Fifty-three years of Spiritan presence in Zambia
The Zambia Spiritan Group (ZSG) celebrated its golden jubilee on 3rd February 2021; its establishment dating back to 3rd February 1971 when the first six Irish Spiritans arrived. This was in the aftermath of the Biafra war in Nigeria in 1970, the Irish Spiritan Province chapter decision to reassign some of the Spiritans to other places at the invitation of some Bishops.
These Spiritans came to the southern part of the country where Bishops James Corboy, SJ, and Phelim O’Shea OFM Capuchin of the two Dioceses of Monze and Livingstone welcomed them. The first group comprised of Frs. Tony Heerey, Michael Fallon, Steve Darcy, John Daly, Peter Hughes, Vinny O’Connell, George O’Doherty, Michael Reynolds, Michael Walsh and Con Flanagan.
Others followed through the seventies. After a very warm reception from the Jesuit Fathers, they soon settled down to the language course at Chikuni Mission and were later assigned to various parishes and schools for their ministry.
Conscious of the new Spiritans mission in Zambia, the general council visited and had the first General Meeting of the Zambia community in Kasiya mission (8th May 1972) with Father Lécuyer, Superior General. The life of the group reached a turning point in 1976 when the members of the East African Province (EAP) joined the group changing its missionary face. Fr. Paul Chuwa and others were appointed to Zambia.
The group was constituted an international group in 1982 by a decision of the general council (26th April 1982). Fr. Frans Timmermans was the superior general. In 1980 another group of Spiritans from Nigeria South East came to the diocese of Solwezi at the invitation of then Bishop Severiano Potani. They worked in parish ministry and schools (chaplaincy) until 1992. There were other Spiritans who came to Zambia on special requests and they work in refugee ministry at Maheba refugee camp.
At the celebration of the silver jubilee (3rd February 1971-3rd February 1996), of Spiritan presence Fr. Pierre Schouver (Superior general) opened the postulancy which was built in Pemba district of the southern province in Monze diocese. Meanwhile the first group of postulants had started their formation on 29th September 1995.
At the same occasion the Zambia’s superior was made a major superior. Since the establishment of the postulancy and other formation houses in other countries, the ZSG has seen its membership grow with the first being Fr. Vincent Moba ordained in 2005.
Over 80 Spiritans of different nationalities have worked in Zambia (Irish, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, India and Angola) continuing the work of the pioneers.
Zambia Spiritan Group is present in Lusaka Archdiocese, Monze, and Livingstone Diocese with a total of 10 Spiritan communities. There are 23 finally professed Zambians; 10 working within Zambia and 9 appointed in Spiritan missions outside Zambia. A total of 21 confreres are working in the circumscription now.