(The Capuchin, Winter 1985, pp.19-20)
It’s great to see some enthusiasm from time to time, some really lively interest and commitment. It’s especially welcome in the life of the Church.
On 7 July 1985, the people of the diocese of Livingstone, Zambia, gathered for the ordination of a new bishop. The previous bishop, Adrian Mung’andu, had been transferred to become archbishop of Lusaka, the nation’s capital. For over a year Livingstone was without a bishop, so, when the appointment of Fr. Raymond Mpezele was announced, it was widely welcomed, and preparations got under way.
Fr. Raymond was born in 1940 near Kasia, in the southern province of Zambia, a Tonga by tribe. He studied for the priesthood at Kachebere Seminary in Malawi, and was ordained in 1968. Following this he took a degree at the University of Zambia at Lusaka, and then was appointed to work in his home diocese. From 1981 he was lecturer and spiritual director at the national seminary of St. Dominic in Lusaka. In 1984, he was appointed parish priest in the coal-mining area of Maamba in Monze diocese in the southern province. His appointment as bishop of Livingstone was announced in May 1985.
The people of the diocese, especially those of the town of Livingstone, set to work to make the day a memorable one for the whole Church. They opened their homes in hospitality to those who had come from far away in this diocese of over 200,000 sq. km., about two and a half times the size of Ireland. They contributed food and money to provide for the guests, and devoted their spare time to the preparation of the altar, the choir, the publicity, the stewarding, and the rehearsals that went into the occasion.
Some people made great sacrifices to be there at all. From the bishop’s home area they started walking at 2 a.m. until, three hours later, they reached a spot where they could get a lift to Livingstone, some 300 km. away. They made the return journey the same day.
The Mass of episcopal ordination was attended by almost all the bishops of Zambia and a bishop from Zimbabwe. One very distinguished and welcome guest was Kenneth David Kaunda, the president of Zambia, himself a Christian. He read one of the lessons, and spoke at the end of the Mass about the task facing the new bishop. Some fifty priests attended, a good number in view of the scarcity of fuel in the country, the long distances involved, and the fact that the ceremony was held on a Sunday.
However, the day was very much the day of the ordinary people, especially those of the town of Livingstone. They gave it all they had. There were 200 altar boys, and about the same number of girls who danced and sang with bunches of flowers in their hands, and helped the boys to cope with the gifts brought forward at the offertory procession. People, most of them poor, brought sheep, goats, calves, pigeons, fruit, vegetables, as well as a great many other gifts which represented a real sacrifice for them. The altar boys and girls formed a human chain to carry them to a specially prepared place. The very large choir sang hymns in the principal languages of a diocese which has about 25. The hymns in Lozi, Nyanja, Tonga and Bemba were sung with great enthusiasm, even by those who weren’t too sure of the words!
One of the highlights of the occasion was when three small children placed a garland of flowers around the bishop’s neck. The President, too, came forward to present his gift in the Offertory procession. Army and police officers saluted the bishop and presented their gifts kneeling, in accordance with the custom of the people. Present also were television personnel who made an excellent twenty minute summary of the celebration a few days later.
Because of the numbers attending, the Mass was held out of doors in front of the church of Christ the King, Maramba. In Zambia, the weather is predictable so there was no fear of rain. It’s not expected for a few months yet. At the end of the Mass about a thousand people were served lunch in nearby halls, including that of St. Mary’s secondary school for girls, run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa from Mount Oliver, near Dundalk. People doubtless had an appetite, as the Mass, beginning at 10.30, ended at 2.10 pm. Far from seeming long, the atmosphere was comfortable, relaxed and happy. It was Livingstone’s big day and people were determined to make the most of it. They showed their goodwill towards their new bishop in impressive style, and he begins his service to God’s people with the assurance of their support and prayers. He has chosen as his motto, Above all these things, have charity.