Through Facebook and Facebook Messenger, many people from Lubengele have asked me if I do not go there to celebrate with them the golden jubilee of the building of the Church. I am sorry, but I will not be able to be there. It is a long way from Portugal to Zambia and I have work here. One day, God willing, I will come to visit you.
I miss Lubengele, I miss the vibrant celebrations with the singing of the Choir, the word of God proclaimed in songs by the baMushika (Yangeni Singers) and the religious dancing (ukusengela) of the Stella, Bana ba Maria and Women (banamayo). And I miss the people, mainly the children, the youth, the catechesis, the married couples, the school, the Small Christian Communities (ifitente) and all the groups and movements, the choir singing and Yangeni performing. I cannot forget you, all of you.
As for the Jubilee of the Church, I looked into my notes and I found that in 1997 we had a big celebration for the 30 years of the Church. Then, in 2006, we had a golden jubilee celebration for the first baptisms registered in Lubengele, in 1956, before the Church was built. And we made a big celebration.
On 27 October 2006, a Friday, we had a singing competition. On 28 - a Saturday - in the morning, we had a march from Shaft nº 3, passing through the Church to the Community School, which was officially opened; in the afternoon, we had a festival.
Then, on 29 October, Sunday, we had a big eucharistic celebration, with the consecration of the Parish to Mary, Our Lady of Mercy.
Inquiring from different people, I got the following information:
“The beginnings of the Parish
The Parish of Lubengele was initiated by the Franciscan Friars, from Chingola. The first baptism - the one of Richard James Carew, an expatriate - was administered by Fr. Mauro Mamo on 29 August 1954. Then, on 19 September 1954, Fr. Raymond Mauceri baptised the first Zambians in Chililabombwe.
At that time the Priests were staying in Chingola, and baptisms were registered in Nchanga. Up to 19 January 1956, Fr. Raymond Mauceri administered nearly all the baptisms. Then in February of the same year, Fr. Leo Cusimano started going to Chililabombwe. At the beginning of 1956, Fr. Achille Fontana came to Chililabombwe as well and made some baptisms.
The first baptisms registered in Lubengele Parish are from 14 October 1956, done by Fr. Leo Cusimano, who remained there up to February 1957.
Building the church
The first place of worship in Lubengele Parish was near the present day Shaft nº 3 in a thatched shelter. When the place had to be abandoned, the community went Mr Loyd’s place in G section. Later on, the worshippers used the Mine Hall, near Konkola Stadium. Finally, the Catholic community of Lubengele decided to build their own church, behind the Buntungwa market or Kalukungu as it is popularly known.
The Parish of Lubengele was initiated by the Franciscan Friars, from Chingola. The first baptism - the one of Richard James Carew, an expatriate - was administered by Fr. Mauro Mamo on 29 August 1954. Then, on 19 September 1954, Fr. Raymond Mauceri baptised the first Zambians in Chililabombwe.
At that time the Priests were staying in Chingola, and baptisms were registered in Nchanga. Up to 19 January 1956, Fr. Raymond Mauceri administered nearly all the baptisms. Then in February of the same year, Fr. Leo Cusimano started going to Chililabombwe. At the beginning of 1956, Fr. Achille Fontana came to Chililabombwe as well and made some baptisms.
The first baptisms registered in Lubengele Parish are from 14 October 1956, done by Fr. Leo Cusimano, who remained there up to February 1957.
Building the church
The first place of worship in Lubengele Parish was near the present day Shaft nº 3 in a thatched shelter. When the place had to be abandoned, the community went Mr Loyd’s place in G section. Later on, the worshippers used the Mine Hall, near Konkola Stadium. Finally, the Catholic community of Lubengele decided to build their own church, behind the Buntungwa market or Kalukungu as it is popularly known.
According to Mr Alphonsus Mukuka, the foundation and the slab were laid in place in 1959. The walls were built in 1967.
The main work was done while Fr. Lodovicus Mizzi, known as Fr. Katyetye Mwenda Mwalimwa, was the Parish Priest. They put a roofing structure supported by pipes before the walls were built. And the community abandoned the old place that was too small and started worshipping in the new church.
The church was opened on 20 August 1967.
In the booklet with the songs for the liturgy of the consecration of the church, Mr Bonaventure Mubanga wrote:
"Natusansamuke bonse pa kwisula Ing'anda yakwa Lesa iyo twashukila panuma ya kucula imyaka 15, lelo kwena ubukûle bwesu tabulapwa nakalya; twaisula fye bwangu bwangu ico tatwakwata ing'anda ye Pepo.” (“Let us rejoice all of us at the opening of the church that we are happy to have after 15 years of suffering; but the building is not finished yet; we opened it in a hurry because we don't have a place of worship."
The main work was done while Fr. Lodovicus Mizzi, known as Fr. Katyetye Mwenda Mwalimwa, was the Parish Priest. They put a roofing structure supported by pipes before the walls were built. And the community abandoned the old place that was too small and started worshipping in the new church.
The church was opened on 20 August 1967.
In the booklet with the songs for the liturgy of the consecration of the church, Mr Bonaventure Mubanga wrote:
"Natusansamuke bonse pa kwisula Ing'anda yakwa Lesa iyo twashukila panuma ya kucula imyaka 15, lelo kwena ubukûle bwesu tabulapwa nakalya; twaisula fye bwangu bwangu ico tatwakwata ing'anda ye Pepo.” (“Let us rejoice all of us at the opening of the church that we are happy to have after 15 years of suffering; but the building is not finished yet; we opened it in a hurry because we don't have a place of worship."
LIST OF THE PRIESTS WHO WORKED IN LUBENGELE PARISH – CHILILABOMBWE (following the baptism registers of the Parish)
- Fr Mauro 1954
- Fr. Raymond Maucery 1954 – 1956
- Fr. Leo Cusimano 1956 – 1957
- Fr. Claude 1957 – 1958
- Fr. Achille Fontana 1958 – 1960
- Fr. Ludovicus Mizzi 1960 – 1968
- Fr. Philip Zara 1968 – 1969
- Fr. Angelo Panzica 1969 – 1973 (alternating with Fr. Philip)
- Fr. Charles Talone 1973 – 1975
- Fr. Dominik Wasilenski 1975 – 1979
- Fr. Zygmunt 1979 – 1980
- Fr. Dominik Wasilenshi 1980 – 1981
- Fr. José dos Santos Guedes 1981 – from October 1981 to beginning of January 2009.
- Fr. Simon Kunda
- Fr. Edward Mumbi
- Fr. Michael Kolala
- Fr. Matthews Chamangwa
- Fr. Chalwe Chonde
I wish the parishioners of Lubengele a great celebration. I pray for them and ask the Lord to fill them with the Holy Spirit to be always true witnesses of Jesus Christ.
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