Zambia: Livingstone Diocese’s young people celebrate “Christus vivit”

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City

Speaking to Vatican News Africa Service, Livingstone Diocese’s Youth Chaplain, Fr. Bruno Hamukali, said the youth camp comprised five days of talks, prayer, fun and just young people coming together and bonding as Catholics.

Theme: He walked along with them

In all, over 200 young people from various parishes of Livingstone Diocese attended the youth camp held on the premises of Sioma Secondary school.

Zambia’s Sioma district is a rural town located on the west bank of the Zambezi River some 330 Kilometres from the city of Livingstone. Sioma is less than two hours away from Katima Mulilo district in Namibia. It was therefore not surprising that young people from Katima Mulilo’s Holy Family Parish crossed the border and gladly joined the Zambian youth camp.

The general theme of the youth gathering was, “He walked with them.” It is taken from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 24:15.

Christus vivit speaks to us

Every day began with an early morning workout routine as early as 5 am. Later in the day, sports, games, dance and talks, as well as the Eucharist were organised by the young people themselves.

Youth Chaplain, Fr. Bruno Hamukali took it upon himself to explain the document of Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, in a manner that young people found interesting.

Christus vivit is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, written in response to the Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on “Young people, Faith and Vocational discernment,” held from 3 October to 28 October 2018 in the Vatican. The document is addressed, “to young people and to the entire people of God.”

Some of the young people spoken to said the messages of Pope Francis in the document, Christus vivit, resonated with them. They cited examples such as when Pope Francis says, “Jesus, who is eternally young, wants to give us hearts that are ever young.” Some were encouraged by words highlighting respect for young people or messages urging them never to regret spending their youth being good, opening their hearts to the Lord and living differently.

Celebrating with a riverside braai

Other speakers made presentations on Youth awareness and their role in the Church; Faith: The power of Catholic youth and a talk on being Pro-Life.

On the feast day of St. Lucy, an outing to the beach at Maziba bay on the banks of the Zambezi River was organised. At Maziba bay, the braai stand was the most popular attraction.

For Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, an outdoor braai (barbecue) is a popular social event.