In his homily during the January 25 event, Bishop Mweempwa encouraged FSP members to continue “expanding to different places where this work that you are doing might be more appreciated.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa
“Whenever possible, extend your presence even to other places and then give that witness physically and other people might also be inspired to want to do the same,” the Zambian Catholic Bishop said.
Addressing participants during the January 25 inauguration event, the Regional Superior of FSP communities in Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, Sr. Rosemary Mueni Mwaiwa, described the new premise as “part of the expansion of our mission, and our participation in the work of evangelization.”
Sr. Mwaiwa looked back at the pioneer members to the Southern African nation, saying, “FSP arrived in Lusaka in 1994 and acquired a small house, which they lived in until 2021 as carried out the work of evangelization in this nation.”
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“In conjunction with the signs of the time and the needs of the apostolate, we felt the necessity to have a new house and bookshop to respond effectively to the needs of the people,” the Kenyan-born FSP leader said.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa
She went on to thank “all those who have worked to bring this edifice to completion”, adding, “Through them the FSP have an impressive new home and a bookshop to pursue their mandate of preaching the Gospel to all people with the means of communication.”
Sr. Mwaiwa continued, “I appreciate the FSP in Lusaka, Sr. Mary Kioko and the Sisters for their hard work, commitment, sacrifice and sleepless nights to make this house what it’s now, a home and a place for our mission.”
“My gratitude goes to the donors for their generous contribution towards this building. May God bless them,” the Nairobi-based FSP Regional Superior said, and implored, “May St. Paul our father and patron intercede for us so that we may continue to emulate his zeal, and love for Jesus in the proclamation of the Gospel.”
In her message to FSP in Zambia on the occasion of the inauguration of the new residence and Catholic bookshop, the Superior General of FSP, Sr. Anna Caiazza offered “warmest best wishes and grateful closeness to you in prayer.”
The Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul, Sr. Anna Caiazza. Credit: Daughters of St. Paul
“It is very providential and significant that this inauguration is taking place on the day in which we celebrate the ‘conversion’ of our beloved Father, St. Paul, model of an intense interior life, love for the Church, zeal and generous dedication in the apostolate, and sure guide in the process of Christification,” Sr. Caiazza said.
She added, “We hope with all our heart that in this new and beautiful house you will be able to share your ideas, gifts and energies with each other, and that you will reach out with renewed and bold creativity to the existential peripheries that are in greater need of the light of the Gospel, where hope is lacking, where the values of life, of the family, of inclusive and supportive welcome, and of creation, are threatened.”
The Rome-based FSP Superior General underscored the need for FSP members in Zambia to witness to Gospel values, saying, “Inspired by your witness, may many young women accept the invitation to follow Jesus Master in the Pauline vocation, so that the light of the Word may shine ever more brightly and fruitfully.”
The Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul, Sr. Anna Caiazza. Credit: Daughters of St. Paul
She expressed her gratitude to the local Church in Zambia, “which continues to accompany you with encouragement and esteem.”
“I thank you for your faith, for your apostolic boldness, and for your desire to spread and multiply the Good,” she further said, and continued, “I also want to thank all those who support you with their presence, prayer, friendship and concrete help.”
Sr. Caiazza implored, “I entrust the journey of your community and the fruitfulness of its apostolic service to the powerful intercession of Fr. Alberione and Maestra Thecla. May they obtain for everyone an abundance of the gifts of the Spirit and the joy that springs from getting up and starting afresh, trusting in God’s Promise.”
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.