Self-reliance in the life and mission of the church in the context of Mpika diocese, Zambia

Abstract

The mission of the Church is to evangelize. It exists to carry forth the Good News of Jesus Christ to every sector of the human race. However, the Church requires evangelising agents and financial and material resources, arnong other important aspects, to carry out its mission. The diocese of Mpika, just like many other dioceses in Zambia and the AMECEA region, has for many years depended on foreign aid, both human and economic, for its various pastoral undertakings. However, as the Catholic population and the pastoral needs are increasing on one hand, foreign aid is decreasing on the other hand. Financial and material contributions from abroad have kept on decreasing. Foreign missionaries too, are on the verge of phasing out. The solution to the predicament, is to try as much as possible to build a self-ministering, self-propagating and self-supporting Church. The study has brought to the fore some plausible measures that could contribute to bring about human and economic self-reliance In the diocese and other dioceses In the AIVIELEA region.