In partnership with Catholic Relief Services, the Texas Catholic Conference would like to highlight the international impacts of our choices here in the Texas. In September, the TCC Associate Director will be traveling to Zambia with a Catholic Relief Services advocacy delegation. We hope to post regularly during the trip to share the experience with our website readers.

International Issues: Solidarity

Why is the TCC doing this international project? What does Zambia have to do with us in Texas? A great deal. As the Body of Christ, we are all connected. Despite the fact that people in Zambia live a world away, they, too, are our brothers and sisters in Christ. CRS staff reports that visitors often speak of the tremendous generosity and hospitality that they receive when visiting communities in the developing world. They find themselves in the paradoxical position of being wildly rich in comparison with their hosts, yet receiving food, shelter, and assistance from them in a thousand little daily things with which they are not familiar. Being the guest of the poor can involve uncomfortable accommodations and daily activities that are unfamiliar and can even seem threatening. The situations that can make us most uncomfortable overseas can be those that highlight the disparity in our income, lifestyle, or opportunities. Sometimes these disparies affect us much more than difficulties arising from translation, an extreme climate, or strange food.

Reflection: Jennifer Carr, Associate Director of the Texas Catholic Conference

I am excited about joining Father Juan Molina, Advocacy Coordinator for the CRS Southwest region, and the other diocesan and regional advocacy delegates to on the CRS trip to Zambia. For me, it is the next step in a journey I began after college. I worked in HIV/AIDS ministry for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. As a part of my work there, I worked with people living with HIV/AIDS as well as providing HIV/AIDS and chastity education throughout the Archdiocese. It was a challenging and uplifting ministry. On my second day of work I came up with an idea for creating a "Chastity" teddy bear as an educational tool and fundraiser. Because of the connections of my supervisor at the time, Sister Mary Brenda, OP, we were able to use the funds raised by the bear to purchase medication for pregnant HIV+ women at a Dominican clinic in Zambia. This medication prevented the spread of HIV from a mother to her infant during birth. Through our project, we prevented the spread of HIV to more than 2500 infants.

One of the mothers at the clinic made me a copper plate depicting her walking miles to the clinic to get medication. She carries an infant on her back, a basket on her head and is heavily pregnant. For me, the three people in this picture--mother, infant, and unborn--answer the questions: Why am I participating in this international project? What does Zambia have to do with me? I pray for this woman and her children daily. I don't know if she is even still alive, but every day at work, I look at her plate and remember my brothers and sisters in Africa. After all, we're all connected.

September 8, 2007

The Journey to Zambia: Jennifer Carr, Associate Director  

I leave tomorrow, Sunday, for the journey to Zambia. One of our goals of this trip is to share the experience virtually. Catholic Relief Services has done a tremendous job of briefing the delegation in preparation for the journey.  

After two days of travel from Austin to Zambia's capitol city, Lusaka, our delegation will hit the ground running on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. Our first official meeting is with Archbishop Mpundu, Fr. Joe Koma Koma and Sam Mulafulafu at the Zambian Episcopal Conference (ZEC). (The use of the term "Episcopal" by the Catholic Church usually refers to the Bishops of the Church rather than the Episcopal or Anglican denomination.) The ZEC is the Zambian version of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Texas Catholic Conference is the U.S. state level of the ZEC. One of the beauties and comforts of our Church is that we are universal. Despite the fact that I will be a world away from home, I have a clear context for the roles and relationships abroad.

 After the meeting with Archbishop and staff at the Zambian Episcopal Conference, we'll be meeting with the U.S. Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy. Again, I find comfort in the familiar on this trip. The Texas Catholic Conference reaches out to our state government leaders in the same ways that the Zambian Conference reaches out to their government leaders. Why do we do this? Because our faith compels it. The Gospel makes clear our relationship as brothers and sisters and our prophetic role in seeking greater respect for the life and dignity of the human person.

From the Catholic Relief Services Briefing Book: The Catholic Church in Zambia  

The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) is the college of Catholic Bishops in Zambia and is headed by the President Archbishop Telespore George Mpundu, Coadjutor for Lusaka Archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator for Mpika Diocese.  

Currently there are more than an estimated 2.5 million Catholics in Zambia, a country of 10 million people. With approximately 25 percent of the total population in the country Catholic, the country has more than 400 parishes and 2,300 priests and religious men and women. The country is divided in 10 Ecclesiastical territories commonly known as Catholic Dioceses.  

In terms of social intervention, the early pastoral work of the Church in Zambia was basically one of giving service. The missionaries were seen as the service providers of, among other things, moral guidance, health, and education. The indigenous people largely remained as recipients of these services. The model of evangelization, as practiced by the early Catholic missionaries, was one that centered on catechesis and the sacramental life of the church. In line with this approach, a lot of church buildings were constructed.  

This approach was accompanied by early efforts to provide education and healthcare to a population of Africans that was largely ignored by the colonial government. Mission schools and hospitals (or health centers and clinics) sprang up around the country, laying a foundation of education and healthcare that is still in place today, albeit greatly modified and diminished in many ways. This, for instance, would account for the fact that approximately 60 percent of the healthcare provision in rural Zambia today is church-related (Catholic as well as Protestant).  I

n responding to the needs of the people, the Church in Zambia has mirrored the universal Church in the development of various models and approaches.  

The significant shift especially in the area of development work was greatly influenced by Pope Paul VI's seminal encyclical letter entitled Populorum Progresio (On the development of Peoples). The encyclical emphasized a development model with people at the centre and as the subject of all forms of development. It stressed participation and empowerment. The widely used concept of integral development came from this model.  

Often in earlier years, development meant that an expatriate missionary could bring into an area resources and personnel that assisted the people in a variety of ways, for example, in agricultural projects, water projects, etc. This approach was heavily dependent on outside. The local people tended to be treated as objects rather than subjects of their own development. Cooperation with other Churches and non-church organizations, or governmental efforts, was minimal. This was an approach that was not integrated into an overall development plan, nationally or locally.  

In the 1970s and 1980s, a new approach began to emerge and grow rapidly throughout the dioceses. Emphasis was put on participation of the local people in the initial identification of problems, the eventual design of solutions, as well as working on projects together, through self-management and evaluation. This had a positive consequence of empowerment that enabled people to learn skills that could be utilized in other spheres of life. This is apparent in the staffing pattern of Catholic Relief Services in Zambia -- there are only 12 international staff and there are 84 Zambian staff members.  

This approach linked well with two important movements that characterized the universal church and came to play a defining role in the church in Zambia. The first was the "option for the poor" which means a preferential emphasis on the poorer sector of the population. The second was the commitment to justice and peace. Through this approach the profile of the Church's involvement in social issues has greatly been raised. The Church has played a pivotal role in socioeconomic and political transformation in Zambia.  

Closing Reflection from Jennifer Carr:  The option for the poor and the commitment to justice and peace is clearly mirrored in the social policy of the bishops of Texas. This is evident in reviewing our local legislative priorities to improve the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), seek justice for immigrants, increase access to affordable housing, assure parental choice in education for all socio-economic levels, and reforms in the criminal justice system. The starting point and foundation for these commitments is the protection of human life and human dignity. For us, it is not abstract -- our Church is on the ground in Texas and around the world, providing this practical care through Catholic Charitiesat home and Catholic Relief Servicesabroad. It is deeply connected to what it means to be Church.  In my next post to you, I'll likely already be on the other side of the world, upside down from Texas, and in a whole other season -- but my Church will be there and will be the same.   

September 10, 2007

Jennifer Carr from London:

So far our trip is going well. We landed here in London this morning at 10:00 and were fortunate enough to get off the plane and walk around London for a few hours to stretch our legs before our ten hour flight to Lusaka this evening.

This part of the trip has been great for getting to know one another. Our delegation of 16 includes several CRS staff members and diocesan directors of social action. We have diverse backgrounds and will likely learn much from each other. Please keep the rest of our journey in your prayers--the real adventure begins tomorrow morning when we arrive in Lusaka. God Bless!

September 11, 2007

Reflections from Lusaka, Zambia

 We arrived into Lusaka this morning to a spectacular African sunrise. After filing through customs we were greeted by several CRS local Zambian staff members whose amazing smiles made us forget the second night of sleeping on a plane. Several of us piled into one of the CRS standard issue Land Rovers with a quiet, but happy driver named Limba.

Limba is from the Western Province of Zambia (the  Diocese of Mongu or Livingstone) but got the job with CRS in Lusaka as a driver and a mechanic.

I was surprised to learn that CRS Zambia has a fleet of over 80 vehicles. Zambia is about the size of Texas and although 60% of the countries residents reside in the cities, most of the country is rural and there are very few actual highways. In order to serve the country's most poor and underserved rural areas, vehicles are needed that can make the roadless journeys across the country. Limba's smile and joy are so infectious that I have stuck with him as my driver so far today and it has been nice. He and the other 3 drivers will be with us throughout the trip.

September 12, 2007

Diocese of Mongu - Western Province of Zambia

Days here seem are so full that it's difficult to have the discipline to sit down and write the nightly reflections. I know that if I don't write it out each evening, then my memories of the individual dioceses and people will be blurred.

Last night was our first night to sleep in beds since Saturday so we all started today much more refreshed and ready. We began our day with a seven hour drive to the Diocese of Mongu. We were pleased that we had a "tar" road for the entire journey and about 160 miles of the journey was through the Kanju National Park where we saw our first wildlife -- elephants, impalas, warthogs, monkeys, and giant birds.

Derek was today's driver and his smile and joy matched Limba's. He has also been with CRS for about three years. He told us that since working for CRS he has learned so much about helping people from talking with the delegations that he drives. Derek and his mother themselves take care of have four orphans -- his cousins -- whom he provides with education, clothing, and shelter. He is hopeful that his cousins will be educated through at least 8^th grade so that they can learn enough get good jobs to help pay for the needs of their younger siblings who are still staying in the villages.

Marriage and Community:

On our journey we also learned from Derek and Sonia, (CRS Zambia staff) about the traditional wedding ceremonies and rituals practiced in Zambia. Derek was recently the best man in his best friend's wedding and he had the experience of participating in a traditional "Kitchen Party."  It's somewhat similar to a wedding shower that Americans have, but more of the focus is on mentoring and educating the bride and groom on married life. The married men take the groom into a room and provide guidance and mentorship on women and being married and the woman do the same for the bride. Then, the groomsmen and elder married man arrive at the home of the bride bearing gifts. The groom is empty handed, but the other men bring a fruit basket of sweet fruits, fresh flowers, and a cake. Derek shared with us, "We show up all together with these gifts to remind the bride that the groom was not born alone. He came into the world with others and the gifts of others are to be part of the support of the marriage." Each of the gifts symbolizes an important aspect of married life: to have sweet things (the cake), to eat nutritious food, (the fruit) and to cherish each other with gifts of affection (the flowers).

Mongu Diocesan Briefing:

Finally, we arrived at the Mongu diocesan offices for a briefing with Bishop Paul Duffy, OMI, and his staff about the roles of CRS programs in his diocese. Bishop Duffy said that the major difference between CRS and other development and aid organizations is that CRS is committed in the long-term. He shared with us that many other groups "fly by night"; they come in for a short one-day visit. That is in contrast to CRS, who has remained a consistent presence. See the video coming soon for more from Bishop Duffy.

TThe "Texas Delegation"--Father Juan, me, and Bishop Duffy, who lived in Texas for 22 years!

The diocese of Mongu is the newest of the 10 dioceses of Zambia and was established in 1997. It began as a diocese with only 2 priests and 11 parishes and in the last ten years has grown to 13 priests and 13 parishes. This June they ordained four new priests, the largest number ordained at once in the whole region. The population of the diocese of 600,000 and it is about 55,000 square miles, roughly the size of the state of New York. Like many U.S. dioceses, they struggle with having enough priests, catechists, and staff to carry out evangelization efforts throughout the diocese. Small Christian Communities have been set up throughout the diocese and have assisted in the evangelization efforts. The diocese owns one of the only two radio stations in the region, Oblate Radio. In addition, there are three diocesan schools, one of them is the only one that allows girls to attend secondary school because the government secondary school is only for boys. In addition, the diocese operates a teacher training college, a homecraft center, one mission hospital, and two homes for the handicapped.

CRS Programs in Diocese of Mongu:

Home Based Care:

The social ministry of the diocese began with the founding of the Home Based Care program as a result of the high prevalence of HIV in the diocese (1 in 5 people is HIV+). Many people were terminally ill and could not provide for their families and health clinics were not adequate to accommodate the number of people in need. The program began in 1997 with 10 patients at the Cathedral. Today, there are more than 2000 on the register. Volunteer care givers go out to the homes to care for the patients and now with the more widespread distribution of AIDS medications, very few patients are found in bed when the volunteers arrive. They are able to be up and taking care of the family.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children:

Because of the high rate of HIV/AIDS deaths, children are being orphaned and left vulnerable and alone. CRS operates a program for these children to help find family members to place the orphans for care. Some guardians in the program are caring for 10 or more orphans in their homes. The CRS program assists the children by paying school fees, exam fees, providing shelter over their heads to sleep at night. They teach the guardians how to make knitting and weaving crafts to sell in order to become self-sufficient. As you can see, our delegation was happy to help by shopping among the local crafts for our souvenirs to take home!

Talking with the children themselves was a treat. While their pain was sometimes evident in their eyes, they still had much joy to share. Several of the young ladies shared their dreams with us. One even hoped to become a journalist to tell the stories of her friends and their lives.

Food Security:

The diocese of Mongu is prone to extreme weather. Some years are marked by terrible and prolonged droughts while others years there are floods. This poses particular problems for food security. Derek shared with us on the trip that he is always grateful after a rainy season because then the children can pick mangos and other fruit as they walk the 7 miles to school each day. When the rain doesn't come, the fruit doesn't come and the children don't have as much to eat.

Because of the Zambezi river runs through it, Mongu is known for having the best fish in Zambia -- that was until this July. Suddenly in July the fish started having sores and blisters all over them. This condition is believed to be viral but the cause of the virus is unknown. Some speculate that the condition is a result of pollution from a new diamond mine that started using the Zambezi to harvest diamonds this year. Regardless of its source, the illness means that the people of the region have lost a major source of both food and industry because the fish from the river are diseased and cannot be eaten. So far, there have been no reports of similar issues or symptoms among the people who use the Zambezi river waters.

The Food Security program was established to bring families into self-sufficiency by providing them with seeds for food. After a family has completed the harvest of these seeds, they are then to pass on seeds to another family in the village to provide similar assistance.

Diocesan Lobby Efforts:

Originally, the AIDS medication program had a cost-share component which was required by the Zambian government but was still out of reach of most of the patients in care. Through advocacy and lobby efforts, the diocese put pressure on the government which led to the program operating for free. The Catholic Commission for Justice Peace is the branch of the diocese that does the advocacy education and lobbying. They help the people to understand what is expected from the government and how to get involved in the process.

These programs are a vital source of life for the community. The vast majority of the recipients of the assistance are not Catholic. As were leaving the meeting, Bishop Duffy reminded us all that we don't assist people because they are Catholic. He reflected: "As Catholics, we are at the service of humanity. We help them because they are in need."

International Policy Issue: Fair Trade