ZCCB President George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu advises Catholics in homes
By Kwilanzi News Zambia
ZAMBIA Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President the Right Reverend George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu, currently serving as Bishop of Chipata in the Eastern Province has advised Catholics to continue praying in the safety of their respective homes, as the environment is not yet conducive to worship as congregations or Small Christian Communities.
In a pastoral guidance issued, a few hours after President Edgar Chagwa Lungu allowed Churches to open, while observing guidelines issued through Heath Minister, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Bishop Lungu prayed that his Catholic flock would continue to follow ZCCB spiritual programs on radio, television and other media platforms.
President Lungu with Cathgolic Bishops
Citing an exhortation of St. Paul in Galatians 6:9, Bishop Lungu prayerfully advised Catholic faithful in Zambia to steadfastly continue heeding medical advice to remain home as time to worship as congregations will come once covid 19 is overcome.
Bishop Lungu wrote the pastoral guidance on behalf of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops to announce that the suspension of all public Church gatherings and communal liturgical celebrations will remain in effect until further notice.
The ZCCB President told Catholic members in Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and western Provinces that a decision has been reached after a thorough process of consultation within the Church circles and in liaison with relevant stakeholders in the health sector as well as medical professionals.
In the meantime, Bishop Lungu said the Church remained desirous of protecting the lives and health of its members and pastoral agents as he exhorted the Catholic flock to religiously and judiciously follow the basic rules of hygiene, on washing hands with soap regularly and thoroughly; avoiding physical greeting and contact; observing social distancing; avoiding to touch eyes, nose and mouth; avoiding to spit in public, covering mouths and noses with a bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing; and wearing face masks in public.
Caritas Zambia Director Eugene Kabilika, Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Secretaryy General Father Cleophas Lungu and C and S Investments Ltd Representative George Chellah Wednesday 22nd April 2020 – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
The Bishops’ Conference prayerfully applauded the faith, courage and resilience of the doctors, nurses and support staff in the frontline within Zambia and globally as Bishop Lungu called upon government to prioritize their safety.
At the same time, Bishop Lungu sincerely thanked C&S Investments Ltd Representative George M. Chellah and like-minded philanthropists for partnering with the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops in the fight against COVID-19, in a collective bid to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable throughout Zambia’s ten provinces.
Bishop Lungu called for more donations from like-minded individuals and institutions in order to help many others who are desperately in need.
Sincerely writing the pastoral letter to the glory of the Risen Lord, Bishop Lungu gave heed to the exhortation of St. Paul: “We must never get tired of doing good because if we don’t give up the struggle, we shall reap our harvest at the proper time” (Galatians 6:9). Lastly, we call upon all Catholics to continue praying from the safety of their homes, the domestic Church. Not only that, continue to follow our spiritual programs on radio, television and other media platforms”.
