THE JCTR UPDATE

THE JCTR UPDATE: PEOPLE & ACTIVITIES

WHAT KEEPS US BUSY AT THE JCTR? HERE ARE SOME RECENT ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Inculturation task force

A half-day seminar on “African World View and Pastoral Challenges of Traditional Healing” was held at UNZA Christian Centre on 24 January. It was coordinated by the chair of the JCTR Task Force on Inculturation, Fr. Damian Musonda, Rector of St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka. (See description of Task Force in JCTR Bulletin No. 44.) About 35 pastoral workers from the Lusaka Archdiocese – lay leaders, religious, priests – gathered to discuss the challenges to the church of traditional healing and seek recommendations for more effective pastoral responses.

Sr. Auxilia Ponga, superior of the Daughters of the Redeemer, opened with questions raised by the Task Force. An overview on “African World View” was presented by Fr. Musonda. After a case study on “Catholics and Traditional Healing” from Fr. Hugo Himfelaar, M.Afr., the participants shared their own experiences. The parish priest of Roma Cathedral, Fr. Stephen Mwewa, offered practical theological reflection. The JCTR is preparing a report on the seminar and the Task Force will pursue further discussion of this important topic.

Church’S Social Teaching

In early January, Pete Henriot and Muweme Muweme travelled to Monze for two workshops on the Church’s Social Teaching (CST) sponsored by the Monze Dicoces Development Office. The first addressed the topic of “Development and CST” and the second “Politics and CST.” Lively discussion took place, especially during the second workshop where reommendations were made for this election year!

During the current term at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary, Lusaka, Pete is again team-teaching with Fr. Joe Komakoma, CCJP director, a course on “Social Teaching of the Church Universal and Zambian Church.”

Over 250 Catholic parishes in Zambia received homily notes for Advent 2000, prepared by Fr. Charles Searson, S.J. JCTR sent these out as a way of promoting faith reflection on four key topics: debt, HIV/AIDS, prison reform and elections. Response has been very enthusiastic and we will repeat this service for Lent 2001.

Food Basket

The JCTR’s very popular “Food Basket” monthly survey (see article in this current Bulletin) continues to have widespread circulation and discussion. Muweme is frequently asked to explain the methodology of the survey and the implications of its findings. Recently the USA Embassy featured an article on the Food Basket in its newsletter.

Debt Project

Our Jubilee 2000-Zambia team felt a strong pat on the back when Zambia’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development publicly thanked the campaign for its hard-working efforts to secure debt cancellation. While Zambia did receive some “relief” in December under the HIPC arrangements, two challenges stand out for our project: (1) get full and not simply partial cancellation, and (2) put in place a “debt mechanism” to assure that any money definitely goes to poverty reduction. Chrispin Mphuka, Charity Musamba and George Makaha make very clear that “Jubilee" didn’t end in 2000 but will continue very strong in 2001!

A theological reflection seminar on “Jubilee” was sponsored by JCTR in early December. Papers were presented by representatives of the Christian Council of Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Zambia Episcopal Conference, on political, economic and ecclesial reconciliation in the Jubilee spirit.

Charity traveled to Malawi at the end of January to share with the debt project there our work with civil society to promote effective participation in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process. In its role as focal point for civil society’s PRSP participation in Zambia, JCTR has set up the office of “Civil Society for Poverty Reduction” (CSPR), with Besi Phiri as coordinator, assisted by Gregory Chikwanka. Because of lack of space in JCTR’s Luwisha House venue (we are already sitting on each others’ laps!), the CSPR has set up an office in town centre Lusaka.

“The Impact of Independent Initiatives for Debt Relief: Case Study of Zambia” was the paper presented by Pete at the Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action in Rome in mid-December. Pete and Hon. Patrick Kalifungwa, of Zambia’s Parliament, described the debt situation here and the efforts of Jubilee 2000-Zambia.

Visitors to the JCTR

Several visitors from other parts of Africa and from Europe and the USA have come through the office in the past few months to talk about the debt project, the political situation in the country, and the church’s response to social issues. The walls of the our conference room are covered with newspaper clippings recording JCTR activities and views, so visitors can get a good first-hand account of what keeps us busy. Catherine Kachidza, Receptionist and Office Manager, makes an effort to be sure that names of visitors are recorded in our Visitors Book!