november 2010 to January 2011 news

Parish Leadership Workshop

On Saturday 13^th November, 2010, the Parish conducted a Leadership Workshop for all the adults in preparation for Church and Parish Council elections that were to be held on 28^th November and 12^th December, 2010 respectively. The facilitators and the Parish priest in collaboration with the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator worked out a programme that dealt with issues mainly of leadership in the Church: what type of leadership is expected for Limulunga Parish. Other topics covered were; reconciliation: how do we bury our differences and regain trust to achieve active participation of everyone in the Parish. Diocese of Mongu pastoral guidelines on the duties of the Parish Council and the Church Council, procedure of elections in the Diocese of Mongu: how elections are conducted in our Diocese, modes of elections.

Elections

28^th November and 12^th December, 2010 saw the elections of ushering in the new Parish Council and a new Church Council. These elections were held in an atmosphere of prayer and quiet reflection. Later on after a fortnight, Lay Organizations and Small Christian Communities also had elections for new leaders. According to our Diocese’s Pastoral guidelines, the Parish and Church Council leaders are elected for a two years’ term after which each individual may be re-elected for a second term only; NO THIRD TERM! However, term of office bearers for Lay Organizations differ according to their constitutions and charism.

Reconciliation Service

In the late afternoon of 24^th December, 2010, was a Reconciliation Service for the whole Parish in the Main Church. The Theme of the service was chosen from the Second Week of Advent: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. (Mt 3:2) Later, the Priests began going for individual confessions followed by the whole congregation. This was as final preparation for the waiting of the Messiah born at Christmas.

Christmas

For the liturgical celebrations of Christmas and the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (1^st January), we had the men and the women on duty respectively. The whole intention was to renew their commitment as elders in the Parish. During the Eucharistic Celebration of Christmas, the men served the Priest at the altar and took charge of the readings and offertory; they also did the ushering. As for the women, they were clad in misisi and served snacks at the madala’s (elders’) evening party on New Year’s day.