In the Missions of Zambia, Everyone’s Family

Recently, our readers learned more about our annual Missionary Co Operative Program; missionaries visit us in our parishes to help us more fully understand our connection to the spread of the Gospel around the world. Occasionally, we are able to proudly hold up one of our own as an example of those brave enough to trust the voice of the Holy Spirit telling them to “Go to the ends of the earth” to preach the Gospel. We did that just last week, featuring the work of Bishop Paul Duffy, OMI, Bishop of Mongu, Zambia.

As part of his extraordinary work in Mongu, Bishop Duffy has worked closely with Fr. Bernard Makadani Zulu, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (including the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Holy Childhood Association) for all of Zambia. Although not our native son, like Bishop Duffy, Fr. Bernard is a member of our “One Family in Mission” here in Boston; he not only receives Mass Stipends offered by our donors, he has also supplied us with many stories and pictures for use in this column and on our website. Imagine the surprise of both men when Fr. Bernard walked into Bishop Duffy’s office recently to find him reading a back issue of The Pilot, sent regularly from Boston by the Bishop’s brother. There, smiling up from our column was Fr. Bernard himself and the children of Zambia who had gathered, wearing the colors of the World Mission Rosary, to celebrate their membership in HCA.

The children’s meal that day and the books for their catechesis had been provided by donations from other HCA members around the globe. The Zambian children in return dug deep into their own need and sacrificed a total of $4140 during that school year. When asked why, one replied simply, “We know there are children poorer than us because they don’t know that Jesus loves them.”

Bishop Duffy has obviously served his people well; his children are willing to share their faith in a most profound way. They will miss him soon – the Zambian Episcopal Conference announced on February 15 that the Holy Father has accepted Bishop Duffy’s resignation due to reaching the age of 75 – four years after it was submitted! He will be succeeded by Fr. Evans Chinyemba, OMI, a native Zambian.

We wish both men many blessings as the Church family in Zambia continues to thrive.
-Maureen Crowley Heil