The SVD Botswana province made another leap in its contextualized initial formation program when Fr. Marek MARCINIAK, the vice provincial, blessed the new SVD Philosophy House and Chapel in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. The simple, but colorful ceremony took place on November 12 within a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Provincial Fr. Shiju Paul PUTHENPURACKAL. All confreres from the Zambia District, the Provincial council, staff members from St. Bonaventure College, where our seminarians pursue their degree in philosophy, and representatives from neighboring religious houses were present for the occasion. The planned formation house is to be completed in three stages of construction, two of which are finished already. Bro. Albertus BABU, as well as Frs. Al VILLASANTE and Wojciech SZYPULA, have walked the extra mile to complete these two phases in spite of their teaching assignments at the college.

The PMS National Directors of English Speaking Africa had their regional meeting in Accra (Ghana) from October19-27, 2009. The theme of the meeting was: “Pontifical Mission Societies, Means of Evangelization.”

The aim of the meeting was to discuss and plan the direction of their missionary activity in concrete forms, awakening in this way a spirit of practical solidarity in view of evangelizing all people. The meeting brought together PMS National Directors from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone/Gambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Fr. Timothy LEHANE, the General Secretary of the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of Faith, and Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel KUMORDJI, the President for the Episcopal Commission for the Missions of the Bishops’ Conference of Ghana, participated in the meeting.

On October 24, 2009, the parish hall at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Malapupe, Limpopo Province was blessed by Bishop Hugh Slattery of the Diocese of Tzaneen. This hall, an important center for various diocesan and parish activities, is named the Centennial Hall in remembrance of the centennial celebration of the deaths of Sts. Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz. The big hall also includes a kitchen, a store room, an office, toilets and showers. The blessing was followed by a Eucharist attended by SVDS working in the Diocese of Tzaneen, some diocesan priests and three SSpS Sisters.

The hall will be used for various programs for the laity such as formation of catechists, and training of lay ministers and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. HIV related programs will also be conducted among others. It is expected that the SVD Centennial Hall will be a preferred place for different activities and gatherings of the Diocese. The hall, covering over 627.24 square meters, is so far the biggest hall in the whole diocese.