Rural Priests in need, ECZ chair calls on CWL to support ….OR……Rural Priests suffering, Zaloumis

ELECTORAL Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis has called on the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) to support the Priests in rural Parishes as they are operating under very difficult conditions.
Speaking on Saturday during the Archdiocese of Lusaka (ADL) CWL fundraising Luncheon where she was guest of honour, Ms Zaloumis, who is also CWL founding member and former President in Zambia said during her official duties, she has had time to interact with the Priests from rural areas.
She said one of the Charity works that the League is required to diligently undertake is to support the Church diligently.
“ Be passionate about it. Our Priests need to be supported. In urban areas, most Priests have people to support them. But those in rural areas don’t have people to support them. Therefore, I am challenging you (CWL) to support the rural Priests,’’ she said.
She said in some cases, the offertory on Sunday can be as less as K20.00 and that such realities at times make it hard for the rural Priests to even have enough to eat.
“ There is a certain area in Zambia, after the Sunday Mass, I asked the Priest if I could join him for lunch and he said, if you don’t mind eating what we have. He said Ms Zaloumis, we do not have anything, that is what we will have (certain traditional delicacy) for our meal. Therefore, it is your duty as CWL to ensure that our Priests at least have basic needs met,’’ she said.
She said it would e good if the CWL would do everything possible to see to that the Priests in rural areas also have decent breakfast, lunch and supper.
Ms Zaloumis called on the CWL to adopt some Parishes in rural areas and help them meet some of their requirements.
“We need to make sure that those Priests (in rural areas) can be a bit comfortable. Sometimes you even wonder how they are still living, how they are still managing. Please, my daughters, sisters, my grandchildren, Iam urging you to look after our Priests,’’ she said amid cheers from the crowd,.
She said she is impressed with how the League has kept demonstrating the unity of purpose adding that it is always important for the younger ones to take up the mantle from the older leadership to keep the lay group vibrant.
“I am not a stranger to the Catholic Women’s League because I used to be President for the Catholic Women’s League in Zambia. We went and set up or established the League in Southern Province, in Western Province and some Towns on Copperbelt,’’ she said.
Ms Zaloumis said during her tenure of office, she enjoyed the spirituality of the Catholic Women’s League and commitment to the motto of: Charity, Work and Loyalty.
Speaking Earlier, ADL CWL chairlady Lilian Mushota thanked all the CWL that turned up for the fundraising luncheon whose proceeds would go to the charitable cause.
Ms Mushota thanked Ms Zaloumis for accepting the invitation to be guest of honour.