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Chrism Mass Celebrations
The main
objective of the Diocese from the spiritual perspective is to further
its evangelizing mission amongst a people of different faiths and in a
protestant dominated evnvironment.
Once rooted into the Catholic faith, the Christian Community of Northwestern
Province will grow into witnessing to Catholic values based on the Good News of
Jesus Christ.
In order to
achieve the above, the Diocese has undertaken the following specific objectives:
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"INTEGRAL
EVANGELIZATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE"
THE
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SOLWEZI
Historical
Notes:
The
Catholic Diocese of Solwezi was established in 1976. The Diocese
was originally part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Ndola. On the 9th
April 1959, it was separated from Ndola, and Fr. Rupert Hillerich, OFM
Conventual was the first Prefect Apostolic. Fr. Severiano Abidon Potani
OFM Conventual was appointed in 1970 as successor. On the 9th December
1976, Solwezi was raised to the status of Diocese and Msgr. Potani
became the first Bishop. Bishop Noel O'Regan SMA succeeded him as the
second Bishop on the 10th December 1995. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Alick Banda
was appointed on the 30th May, 2007 and was consecrated on the 29th
July 2007 as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Solwezi. The present
Bishop, Rt. Rev. Charles J.S. Kasonde was appointed on 23rd March 2010
by the Holy Father, and consecrated and installed as the 4th Bishop of
Solwezi on 29th May 2010.
Geographical
Location:
The
Catholic Diocese of Solwezi covers the entire
political-geographical Northwestern Province of Zambia. It has a
population of about 900,000 people representing seven (7) people per
square kilometer. There are about 90,000 Catholics. It has an area of
about 125,827 square kilometers and is comprised of 7 districts,
namely; Solwezi the provincial headquarters, Mwinilunga, Kasempa,
Mufumbwe, Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma.
The Diocese borders with Angola to the west, Democratic Republic of Congo to the
north,Copperbelt Pprovince to the East, Central Province to the southeast and
Western Province to the south. The Diocese is predominantly rural and very poor.
The roads are rough, mostly un-tarred making access to most of the districts
difficult and almost impossible during the rainy season.
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Closing Mass for Diocesan Staff - 21stDec. 2011
In view
of the social teaching of the Church, the Diocese, through the Social
and Development Programs, works hard to alleviate poverty and
illiteracy in Northwestern Province through the promotion of itegral
human development, namely:
- empowerment through vocational training and literacy
programs
- promotion of agriculture
and animal husbandry
- fight HIV/AIDs pandemic
- promotion and uplifting the rights of the people
especially, women, girl child, orphans and vulnerable children and
people living with different disabilities.
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