Our Lady Of Africa Parish_Official, Off Zambezi Way, Nkana-Kitwe (2026)

23/08/2026

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight round your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate. – Ephesians 6:14

Lord, forgive my high handedness in dealing with my fellow Christians.
I ask for strength O Lord to embrace all people in love and contentment.
Lord, help me accept the gifts of others as an addition to your heavenly home.
Pray against the spirit of envy and jealousy.
Let Us Pray,

Lord, may we at all times keep our focus on you so that, like Stephen, we can be inspired and have the power to stand faithfully to share the good news of your salvation. We pray in the name of the risen Lord. Amen.

23/08/2026

Sunday August 23, 2026
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery

Theme of the Sunday: FAITH IN CHRIST, THE ROCK ON WHICH THE CHURCH IS FOUNDED. We find the theme of this Sunday in the gospel: faith in Christ, Son of the living God, is the foundation of the Church. The first reading is but a comment and explains the symbolism of the keys and clarifies how authority should be understood. The second reading can be seen in the light of this theme because it presents the mysterious ways God intervenes in the history of humanity, the way he uses to lead us to discover the identity of Jesus of Nazareth.

-FIRST READING-

“I place the key of the house of David upon his shoulder.”

A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 22:19-23)

Thus says the Lord to Shebna, who is over the household: “I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your belt on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honour to his father’s house.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.6 and 8bc (R. 8bc)

R/. O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; Discard not the work of your hands.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

You have heard the words of my mouth.

In the presence of the angels I praise you.

I bow down towards your holy temple. R/.

I give thanks to your name

For your merciful love and your faithfulness.

You have exalted your name and your promise over all.

On the day I called, you answered me;

You increased the strength of my soul. R/.

R/. O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; Discard not the work of your hands.

The Lord is high, yet he looks on the lowly,

And the haughty he knows from afar.

O Lord, your merciful love is eternal;

Discard not the work of your hands. R/.

-SECOND READING-

“From him and through him and to him are all things.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 11:33-36)

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord

ALLELUIA Matthew16:18

Alleluia. You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Alleluia.

-GOSPEL-

“You are Peter. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 16:13-20)

At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesare a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Jesus cannot be known according to the categories of the world. True knowledge of Jesus comes only to those whose minds are open to the spirit. Jesus promised to build his church on the strong foundation of Peter’s faith. It is the faith that dispenses the mysteries of the kingdom according to God’s plan. Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were given the opportunity to be God for a day? What would you use the powers and authority of God to do: to support the life of others or to frustrate it? Whoever has been given such and similar tasks must pray to have a heart that is open to mystery. As Jesus told Peter, the mysteries of the kingdom of God are not matters relating to flesh and blood; they are revealed to us only through the spirit of God.

TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Rose of Lima – August 23rd

Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

21/08/2026

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10)

Pray for a pure and clean heart from the Lord
Pray for the grace to have a forgiving heart no matter the offence.
In prayer call the names of those whom you have tied down through non forgiveness, and from your heart, pronounce their forgiveness.
Pray for those you may have hurt, that God will soften and heal their heart.

Let Us Pray,

O Father, God of mercy and power, wash me clean and grant me the grace to be a source of joy of people around me. May my life bring honour to your holy name at all times. Give me the grace, O Lord, to avoid sin and all occasions of sin. Make me thirst for holiness of life through the study of your word and practice of generosity to the church and the less privileged. Like the deer thirsts for water, so my soul thirsts for you O Lord.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

21/08/2026

Saturday August 22, 2026
QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY (MEMORIAL)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery

-FIRST READING-

“The glory of the Lord entered the temple. ”

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 43:1-7a)

[The angel] brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the vision which I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple; and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 85:9ab and 10.11-12.13-14 (R. see 10b)

R/. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

I will hear what the Lord God speaks;

He speaks of peace for his people and his faithful.

His salvation is near for those who fear him,

And his glory will dwell in our land. R/.

Merciful love and faithfulness have met;

Justice and peace have kissed.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth,

And justice look down from heaven. R/.

R/. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Also the Lord will bestow his bounty,

And our earth shall yield its increase.

Justice will march before him,

And guide his steps on the way. R/.

ALLELUIA Matthew 23:9b.10b

Alleluia. You have one Father, who is in heaven, and you have one master, the Christ. Alleluia.

-GOSPEL-

“They preach, but do not practice. ”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 23: 1-12)

At that time: Jesus said to the ‘crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

One week after we have celebrated the Assumption our Blessed Mother, today we are transported to the heavenly realm to witness her being crowned as the Queen of heaven and earth. She is the Mother of the Son of God, the king of the universe. She is the obedient daughter of the Father who surrendered herself fully to his will. She is the spouse of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her and brought forth the Son of God into our world. She is the sinless virgin, full of grace and love. She is the co-redemptrix and the Mother of the church. She is the sure hope and a channel of grace for us. Her royal crowning indicates that we, her children, also are called to share in her glory. We attain our crown of glory if we choose to follow her Son and surrender our lives to the will of the Father under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

21/08/2026

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.
John 15:5

Pray for grace to always go to seclusion and pray always

Pray for the grace to have courageous faith in Jesus in times of adversity.

Pray for Christians passing through difficult times, that God in His goodness will come to their aid quickly

Let Us Pray,

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

21/08/2026

Friday August 21, 2026
POPE ST. PIUS X (MEMORIAL)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery

-FIRST READING-

“O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. I will raise you from your graves, O my people. ”

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

In those days: The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon the valley; and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Again he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no spirit in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the spirit came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off. ’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the Lord.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 107:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R. 1)

R/. O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his mercy endures forever!

Or: Alleluia.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say this,

Those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

And gathered from far-off lands,

From east and west, north and south. R/.

They wandered in a barren desert,

Finding no way to a city they could dwell in.

Hungry they were and thirsty;

Their soul was fainting within them. R/.

R/. O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his mercy endures forever!

Or: Alleluia.

Then they cried to the Lord in their need,

And he rescued them from their distress,

And he guided them along a straight path,

To reach a city they could dwell in. R/.

Let them thank the Lord for his mercy,

His wonders for the children of men;

For he satisfies the thirsty soul,

And the hungry he fills with good things. R/.

ALLELUIA Psalm 25:4b.5a

Alleluia. Teach me your paths, O Lord. Guide me in your truth. Alleluia.

-GOSPEL-

“You shall love the Lord your God, your neighbour as yourself. ”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 22:34-40)

At that time: When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION

As human beings, there are certain things we cannot attain for ourselves. Salvation is more of what God will give us than what we can attain for ourselves. Our life, death and salvation are all God’s gifts. Therefore, when life’s experience drag us to the depths of despair or even to the grave, God is capable of lifting us from there and restoring us back to life. Just as sin is described as consequences of our hardness of heart, God promises to revive us by giving us a new heart that is capable of obedience and genuine love for God. In gratitude to God’s immeasurable love for us, we ought to pray that God may purify our heart and that he brings us to love him as he deserves.

Today’s Saint and Quote: Pope St. Pius X – August 21st

-Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven.

20/08/2026

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

Prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you will be healed. The power of a good person has a powerful effect. James 5:15, 16

Grant me, Lord the grace of humble prayers with faith in you.
Pray for all weak and unserious brethren, that the strength of the Lord of Host may strengthen them.

Let Us Pray,

O Lord in your infinite love, hear and answer us always in Jesus' name, Amen.

20/08/2026

Thursday August 20, 2026
SAINT BERNARD, Abb. D (MEMORIAL)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mystery

-FIRST READING-

“Anew heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.”

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:23-28)

Thus says the Lord: “I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 51: 12-13.14- I 5.18-19 (R. Ezekiel 36:25)

R/. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses.

Create a pure heart for me, O God;

Renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence;

Take not your holy spirit from me. R/.

Restore in me the joy of your salvation;

Sustain in me a willing spirit.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

That sinners may return to you. R/.

R/. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses.

For in sacrifice you take no delight;

Burnt offering from me would not please you.

My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:

A broken and humbled heart, O God,

You will not spurn. R/.

ALLELUIA Psalm 95:7d.8a

Alleluia. Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia.

-GOSPEL-

“Invite to the marriage feast as many as you find. ”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 22: 1-14)

At that time: Again Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.’ But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burnt their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the streets, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and quashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

In today’s Gospel, God’s invitation to us is depicted as a royal wedding feast. There is no reason why anyone would not honour an invitation that was presented in so many attractive ways! The dinner was set and the king was determined to have them all come. This story is about people who were admitted to the party only by grace and not by merit. God has gathered us from different places with all of our infirmities and has brought us into his rich place. Only his invitation qualified us. So, we should present ourselves before him with the wedding garment, that is, with the new heart and the new spirit which he has given us.

TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Bernard of Clairvaux – August 20th

-I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind.

-Prayer is a wine that makes glad the heart of men

-The tears of the penitents are wine for the angels.

-In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.

19/08/2026

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

‘I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away.’
Hosea 14:4

- The Lord is not angry with you.
- The ‘turning away’ of God's anger signifies complete forgiveness.
- He is offering a fresh start to all those who repent.
- His unconditional love is freely available to you right now.

Let us pray,
Lord, thank You that Your love and forgiveness are available to me. Restore what needs to be restored and give me a fresh start. Help me to walk with You.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.

19/08/2026

Wednesday August 19, 2026
SAINT JOHN EUDES, P. (Opt. Mem.)
Vestment: Green/White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery

-FIRST READING-

“I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34: 1-11)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6 (R. 1)

R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

There is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

Where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me;

He revives my soul. R/.

He guides me along the right path,

For the sake of his name.

Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,

No evil would I fear, for you are with me.

Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. R/.

R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a table before me

In the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

My cup is overflowing. R/.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

For length of days unending R/.

ALLELUIA Hebrews 4: 12

Alleluia. The word of the Lord is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Alleluia.

-GOSPEL-

“Do you begrudge my generosity?”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 20: 1-16a)

At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. ’“But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

A selfish person considers a number of self-related gains before action. Even when employed to take care of the business of others, a selfish person strives to enrich himself or herself from it. The image of the shepherd who gives his life for the sheep speaks against all forms of selfish attitudes. We must emulate the virtues revealed in God’s dealings with human beings. God’s action do not stop at doing what is just and what is required by law. It goes beyond it to highlighting, at the same time, the extraordinary generosity of his love. When God is generous with others, we are blessed if we rejoice with them.

Our Lady Of Africa Parish_Official

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

20/08/2026

20/08/2026

19/08/2026

19/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request