Clergy in Zambia’s Mpika Diocese Share Joy, Expectations Following Appointment of Bishop

In a message sent to ACI Africa Monday, April 26, Fr. Matepa described the appointment “as good news for the Diocese” and called upon “the Priests, Religious and laity of Mpika Diocese to welcome the new Bishop with both hands joyfully with prayer and thanksgiving.”

On his part, Fr. Ngosa George said, “As a Diocese, we are very happy that we have received a Bishop-elect in one year four days as it is quite rare to get a Bishop that early.”

“We are looking forward to receiving him in the Diocese,” the member of the Clergy of Mpika Diocese told ACI Africa April 26.

Fr. Ngosa added, “We expect from him a Shepherd who is going to take God’s flock in Mpika beginning with the Holy Childhood, the youth, the old, the Priests and the Religious in the Diocese.”

“He should be a Bishop who embraces everybody regardless of where they belong,” Fr. Ngosa who previously served as the Pastoral Coordinator in the Diocese of Mpika further said. 

“We are also looking forward to seeing his pastoral direction and we are open to seeing his pastoral vision for the Diocese,” the Cleric who serves as a formator at the Lusaka-based Emmaus Spirituality Centre told ACI Africa.

He added in reference to the Bishop-elect, “We will cooperate with him as he unfolds his pastoral vision for the Diocese.”

To the people of God in the Diocese, Fr. Ngosa said, “Every Bishop is different. Everyone has their own way of working. All of us must be open to the gift of the Holy Spirit that will be working through the Bishop that has been appointed for the Diocese.”

“The temptation is to begin to compare with former Bishops but we need to give him a chance and time. Ours is to pledge our cooperation so that we move forward as a Diocese,” said Fr. Ngosa.

Ordained a Clergy of the Diocese of Ndola in August 2001, the Bishop-elect holds a Baccalaureate from the Theological Institute of Saint Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka. He is also a Licentiate Member of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA). 

In his 20 years of priesthood, the Bishop-elect has served as a Parish Priest, Cathedral Administrator and the Diocesan Financial Administrator in the Diocese of Ndola. 

Most recently, he served at ZCCB as the National Director for Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS).

Speaking to ACI Africa on April 26, Fr. Mwila Mwila expressed joy following the appointment of a new Bishop saying, “The Lord has given us a new shepherd for the Diocese of Mpika. This appointment is a blessing.” 

“I pray he will be a Shepherd who will be able to listen to the flock entrusted to him. I pray he will be a Bishop who will be able to care, to love, to show special concern and courage to lead the flock of Christ entrusted to him,” Fr. Mwila who is a formator in St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka said.

In the interview, the Priest who schooled with Fr. Mulandu at the St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka assured the Bishop-elect of his “humble prayers to the Lord and my support as he takes this huge responsibility.”

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To the people of God in the Diocese, Fr. Mwila said, “We should thank the Lord for the gift of a new Bishop in the Diocese of Mpika.”

“Fr. Edwin is coming to Mpika not as a guest, but as a believer and a member of the universal Church. We are receiving him with both hands,” said Fr. Mwila. 

Erected in 1933, the 86,135 square-kilometre Diocese of Mpika is under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kasama. 

As the seventh Local Ordinary of the Diocese, the Bishop-elect will be tasked with shepherding 176,000 Catholics, according to 2020 statistics.