St. John The Evangelist Parish - Kamfinsa

29/08/2026

SATURDAY OF THE 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST — MEMORIAL

EVENING MASS FOR KAMFINSA DEANERY LEGION OF MARY

CELEBRANT: FR. LOYD CHIPANDO OFM CHAPLAIN OF THE LEGION OF MARY FOR KAMFINSA DEANERY

REFLECTION

Some people are jealous of us and may even wish to see us die. When you look at your neighbour, what do you see? They may give you a smile, but we should remember one thing: we cannot always tell what is behind that smile. There can be genuine love, but there can also be something that is not genuine.

In today's Gospel, we see three important characters: Herod, Herodias, and Salome. Because of the jealousy and hatred of one person, many people can end up being ruined.

Even in our families, we can find situations where hatred among parents can bring division among the children—children who may not even know what happened at the beginning of the conflict within the family.

John the Baptist stood firmly for the truth. He spoke the truth even when it was dangerous for him. He is a powerful example for those who work for peace and justice.

So, what is our mission?

Sometimes we do not understand our mission, and because of this, we can even reach the point of destroying ourselves when someone tells us that we are useless or that we have no value.

We must ask ourselves: “Is it God who is speaking through this person?”

In our Small Christian Communities, we may encounter people who hate us because we stand for the truth. Standing for the truth may sometimes bring suffering, just as it did for John the Baptist.

But we should not be afraid. Our value does not come from what people say about us; our value comes from God.

Like John the Baptist, may we have the courage to stand for truth, peace, and justice, even when it is difficult. May we remain faithful to our mission and never allow hatred, jealousy, or the words of others to destroy the person God has called us to be.

27/08/2026

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NDOLA ARCHDIOCESE CALLS FOR MASSIVE TURNOUT AT SEMINARIAN FUND PRESENTATION.

Archdiocese of Ndola Director of Pastoral Programs, Reverend Father Thomas Chunika, has urged Catholics across the Archdiocese to turn out in numbers for this year’s Seminarian Fund presentation at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this Saturday.

Speaking to Radio Icengelo News in Ndola today, Father Chunika said supporting the formation of future priests is the collective responsibility of Christians.

He said once seminarians become priests, they serve the entire Catholic community and therefore supporting their formation is also a way of helping to spread the Gospel.

Father Chunika said all is set for the event and has urged all deaneries across the Archdiocese of Ndola to fully participate.

He has also appealed to the faithful not to refrain from supporting the Seminary Fund on the grounds that they do not have a seminarian in their family, saying future priests will serve everyone regardless of where they come from.

The 2026 Archdiocese of Ndola Seminary Fund presentation will be hosted by the Ndola Deanery at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, 29th August, with Holy Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Benjamin Phiri at 10:00 hours.

26/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/100067925497830/posts/1390216209919216/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

The honest way may take longer, but God will bless you for doing what is right. Don’t give in to the temptation of easy money by scamming, laundering money, or stealing. What looks like quick success can become a lifetime of regret. Choose integrity even when it costs you more today. Money earned honestly may come slowly, but it comes with peace, dignity, and God’s blessing. 💯

23/08/2026

Happy Sunday to you all

23/08/2026

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KNOW CHRIST. CHOOSE CHRIST. BUILD WITH CHRIST | “If Jesus were standing here today and asked us, “Who do people say that I am?” I think we could answer very quickly.

We could check Facebook. Search Google. Watch YouTube. Ask ChatGPT. In a few seconds, we would have hundreds of answers!

But then Jesus would probably put away our phones and say, “No, no. I am not asking Google. I am not asking Facebook. I am asking you: Who do YOU say that I am?”

And suddenly, the question becomes more difficult. Because Jesus is not asking for information. He is asking for a relationship. He is asking for a decision. He is asking for our life.

Today, I would like to leave you with three simple challenges:

KNOW CHRIST.
CHOOSE CHRIST.
BUILD WITH CHRIST.

1. KNOW CHRIST — DON’T LET THE CROWD ANSWER FOR YOU.

In the Gospel, the disciples tell Jesus what everybody else is saying: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Everybody has an opinion!

And today, there are even more voices. Facebook has an opinion. TikTok has an opinion. Politicians have opinions. Influencers have opinions. And now AI can give us an answer in seconds.

You can ask AI, “Who is Jesus?” and it can give you a very good answer. But AI cannot believe for you. Love Jesus for you. Pray for you. Follow Jesus for you.

Christianity is not simply knowing things about Jesus. It is knowing Jesus—speaking to Him in prayer, listening to His Word, trusting Him in difficult moments, and allowing Him to become part of our daily life.

So our first challenge is: Know Christ personally.

2. CHOOSE CHRIST — ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT.

Peter answers beautifully: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But Peter will discover that saying this is easier than living it.

The same is true for us. It is easy to say, “Jesus is Lord,” inside the church. But what happens outside?

When everybody is cheating, will I remain honest?
When corruption becomes normal, will I refuse to participate?
When people online are attacking someone, will I join the crowd—or refuse to add more hatred?
When my friends say, “Come on, everybody is doing it,” will I have the courage to say, “But I am a Christian”?

Sometimes we want Jesus to be our Savior, but not our Lord.
“Lord, bless me. Protect me. Heal me. Help my family.”
But when Jesus says, “Forgive that person,” we say, “Lord, maybe something else.”
When Jesus says, “Share with the poor,” we say, “Lord, next time.”
When Jesus says, “Change your life,” we say, “Lord, just bless me.”

But if Jesus is truly Lord, then He must have a say in how we live. Our faith is tested not when following Jesus is convenient, but when following Him costs us something.

So our second challenge is: Choose Christ—not only with your lips, but with your life.

3. BUILD WITH CHRIST — DON’T ADD TO THE DIVISION.

Finally, Jesus tells Peter: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

Notice that beautiful word: BUILD.

We live in a time when destroying is very easy. One angry post can destroy a reputation. One piece of fake news can divide a community. One careless accusation can damage a family. One political disagreement can turn friends—even relatives—into enemies.

But Christians are not called to be destroyers. We are called to be builders.
Build your family. Build your parish. Build friendships. Build bridges. Build communities where the poor are remembered and people can disagree without hating one another.

Before posting something, ask: “Will this build or destroy?”
Before speaking about someone: “Will my words heal or hurt?”
Before making a decision: “Will this bring people closer to Christ and to one another?”

And notice something very important. Jesus does not say to Peter, “Peter, you will build my Church.” He says, “I will build my Church.”

The Church belongs to Christ. Not to the bishop. Not to the priest. Not to any organization, movement, or group. Christ is the builder. We are only His workers.

And that should keep all of us humble.
——

There is a story about two brothers who lived on neighboring farms. For many years, they worked together and helped one another. But one day, because of a misunderstanding, they had a serious quarrel. Harsh words were exchanged, and eventually they stopped speaking to each other.

One morning, a carpenter came to the older brother looking for work.

The older brother pointed to the small river separating his farm from his brother’s and said, “Build me a high fence. I don’t want to see my brother anymore.”

The carpenter went to work.

But when the older brother returned that afternoon, he was surprised. There was no fence.

Instead, the carpenter had built a bridge across the river.

And there, on the other side, stood his younger brother.

The younger brother slowly walked across the bridge and said, “After everything I said and did, you still built a bridge between us.”

The two brothers embraced.
——

My dear brothers and sisters, there are already many people building fences in our world.

Jesus needs Christians who will build bridges.

So remember: KNOW CHRIST.
CHOOSE CHRIST. BUILD WITH CHRIST.”

— Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy
Maymay sa Magbalantay | 23 August 2026

22/08/2026

HAPPY 6TH PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARY!

Saint John the Evangelist Kamfinsa Parish wishes you a Happy 6th Priestly Anniversary! May God continue to strengthen you, bless your priestly ministry, and grant you wisdom, good health, and abundant grace as you faithfully serve His people.

May Christ, the Eternal High Priest, continue to guide and protect you throughout your priestly journey. Ad multos annos, Father! 🙏🏽⛪🎉

19/08/2026

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THE NEGATIVE AS CHILDREN OF GOD?

How do we respond when, as children of God and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we suddenly become sick? How do we respond when people insult us even when we have done nothing wrong? How do we respond when our friends and family members give us advice that could lead us away from our faith or congregation because they believe that leaving will make our journey easier?

Sometimes people may tell us, “You are still young; you have a long way to go.” They may tell us to abandon our calling, leave our congregation, or make decisions that go against our Christian values simply because they believe it will make life easier.

We may also hear words such as, “Abort that pregnancy; you are too young.” Or, “You are too intelligent; you should not be controlled by your parents.” Sometimes people may insult us publicly and tell us, “They cannot insult you in front of everyone. Insult them back so that they know you can also talk.”

But as Christians, is that how we are called to respond?

Jesus teaches us a different way.

When we are insulted, we do not have to insult back. When people speak badly about us, we do not have to repay their words with hatred. When people misunderstand us, we can remain calm and allow God to defend us.

The Bible says:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” — Romans 12:17

And again:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21

Being a Christian does not mean that we should allow people to abuse or manipulate us. We can defend ourselves without becoming hateful. We can speak the truth without insulting others. We can set boundaries without abandoning our Christian values.

When suffering comes, we should not immediately conclude that God has abandoned us. Sickness, rejection, criticism, and difficult seasons can test our faith, but they do not mean that God is no longer with us.

Jesus Himself suffered.

He was insulted.
He was rejected.
He was falsely accused.
He was beaten.
He was mocked.
Yet He remained faithful to the Father.

Therefore, when everyone tells us to give up, let us remember that our faith should not depend on whether life is easy.

Let us pray before making serious decisions. Let us seek wise and trustworthy spiritual guidance. Let us listen carefully, but not every piece of advice must be followed. Some people may genuinely love us but still give us advice that is not good for our spiritual journey.

And when people provoke us, let us remember the words of Jesus:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44

Our response to negativity should be prayer instead of revenge, wisdom instead of anger, forgiveness instead of hatred, and faith instead of giving up.

We are children of God. We do not need to prove ourselves by insulting others. We do not need to fight every battle with words. Sometimes our greatest response is to remain faithful, peaceful, and obedient to God.

When they expect us to respond with anger, let us respond with love.
When they expect revenge, let us choose forgiveness.
When they expect us to give up, let us hold on to God.
And when we do not know what to do, let us pray.

May God give us the strength to remain faithful even when the journey becomes difficult, and may He give us wisdom to know which voices to listen to and which ones to leave behind.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” — Matthew 5:11

Lord Jesus, teach us to respond as Your children. Amen.

UMUSHA WAKWA LESA

18/08/2026

DO WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ONCE PRAYED FOR US?

How do we see priests who have fallen short? How do we see our mentors, spiritual guides, family members, and other people who have helped us in our journey? Do we see them as people who need our prayers, or do we join the world in mocking and condemning them?

Let us be honest with ourselves. Many of these people are fighting personal, family, community, Church, national, and even spiritual battles. Some of them stood with us when we were weak. They prayed for us, guided us, corrected us, encouraged us, and helped us overcome addictions, drunkenness, missing Mass, marital problems, and other struggles.

But what happens when the person who once helped us begins to struggle?

Sometimes, we forget that the people who were helping us are also human. They can become tired. They can become discouraged. They can face battles that we may never see. The enemy does not only attack those who are struggling; sometimes, he also attacks the very people who are helping others to find their way back to God.

We may suddenly see a priest who never used to drink alcohol beginning to struggle with drinking. We may see a mentor who once attended every Mass, spiritual programme, and prayer gathering losing direction. We may see someone who encouraged us to remain faithful now struggling with his or her own faith.

How do we respond?

Do we mock them? Do we gossip about them? Do we say, “Look at the person who used to advise us”? Or do we remember what they did for us and begin to pray for them?

Let us remember: the peace we are enjoying today may be partly because someone once fought for us in prayer. The person who helped us overcome our addiction may now need someone to help them. The person who encouraged us to return to Mass may now need encouragement themselves. The person who stood beside our marriage when we were struggling may now be facing battles in their own family.

Therefore, when we see them falling, let us not rejoice. Let us pray.

Instead of saying, “I knew this person would fail,” let us say, “Lord, strengthen this person who once strengthened me.”

Instead of exposing their weaknesses, let us cover them with prayer. Instead of judging them, let us remember their sacrifices. Instead of joining the world in mocking them, let us become the people who stand in the gap for them.

Galatians 6:1-2 reminds us: “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another’s burdens.”

We should never forget those who once carried us when we were weak.

The question is: When those who prayed for us begin to struggle, will we pray for them—or will we become part of the crowd that destroys them?

Let us pray for our priests. Let us pray for our mentors. Let us pray for our parents, spiritual leaders, friends, and everyone who has helped us. They too need prayers. They too need encouragement. They too need someone to stand beside them.

Lord, strengthen those who have strengthened us. Heal those who have helped to heal us. Guide those who have guided us. And when they are weak, give us the grace to pray for them instead of judging them. Amen.

UMUSHA WAKWA LESA

17/08/2026

THE SEEDLING OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE

A seedling of an avocado tree needs sunlight, water, and manure in order to grow. These are essential for its growth; without them, the seedling may struggle to survive and flourish.

In the same way, we Christians are called to live not only for ourselves, but also for others. We are called to notice those who are suffering and reach out to them, to see those who are broken and bring them comfort, and to encourage those who have lost hope.

We should not join the world in mocking or condemning those who have made mistakes. Instead, we should become instruments of healing, encouragement, and restoration.

The question we should ask ourselves is: Do we see our friends who are vulnerable and in need of our help? Sometimes they do not need money. They may simply need a kind word, someone to listen, a word of encouragement, or someone to remind them that they are not alone.

When someone comes to us seeking guidance, how do we respond? Remember, the way we react to that person can either help them grow or cause them to stop growing. Just as sunlight, water, and manure help a seedling to grow, our love, encouragement, patience, and good example can help another person grow in faith and become stronger.

Let us be the sunlight to those in darkness, the water to those who are thirsty for hope, and the nourishment to those whose faith is weak. Let our lives help others grow closer to God.

UMUSHA WAKWA LESA

15/08/2026

TODAYS BIBLE QUIZ QUESTION

According to the Gospel of John, who was the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection when she went to the tomb early in the morning(Full Names)?

🎁 Prize: The first person to answer correctly stands a chance to win K10 talk time on any network