’ve also talked to the rector of St. Augustine’s seminary at Mpima about what I might teach there next semester.

 Each place I’ve been, each work I’ve done, each person I’ve met and worked with has been an enrichment and a gift of God. I think it will be the same here.