At the invitation of the Minister Provincial of the Province of the Franciscan Protomartyrs in Zambia, Friar Ferena LAMBE, members of the General Secretariat for Formation (SGF) went to Zambia to conduct formation sessions for the friars of the Province.
During July 8-31, there were three cycles of meetings at the friaries in Solwezi, Ndola and Lusaka. Around sixty friars participated in the meetings, including the Guardians, friars working in pastoral ministry, formators, others doing pastoral work, deacons and other solemnly professed friars. Each meeting lasted three days, during which there was common prayer, Mass, fraternal meetings and time to discuss the issues that were presented during the lectures.
Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK lectured on “The Role of Authority and Service in the Life of the Friars” and “Managing Conflicts in Community and in Pastoral Work,” Friar Maximilanus SEMBIRING lectured on “Franciscan Formation in Light of the New Franciscan Discipleship” and “The House Chapter as an Instrument for the Ongoing Formation of the Friars.” Friar Joseph KACHELEWA lectured on “Fraternal life in the Life of the Friars.” As a member of the SGF, Friar Joseph is responsible for formation animation in African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF). In addition, as he usually does during trips to Africa, Friar Joseph took care of the logistics, the preparation of the meetings and did translation into English. Friar Dariusz MAZUREK, the General Delegate for Mission Animation, attended the meetings that were held in Lusaka. He lectured on “The Mission of St. Francis of Assisi and the First Friars,” “Franciscan Spirituality and the Missionary Vocation,” and “The Media at the Service of Evangelization: Practical Proposals.” The lectures were followed by group discussions. Time was reserved at the end for further discussion and asking questions.
During this trip, members of the SGF visited various formation houses, namely, the postulancy house in Kalumbwa, the novitiate in Itimpi, the post-novitiate in Lusaka, and other places where our friars are engaged in educational, missionary, publishing and pastoral activities.
Special thanks to the Minister Provincial for his presence at the formation meetings in Ndola and for his warm welcome. Thanks to the friars of the Province of Zambia for their work and fraternal hospitality. Thanks as well to Friar Dariusz MAZUREK for his presence and interesting lecture on the missions.
May the Lord bless the Province of Zambia!
Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK
General Delegate for Formation
