From Lusu Hills to Lusu Mission

(Speach by the Parish Council Chairman)

Origin of the Lusu Mission 
The idea to put up a Catholic mission at this spot has both historical and evangelizing background. It comes from an accident of early Jesuit missionaries which happened 120 years before opening of the mission at Lusu. The monument erected by the roadside describes it like this:

"Mission of African Martyrs – Lusu" was established 2003 in memory of Br. Louis de Vylder, SJ, who died at Lusu rapids on 29. 04. 1883.
Br. Louis was on a missionary journey to Lealui (Mongu) to ask permission from the Litunga to preach the Gospel in Barotseland. His canoe was caught in the whirlpool and capsized.

The diary of Fr. Berghgege, the survived companion of deceased Br. Louis describes the accident in detail:
 
Br. Louis de Vylder

He was born in 1841, took his first religious vows at TATI en route to Matebeleland. He was drowned in the Zambezi on 29th April 1883 at Lusu rapids (just in front of today's Lusu Mission).

(From Fr. Berghegge's diary: From the book "Gubulawayo and Beyond" Page 417)

"April 29th 1883 – Death of poor Br. De Vylder.
We had passed the rapid Lusu, and were engaged among little islands, where the current was extraordinarily strong. Owing to a false manoeuvre, or some other cause, the boat in which the poor brother was seated, came across the current, and was taken back to the rapid. The boatmen instead of trying to save the boat jumped out and made for the shore. I shouted out at Br. De Vylder to remain quiet, but frightened himself, he too jumped, and alas at the wrong side. I saw at once that all was over and gave him the holy absolution. Ra Tan was a little ahead. As soon as he became aware of the dreadful accident, he dashed back to the rapid, but could only recover Br. De Vylders's hat. Once he had seen his head come to the surface, and then nothing more. We have even not been able to recover the dead body. Requiescat in pace.
Br. De Vylder was a good religious man, and I feel sure that now he enjoys the rest of Heaven. The boat, left to itself, floated down a little distance, then struck against a rock, from where it was recovered, not a single thing being lost. Poor Br. De Vylder, if he had stuck to the boat!"

120 years after the accident and inspired by it, a new missionary initiative takes place in Lusu.
In 2002  bishop of Livingstone Rt. Rev. Raymond Mpezele had appointed Fr. Boris to spearhead the opening of the mission in Lusu area.  The local village headmen Jakobo and Salumano, after consultation with their subjects have accepted the new missionary initiative. The induna silalo Imbwae has also welcomed the idea and they led the missionary to the Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta and his Kuta in Mwandi for approval.
 The Chief and the Kuta have recognized the good intention of the Catholic Church and on 17th April 2002 the Senior Chief had granted the land for construction of the future Lusu Mission.
Without much delay, clearing of the bushes had started and the first buildings appeared.  All local people were enthusiastic as they saw coming of the mission as their chance for development. The local community took part in the change of the landscape, previously infected by leopards, hyenas, elephants, snakes and other… People were thirsty for emerging spiritual and material development in collaboration with the Mission.

Activities of the Mission today

The Mission is there to work in collaboration with all people of good will to achieve both spiritual and material development. It's motivation and guidance comes from the Word of God and daily prayer.

Our Lord has sent us to proclaim the good news to all nations.
He also told us that whatever we do to the least of his brothers and sisters we do it to him. Catholic Church is known for the commitment of its members to help the poor and promote development. Prayer and action must go together.

In the early stages of Lusu Mission, the area development committee was formed consisting of representatives of the nearby villages. People identified their needs and pledged to work hard. They will offer the manual labour and the Mission will source for funds from those who, through their Christian commitment, wish to help. The basic needs were listed as: School, clinic, grocery shop, hammer mill, skills training.
The works started and today they are proud to look at their ongoing achievements.

1. From PHC to RHC.  In 2003 the Primary Health Care service was temporarily accommodated in what is meant to be the office of the Parish priest. The first so called "doctor" was Mr. Prophet Zyngolo. At the same time construction of a Rural Health Post was on the way. People have made bricks and done excavation for the foundation. The Rural Health Post had been constructed and opened in 2007. The Lusu West Mission Health Post is expected to be promoted soon in Rural Health Centre as an additional building has been added with dormitories and the laboratory.

2. From a Community School towards a Government School. At the time of the arrival of the Mission, only 10% of all children from this side of the river attended classes in the government school which is on the east side of the river. The reason of such a low number of children going to school was the hazards and dangers in daily crossing of the river in the canoe. That is the main reason for high level of illiteracy amongst older population of Lusu. Decision was made to build a community school at the Mission. The first untrained teacher was Mr. Soma. After lots of voluntary work, the first class room to accommodate grade one was opened in January 2004. Soon after that construction of a 1x2 class room block started and it was opened in 2006. The school is now enrolling 40-50 children each year and it is called Lusu west Middle Basic School. It needs additional class rooms and teachers houses.

3.  Grocery Shop and Hammer Mill. At the time of the coming of the Mission people of Lusu area had to walk 35 km to Katima or Sesheke to the nearest grocery shop or to have their maize grinded. Since 2003 the grocery shop and the hammer mill have been put into the service of the people of Lusu.

Intention of the Mission:
The intention of the Mission is to engage the Ministries of the Republic of Zambia and NGOs to continue with the work started by the Mission and further develop it. The Church can't assume the role of the Government but to encourage it.

The Church

The heart of the mission was a small but prosperous Christian community which had started gathering for prayers in 2002. The main evangelizers were the Mission workers who had come from Shangombo (Sikiliti, Adam, Tiki, Tom, Muchimba and others). They were making bricks for construction and also visiting people in the villages inviting them for prayers. That was the beginning of today's church community or Lusu Catholic Church. As the rainy season was approaching, they had decided to build a small church of grass and mud in which they celebrated Christmas 2003. As the community was expanding, a permanent building was constructed in 2005. Eventually the same building was becoming too small and the time was coming to turn that building into a hall for meetings and to build the proper church, the one which we are opening today.

Construction of this church
Construction of this church had started in 2007. The main donors were Croatian Catholics whose generosity was an expression of their deep faith and willingness to support the missionary work in Lusu Mission. They are here represented by cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo and Fr. Tomo Knežević of the Mission Office in Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Builders:
The shape of the church is the result of numerous consultations and inspiration. Like opened hands it invites people to the sanctuary of the Lord.
The drawings and building plan for the church have been made by Mr. Maxon Mundandwe from Sesheke. His construction company "Mumax" has laid foundation and slab. They also erected the walls up to window level. The erection of walls was supervised by Mr. George and his group especially Mr. Melwin of Makusi Village. Painting of walls and surrounding was done under supervision of Mr. Mundandwe again.
Steel frame and the roof have been erected by "Steel Fabrication Company" from Lusaka.
Painting of pictures inside the church had been successfully done by Mr. Lubasi from Sesheke.
There are many more works and workers who had been involved which is impossible now to mention. The local Christian community has contributed through voluntary work.

Our friends from Lusaka, especially Mr. Bozo Zeravica in different ways, Mr. Zvonko Sankovic with procurement of various building materials (electrical equipment including this public address) and Mr. Robert Kraljic with professional advice, have significantly contributed as well.
May God reward all who have worked on this church out of their love for the temple of the Lord. Many local men have worked with minimal wages because they knew they were building the church.

The Patron Saint – St. Joseph the worker – husband of Mary mother of Jesus was chosen by the community of Lusu to be the patron saint of the church. They hope that his prayers will help them as he was helping the child Jesus to achieve his fullness. However, Lusu Mission still remains dedicated to the African Martyrs.

Visible sign of God's presence in Lusu
This church building, which is being opened and dedicated today on 7th June 2009 is the crown of the Mission. It will provide home to the Catholic Christian community who will be gathering here in the name of the risen Christ. This building will also be a permanent and visible sign of the God's presence in Lusu for the times to come. Praying in it and also passing by it will be a reminder to all that God has visited his people and remained to stay.
The main challenge still remains to continue building the Church made of living stones- that is the people of Lusu area!

Order of the ceremony 7. June, 2009

Beginning time: 09.30. People assembled in front of new church.

1. Priests and bishops dress up in old church. Choir lines up for entrance procession.
Order of procession:

1. Cross accompanied by incense and fire.
2. Flower girls
3. Choir with traditional group
4. Alter boys
5. Priests and bishops

2. At the Alter - welcoming speech by the bishop of Livingstone.
3. Speech by the chairman of Lusu Church (history of Lusu Mission)
4. Handing over of the church keys: Builder – bishop – parish priest. With this gesture the local bishop gives authority to the parish priest to be the spiritual leader to the community gathering in this church building.
5. Sprinkling of people by holy water.(This is a symbol of washing from our sins and reminder of the day of our baptism)
6. Gloria
7. After Gloria BIBLE brought to the Alter in procession. Sesheke group starts from old church, Lusu group takes over from them at the gate to the church area. From there all continue together to bring bible to the altar. Handing the bible to the cardinal who gives it to the priest to put it on the lectern. "Ku loka" as a praise to the Word of God and ululation. Readers in traditional dress.
8. Readings in silozi, gospel repeated in English. After each reading clapping by the traditional group who are seated on the floor in front of the Alter during readings. After readings traditional group return to their places.
9. Homily by the Cardinal.
CREDO. No prayer of the faithful

Prayers of dedication and anointing:
Litany of the saints
Deposition of relics.(Following the old tradition of the Church, a part of the body of a saint is placed in the altar. It reminds us on the practice of the old church to celebrate mass at the grave of saint to celebrate the holiness of the decessed. IN our alter we are putting relics of blessed Aloysius Stepinac.) Deposition of the document of dedication of the church. (Document to be read.)

Anointing of the alter and the walls of the church. (The altar is anointed with holy oil of chrism as a place of the offering of the holy sacrifice of mass. Alter also symbolizes the risen Christ. Also four crosses in the church are being anointed as a symobol of the four gospels of Jesus Christ.)

Incensation of the alter and the church. (Five plates of incence are burned as symbol of the five wounds of Jesus. They are put on the alter to symbolize the sacrifice of Christ.)
Lighting of the alter and the church. (The duty of the parish priest is to show the light of Christ to his parishioners.)

10. Individual collection and individual gifts. Bread and wine brought by Alter boys.
11. Consecration time: Traditional group in front of the Alter to show respect to Jesus in traditional way.
12. After communion: Speeches by selected dignitaries. Thanks by the Parish priest. Gifts to the Cardinal.
13. Return to the old church in procession by Alter boys and priests only. End of ceremony.

Thanking the visitors and all

(Speach by the Parish Priest, Fr. Boris Dabo)

When you have done all you have been told to do, say "We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty."
Lk 17.10
It has been an honour and privilege to build the temple of the Lord. We are grateful that the Lord has allowed us to bring this task of building his Temple in Lusu to completion. May his name be holy!

We are also honoured to receive so distinguished visitors to help us thank the Lord for giving us this new church. Their presence in Lusu today is for the greater glory of the Lord.

1. First, thanks to his royal highness chief Inyambo Yeta and his ndunas for coming to his land in Lusu. We pray that through him The Lord will bless all his people and that this new church will be a clear sign that the Lozi people want to be the followers of Christ and that the Kingdom of the Lozi peoples will be modelled on the Kingdom of God.
2. We are grateful to his eminency cardinal Vinko Puljić for coming to pray and celebrate with us today. The College of Cardinals is selected group of bishops to assist the apostle Peter of today – the Holy Father pope Benedict XVI to lead the Church on the right path. In his home diocese of Sarajevo the cardinal has worked hard to motivate the Catholics of his diocese to contribute financially and prayerfully towards construction of this church in Lusu. Catholic Church is universal and if one part of the body is in need, all should help. That is what our Lord Jesus has told us. We also greet the priest who has come with him, Fr. Tomo Knežević who is the director of the Pontifical Mission Society for the country of Bosnia and Hercegovina and our friend.
3. We are grateful to papal nuncio in Zambia and Malawi, his Excelecy arch bishop Nicola Girasolly. He has visited Sesheke Deanery last year and many still remember the rejoicing of the people of the Sesheke Deanery to receive the representative of the holy father in our country. We are happy to have him with us today.
4. Our bishop of Livingstone, Rt. Rev. Raymond Mpezele is not a visitor, this is his church. Still we are happy to have our parent with us.
5. We thank the priests and religious for coming to Lusu to help us thank the Lord ( names).
6. Visitors from other parishes: Names of parishes and number of people - Master of ceremony.
7. A special greeting to the church of Shangombo in which the call for opening of Lusu Mission was heard.
8. Others …

On behalf of the church in Lusu with affiliated churches in Katima, Ngweze, Kapau, Silumbu, Kalobolelwa and also the emerging new mission in Njoko Malomo, may God bless all of you who have celebrated with us.