Lusaka (Fides Service)- A new Catholic radio station has been inaugurated in Zambia. Radio Liseli in an initiative of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. According to DIA a local news agency the radio has two objectives: to be a channel of hope and create a bond between the people and the Word of God.
Father Ronald Carignan OMI, superior of the Oblate delegation in Zambia, explains that Radio Liseli is the result of community discernment on how to respond to the challenges and the signs of the times. “The idea emerged during our annual meeting in 2001 when we identified five signs of the times in Zambia: widespread poverty; the AIDS pandemic; a longing for God and the truth on the part of the local people; the need to help the laity assume their responsibilities in the Church; widespread apathy with regard the political life of the country.
We were encouraged in our discernment of the signs of the times by re-reading the letter issued by our OMI General Chapter in 1998 “Evangelising the Poor at the dawn of the third millennium”. The letter encouraged all Oblates to love the world with all its problems and to work to be operators of peace. In the light of the discernment we agreed that the answer would be a new radio station in west Zambia.
During the inauguration of the new radio Father Wilfred Hodari, parish priest at Lusaka cathedral and representative of the archdiocese, underlined the commitment and hard work of the Oblates to start this new voice in Zambia. Father Freeborn Kibombwe, director of Radio Liseli said the broadcaster intends to bring light to the life of the people. Speaking to the crowds Father Kibombwe said: “This your radio, it is your voce”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2004 righe 26 parole 307)