OBLATES DELEGATION OF ZAMBIA ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

26TH-29TH DECEMBER 2005

 

The Delegation Annual Assembly is always a high moment in the life of the Delegation. It brings together all the men.

From different corners where the Oblates have been at work and study, we come to spend a few days together. It is a time of reconnecting with one another and also time to know each other; time to discover talents; a time to listen, to laugh and weep because we come with all kinds of stories in our different missions. We share in the experience of the Cross of Jesus. The delegation assembly brings joy and new hope. 

The 2005 Assembly started on the evening of December 26th with the opening para-liturgy and the welcoming remarks from Fr Joseph Phiri, Omi, the Delegation Superior. Fifty members of the delegation were present and the US representatives: Fr Bill Morell, Omi, and Bill Antone, Omi.  In his report , Fr Joe introduced the theme of the Delegation Assembly:  “Our Future, Our Destiny”.

REPORT FROM THE SUPERIOR

My brothers I share this report as a continuation from last year’s report in which my predecessor Fr Ronald Carignan, Omi, challenged us:

• To be sure about whom we are.
• To be one as a delegation.
• To be Agents of our own ongoing formation.

Are we sure about who we are? Are we one as a delegation? Are we Agents of our own ongoing formation? I find these challenges real and valid as we end the year and look forward to the coming year.

“Our Future, Our Destiny”:

 “Our Future” points to our time after the present time, the time to come;

 “Our Destiny” points to fate, that which must or has to happen. These concepts are pregnant with aspirations, wishes, dreams, as well as concerns, fears and anxieties.    In this assembly, we will hear reports; we will look at our Directories, our Strategy Document, and our statutes. As we listen to the reports and evaluate various documents, our task is to define our future, to prepare our future, to predict our future so as to prepare ourselves to accept our destiny as a missionary body.

Let me begin by acknowledging that the year 2005 was a year of blessings and challenges. We were blessed in many events that took place this year. To mention but a few events: The final vows of Fr Valentine Kalumba, Omi, his Deaconate ordination and Priestly ordination. The visitation of the Superior General, who officially opened Oblate Radio Liseli-the completion and moving into the new Delegation offices-the visitation of our fundraisers from USA-our meeting with the US province - our participation at the Inter Provincial Conference and Inter Provincial Treasurers’ Conference - the orientation of major superiors in Rome; the new missionary initiatives in our mission - peer visitations of parish pastoral teams and youth groups.  In these events I saw that we were one, we dared to be a united missionary body. I witnessed a spirit of generosity, a spirit of cooperation, a spirit of serving and indeed they were moments of grace.

While I acknowledge the blessings of the year, I realize that there were challenges too. We had to adjust to new leadership style, especially in the person of the Delegation Superior; new assignments were given, and on a sad note, three of our promising scholastic brothers left the congregation. These events might have brought anxiety, panic and uncertainty for others, and for some these events could have been moments of learning. 

However, I must say I was overwhelmed by the readiness and generosity of some Oblates who came forward to offer themselves to save the situation, the assurance and encouragement from the USA administration and indeed from the General administration especially Fr General. 

Allow me to proceed with my reflection on the three challenges:

To be sure about whom we are:

The words of our constitutions do hit the nail on the head as to who we are : “We are a Missionary Congregation. Our principle service in the church is to proclaim Christ and his Kingdom to the most abandoned…(C5)” During my two visits to the missions, I was impressed by how much work is being done. I was touched by how the men in the missions are taking seriously their mission as missionary oblates. This is who we are. We are missionaries sent to those whose conditions cry for salvation and for hope, which only Christ can fully bring. We are reaching out to the people directly in the West: Lukulu, Kalabo, Limulunga and –indirectly via Radio Liseli and the communications ministry. These could be tough areas but that is where we are sent. That is where our future lies, that is our destiny. This is what we have to be sure about.  2.To be one as a delegation: 

 

My observations are  that we have a three dimension lived situation and reality.

Our Oblate Missionary presence:

In terms of our history, we place ourselves in the period of expansion within the life cycle of a religious community. We were moving more and more into the expansion period. We are among the fastest growing units in the congregation. As of January 2006 , our delegation personnel profile would be as follows:

• 1 Bishop;
• 22 Priests (13 Zambians, 2 Congolese, 7 Americans);
• 2 Brothers; 1 Scholastic Br in pastoral ministry;
• 5 Regents;
• 32 scholastics (Cedara 24, Rome 1, USA 4, Cameroon 3);
• 10 novices and
• 23 Pre-novices.

We have a presence as a missionary group. We seem to be many but we are few. However we need to be patient and develop a spirit of sacrifice; we need to give ourselves and not look for the easy way out. Furthermore, we need to ask ourselves what are some of the implications as a result of this growth rate? 

Zambia Society: 

Our country is faced with a lot of challenges and demands. Sometimes these appear to be overwhelming especially in the Western Province where we work. There is a high level of poverty, deep yearning for God, and the HIV pandemic as a human crisis. There is a great need for the laity to assume their rightful leadership roles amidst the political tension between the state and the church.

 In the face of these challenges, are we going to stand by our people, for our people and with our Bishops?

As a missionary body we have moved and have responded to these challenges both at the institutional level and the local level through various programs. It is hard to measure the impact but there is always a witnessing to the compassion of Christ. This coming year, a year of elections, will stretch our efforts and stamina to the limit. It is time to be  brave and be missionaries to the poor and the voiceless. It will challenge us to work with our CCJP committees to sensitise the people.

  The Catholic Church in Zambia and Mongu Diocese in particular:

As Oblates we are in a missionary territory. We are where our Founder would like us to be. Where we are it is tough and discouraging sometimes, but if we do not want to be there, who will attend to the needs of the most abandoned? We have committed ourselves to develop a common pastoral approach.

Thus we contribute to the local church where we are, by: 

• Building up vital ecclesial communities;
• Developing lay leaders who are able to serve the needs of the communities;
• Reaching out to the needs of the youth in their human, spiritual, social and educational needs;
• Enabling self-sustaining development projects for our parishes;
• Coherent catechetical programs.

To be agents of our own on-going formation:

What you realize when you look at these numbers, you will be struck by the fact that there is a lack of professional preparations and a lack of administrative skills. However, we are strong on community. This is where mentoring takes place, nurturing takes place and on-going formation takes place.

 Recall the times of our Founder. The Founder sent young missionaries to foreign countries. They made it because of the spirit of daring; daring that has characterized our Delegation. We have to continue to call ourselves to reflect and study, to continue sharing and dialoguing and to write and publish the stories of our ministries and life. 

Concluding Remarks

As we hear reports from the treasurer, the formation houses, the parish communities, the media community and the centre house community; and as we look at various documents, let us remember that we are sharing our missionary stories, stories of joys and sorrows, our successes and failures; we want to affirm, challenge and build. 

We are preparing “Our Future, Our Destiny”. May God bless us during these sacred days as we gather together? Let us put “Our Future, Our Destiny” in his hands through the intercession of our Founder whose 10th anniversary of Canonization we keep this year. Fr Joseph Phiri, Delegation Superior

Strategy Document

This document is based on the immense hope project. The delegation assembly interpreted it and came up with the mission statement which gives us the identity of who we are as missionary oblates in Zambia . 

The assembly then examined the main areas contained in the mission statement:

• Jesus;
• Called to maintain a vital and culturally integrated missionary presence in Zambia ;
• Resourceful to the local Church;
• Outreach to the poor and youth.

Out of the mission statement flowed the following: Apostolic Community, Integral Evangelization and Resource development.

After this we went into a group discussion, which identified different aspects of specific objectives about the apostolic community, integral evangelization and resource development in the delegation.

Treasurer’s Report Fr Kennedy Sampa, the treasurer, led us through the list of properties owned by the delegation. He stressed financial responsibility and stewardship for the delegation members. 

In terms of personnel our finances are spent on 53 in vows and 32 not in vows: accounting for a total of 85 members in the delegation. Out of the annual budget, 40% is spent on formation, which is heavily subsidized by the US Province.

Closing of the Assembly

In his closing remarks , the Superior thanked the facilitators (Fr P. Chiso, Omi, Fr R. Mwangala, Omi & Fr Bob Lavertu, Mafr) for a job well done.

Our focus and concern was looking at what we are doing and sharing our future to make us one. He insisted that we need to be supportive of each other. The assembly ended on Thursday Dec. 29th 2005 with a closing Mass and festive meal.  

 

 

 

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