Archbishop Mpundu Catholic women in Zambia have been described as the “heartbeat” of parishes by the President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Archbishop Mpundu thanked women for their active role in the Church, saying: “Women are the heartbeat of our parishes and the church in general, without them, the Church would be dead.”
He spoke at the 125th anniversary of the arrival of Catholic Christianity in Zambia last week, and encouraged: “The vibrant, mature and dynamic Church to soldier on in her faith, especially by sharing it with others.
“Share your faith with other people, members of your extended families, and with other Zambians. Faith that is not shared remains small and is infantile. Faith shared is multiplied,” said the Archbishop.
Archbishop Julio Murat, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia urged the Zambian Church to send missionaries to the Western world.
“During the Jubilee year, we have to thank God, ask him for forgiveness and pledge to do better with God. Since the Church in Zambia has grown, it is now time to send missionaries to the world,” Archbishop Murat said.
The Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) came to Zambia in 1894 and successfully established a mission in the northern part of the country.
The event was attended by the vice president and several members of government.