National Catholic Forum opens in Lusaka
“The Family at Crossroads”
By DIANA CHIPEPO
The bi-annual National Catholic Forum, organized by the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), opened today at St. Dominics Major Seminary in Lusaka under the theme “The Family at Crossroads.” The gathering has drawn clergy, consecrated, and lay faithful across all the dioceses to reflect on the challenges and future of the family in contemporary society.
In his keynote address, ZCCB President Most Rev. Ignatius Chama underscored the centrality of the family to both Church and nation. “The family, as we know, is the constitutive institution of society; it is the first school of love, faith, and human dignity. It is within the family that values are nurtured, hope is sustained, and the gift of life is cherished. Yet today, the family stands at crossroads facing challenges from economic pressures, cultural shifts, marriage breakdown, technological change and moral uncertainties,” he said.
Archbishop Chama emphasized that the forum is not merely academic but a pastoral mission aimed at strengthening the family as a “domestic church.” He outlined three objectives: to understand contemporary family challenges, to explore solutions, and to highlight the family’s role in evangelization and the transmission of faith.
Delegates are expected to engage in dialogue marked by openness and respect, seeking ways to renew pastoral action and deepen communion. The Archbishop reminded participants that “at every crossroads, the Lord Himself walks with us,” urging them to entrust their deliberations to the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The forum will run until Thursday, with outcomes expected to shape pastoral strategies for families across Zambia.
And Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) President Rt Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka who shared a message of solidarity from MCCB to the entire Zambian Church said the shared challenges faced in nations include poverty, inequality and the need fore good governance.
“We are deeply grateful for the solidarity and support we have received from each other in the past, especially during times of crisis. We pray that this spirit of Unity and collaboration will continue to strengthen our bond as we work together to build a more just and peaceful future for our peoples and building Catholic communities which are truly the light of the world and the salt of the earth,” Bishop Mtumbuka said.
The National Catholic Forum which is consultative in nature is held every two years. The Forum reflects the family character of the local Church, where all the “three tribes of the Church”, that is, Clergy, Consecrated and the Laity, come together for presentations, dialogue and pastoral planning. The event reaffirms the importance of the need to walk and grow together as God’s family, where unity and solidarity are at the heart of daily life and where everyone feels truly at home.
