At Zambian Major Seminary, Apostolic Nuncio Challenges Future Priests to Turn Youthful Energy into Joyful Witness

Credit: St. Augustine's Major Seminary, Mpima - Zambia

Lusaka, 09 December, 2025 / 7:58 pm (ACI Africa).

The Holy Father’s Representative in Zambia has challenged Major Seminarians at one of the country’s Catholic formation houses to convert their youthful energy into a spiritual gift for the Church and society.

Archbishop Gian Luca Perici made the appeal on Sunday, December 7, in his homily at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Mpima, where he also reflected on the Season of Advent, which he described it as “a season of joy.”

“I would like to encourage you to spread the joy of Christ in your young age, wherever you go,” Archbishop Perici said during his visit to the Major Seminary located in Zambia’s Catholic Diocese of Kabwe.

He added, “We already anticipate the joy that we will experience when finally the Lord becomes flesh and lives among us. We must already have this joy and should be able to share it with others.”

“You are still vibrant, full of energy,” the Vatican diplomat who also represents the Holy Father in Malawi told the Seminarians, inviting them to let their vibrance and energy be a source of “joy rather than sadness.”

He said, “In your young life, you meet different people. Allow yourselves to be carriers of faith, a faith expressed in joy. Let your faith be contagious enough to touch everyone you meet. Let your joy be contagious too.”

“John the Baptist reminds us to prepare the way for the Lord and make this path straight. This is a call to repentance, conversion, and inner transformation,” the Italian-born Vatican diplomat said, noting that the "process is our pathway to the fullness of joy.”

He called upon the Seminarians to engage in deep self-reflection and commit themselves to a path of transformation, stressing that good Priests come from well-formed Seminarians.

“If you are a bad seminarian, you will not magically become a good Priest tomorrow. Everything begins now, my dear seminarians,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Zambia said.

He added, “The Church needs Priests, not just Priests, but good Priests. The Church can’t have good Priests unless we begin by having good seminarians.”

“I wish to help you from the bottom of my heart. Be responsive to the formation that you are undergoing in this house.” Archbishop Perici said.

He urged the Seminarians to create a joyous environment for themselves at the formation house, saying, “Let me mention that you cannot give out joy unless you cultivate it where you are.”

“This place, the house of formation, must have a joyous environment. Ensure that you are always happy. Smile more often. It is such an environment created by yourselves. That allows you to live a positive life here and beyond the objects of this seminary,” Archbishop Perici said.

He added, “Love what you are doing and love where you are. Mpima is where you are. It is your second home. It is a nursery where the Church hopes to harvest good, healthy, and prayerful Priests.”

“I pray for you today and wish you well as you continue this path of formation. May God bless His Word,” the Apostolic Nuncio said in his December 7 homily.

At Zambian Major Seminary, Apostolic Nuncio Challenges Future Priests to Turn Youthful Energy into Joyful Witness

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At Zambian Major Seminary, Apostolic Nuncio Challenges Future Priests to Turn Youthful Energy into Joyful Witness

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