We need repentance as a people – Bishop Kalumba
Bishop Valentine Kalumba, OMI, has called on the people of Livingstone and the nation at large, to have a serious self-examination, and repent, owing to the criminal elements happening in the nation.
Appealing to the Congregation, gathered at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, to observe the beginning of the Catholic Lenten Season, the Bishop stated: “I can’t imagine a Catholic who receives ashes, a Catholic who also receives the Eucharist, to go and gas another person, to participate in mob killing, to send alarming statements and obscene photos on social media, and spread hate speeches and tribal comments.”
Highly moved by the recent events in the country, the Bishop reminded the congregation that Lent is a good season of Grace, of purification, prayer and fasting. This is needed because as a people “we have spilt so much blood in our our country.”
Continuing in his Lenten Reflection, the Livingstone Local Ordinary, wished blessings of peace on the people of Livingstone. He called on the people to do away with criminal elements in the city. Recalling the peaceful nature of the City of Livingstone, the Senior Clergy stated: “In the past one could walk from Chandamali to the Victoria Falls at 23hrs. But today it is not possible because of fearing the junks [unruly criminally oriented young people] and gassers[criminals spraying unsuspecting people with unknown chemicals],” recalled the Bishop.
Catholics world over began the 40-days Lenten Season, characterized by Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving, in preparation for the Easter Celebration. Ash Wednesday this year fell on 26th February, 2020, where Catholics were marked with ashes on their foreheads, as a sign of repentance and mortality.
