Availability for Service

Availability for Service

 

Availability for service in the church is at the heart of the Christian vocation. We make ourselves available for service in response to God calling us to this service as the boy Samuel responded, as prophet Elijah responded, and as the Apostles and disciples of Jesus responded.

 

Being called to service is a great grace; and it is only by grace that human being can respond to that call to availability for service. It is the love of Christ that urges us on, to use the expression of St. Paul (2Co 5:14) – it is the Lord who gives us the spirit of Love to dedicate our lives to the service of the people.

But what does availability mean? I am available, if and only if I am present. Availability means being present. But that is not enough. It means also being ready to serve; availability then means being present and ready to serve. It is possible, as we know, to be physically present, but not ready to serve.

Continue reading Availability for Service

Showers of Blessings

On the Feast of the Epiphany the Provincial Community had the annual blessings of the house. Fr. George the provincial presided over the vespers and blessed the house, garden and farm land accompanied by the members of the community and the novices who were invited to the participate in the prayers and share the exceptional (as usual) Chawama feast day menu at supper.

Youth Festival – Hwange

salesian-youth-37Hwange (Zimbabwe) 29/12/2011 – 02/01/2012.- The Salesian community of Hwange has conducted a 5-day youth festival to reflect on the Strenna of the Rector Major: “Tell the Story of Jesus” which the young people received with joy and enthusiasm. The youngsters who took part in the festival came from places as far away as Bulawayo (320km from Hwange). The programme was held at the premises of Don Bosco Technical College along Bulawayo Road in Hwange (Zimbabwe). Continue reading Youth Festival – Hwange

ZMB IN DIASPORA

In the middle of the city of Yaoundé, the faithful descend and ascend to and fro, unceasingly carrying the load of the day which they have come to terms with as their facticity. The city among seven hills (la ville aux sept collines) as its name suggests, continually emitting its warmth that nature has blessed it with and re-warmed by enterprises along the streets with their habitual loud music. The taxis that hoot until midnight and the train that from time to time plays its tum-tum as it passes under our house. Nevertheless, we are continually challenged to situate ourselves and find meaning in all this. Continue reading ZMB IN DIASPORA

Lectio Divina – Readings on Christmas Day

Mary and the Child of Bethlehem

The opening hymn of the fourth gospel is a magnificent statement of faith in the incarnation. It reminds us of the attention paid by the early Christian poets to contemplation of the mystery of the incarnation. It describes in summary the stages in the ‘biography’ of the Word of God, before, during and with creation, in God. In Jesus of Nazareth God became part of human history and human life.
The Word became flesh and made it possible for us to contemplate the glory of God.  Nothing is alien to God who is within reach of the believer. He has come to dwell in our world and nothing of him is foreign to us. Contemplation of God is possible only by listening to his Word. Continue reading Lectio Divina – Readings on Christmas Day

Bishop Clement Mulenga SDB – Kabwe

Kabwe (Zambia) 16/12/2011.- Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Clement Mulenga SDB – Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphord George Mpunde has ordained Fr Clement Mulenga to the Order of Bishops. In a ceremony that took place at Kabwe Warriors’ Stadium, a decree from the Holy See was read in which Kabwe was created as Diocese, [...]

2011 Graduation Ceremony – Lufubu

Lufubu (Zambia) 14/12/2011.- The Salesian Agricultural Training College ‘St Isidore’ in Lufubu has celebrated the 2011 Graduation Ceremony for the second year students of Craft Certificate in Agriculture. The ceremony was well attended by parents of the graduates and most especially by the presence of Fr. Michael Merizzi, Apostolic Administrator of Mansa Diocese who was the [...]

Novices visit Thorn Park FMA Community

Thorn Park – Lusaka (Zambia) 2/12/2011.- Novices from ZMB and AFM Provinces visited the FMA Community of Thorn Park on occasion of a get together as Salesian Family.

[...]