(The Capuchin, Winter 1990, pp. 18-19)
The Capuchins are a branch of the religious family founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. In his Rule, the saint encouraged his brothers to spread the Gospel among those who had not heard it. In response to this call, Irish Capuchins went to Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in 1931 to begin from nothing the work of establishing the Church.
The area they went to, then known as Barotseland, is about 2½ times the size of Ireland. The climate is magnificent, with no great extremes of cold and heat. Most people live by agriculture, though the soil is very poor, being mostly sand. As a result, the people are very poor, hunger is common, and life expectancy is short.
The Past
In the early years the missionaries, both priests and brothers, learned the local language, Silozi, and began the work of translating the catechism and other religious books. They built and staffed schools, first primary and then trade and secondary. Later on a teachers’ training college was set up. Sisters came and set up clinics in rural area, then hospitals in the larger towns; they taught preventative medicine, and also cared for lepers and the handicapped. Immunization campaigns were a large-scale concern.
In the last 20 years there have been many changes. Zambia is now an independent republic. Schools and hospitals are largely in government hands. Roads have improved greatly. Zambia has tried hard to create a truly multi-racial society, with equal opportunity for all, operating under the rule of law. It has been free from the civil wars and coups which have plagued so much of the developing world. It has made a real contribution to peace, especially in its neighbour, Zimbabwe.
The Present
The Church, too, has changed a great deal. Missionaries have moved from positions of leadership to partnership with Zambian bishops, priests, brothers and sisters. Laypeople play a part which is equalled scarcely anywhere else in the Church. Church councils and lay catechists are leaders in their own field.
The small Capuchin mission of the 1930’s became a diocese in 1950. It now has priests from nine countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and, of course, Zambia itself. It has had a Zambian bishop for the last 15 years. The use of the vernacular in the liturgy has greatly helped the work of spreading the message of Christ.
In this situation the role of the missionary has changed. The emphasis is on working with people more than for them. Partnership is the style of leadership. The management of schools has given way to the work of training lay leaders, to animating church councils, and to the promotion of other works of human development.
The Future
There is still a need for missionaries from overseas, and there will be a need for a long time to come. Missionaries are needed in Zambia, and they are welcome here. The people, the government and the Church welcome them. The aim of missionary work is to bring the local Church to maturity, to the point where it can begin to provide for its own needs and begin to contribute to the needs of others, and, especially, to begin to undertake its own missionary work. When Zambian missionaries go abroad to spread the faith in new lands then the work of foreign missionaries will have achieved its purpose.
Your Contribution
The best contribution anyone can make to missionary work is to be a better Christian. That’s the most important contribution to building up the Body of Christ, and it’s one that anyone can make. Also, please remember to pray for the Church and its missionary work. Jesus asked you to do so. You can help as a lay missionary for a few years; you could become a religious sister; perhaps you could become a Capuchin… ask at any friary. If you can help financially it will be very welcome. One way in which you can do this is by joining the Seraphic Mass Association. You may do this at any Capuchin friary, or at the Capuchin Mission Office, Church St., Dublin 7, Ireland.