Zambia’s Catholic Bishops Recommit to “more meaningful, less burdensome” Collaboration with Women and Men Religious

Lusaka, 04 February, 2026 / 3:39 PM

Catholic Bishops in Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) in making their participation in the evangelization mission of the Church more impactful.

In a Monday, February 2 message on the World Day for Consecrated Life, the Director for the Consecrated at the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), Bishop George Zumaire Lungu, made known his colleagues’ commitment to ensuring that the stronger collaboration sought by ICLSAL members during the 2025 Jubilee celebrations for Consecrated Life is realized.

“You expressed the need to enter into serious dialogue with their Excellencies in the Conference on one hand and government officials on the other in order to make your participation in the mission more meaningful and less burdensome,” Bishop Lungu said, recalling the August 2025 event at the Marian Shrine in Zambia’s Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka.

The Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata added, “The Jubilee on Synodality was quite emphatic on the need ‘to walk together’ as a local church to fulfill the mandate Jesus Christ gave to the entire church to preach the Word and heal the sick.”

“For this reason, the Bishops of Zambia are committed to seeing that the desired collaboration in the spirit of synodality is realized,” the ZCCB official stated, expressing hope that the 30th World Day for Consecrated Life becomes a moment for the ICLSAL members in Zambia to renew their zeal and a reminder of the value of their consecration as “a gift to the Church.”

He continued, “We, your Bishops, acknowledge and appreciate the valuable services you render to the people of Zambia through your presence in parishes, schools, hospitals, and communities.”

“Your vocation is indeed a profound sign of God's love for His people,” Bishop Lungu said, and continued, “By your consecration through the Evangelical Counsels, you testify to the world that Christ is the supreme treasure, that His love is enough, and that His will is the path to true freedom.”

“On behalf of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and blessings to all consecrated men and women who have offered their lives to Christ and humanity through the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience,” he said in his February 2 message to the ICLSAL members in Zambia.