Auleria Wakudumo

In celebration of a century of evangelisation marked over the weekend at Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish in Oshikuku, Archbishop Ndubukuti Nashenda urged Namibians to do extra work together to care for Mother Earth.

“We need to do extra work together to care for our home, Mother Earth, which calls for shared action and collaboration with members of other churches and a community with followers of other religions, and with every person of goodwill. Let us, therefore, cultivate ways that are harmonising, and cease opposing each other to care for Mother Earth,” he said. The event honoured the missionaries’ enduring impact on the community through their contributions. Roman Catholics from across Namibia and Angola gathered over the weekend in Oshikuku to join St. Theresa’s church in celebrating this event. Archbishop Nashenda said they are firstly celebrating the missionaries who brought Christianity to Namibia, particularly Catholics.

They are recognising their efforts in spreading faith to local communities like Oshikuku.

He added that the missionaries impacted the community beyond just spreading Christianity, as they established and built hospitals like Saint Martin’s Hospital in Oshikuku.

“It is an opportunity for Christians, as Catholics in particular, to tell our origin, share our growth and evolution, and point out the steps for the future. Hence, their stories have become our stories to tell,” Nashenda said.

“This is a time to remind ourselves as people of God, and what makes us great Catholics, who are planted on an ancient, solid foundation, and the saying goes: “An old church is not good because it’s old, but it is old because it is good,” Nashenda said.

The Romans celebrated the mission of the church that proclaims the gospel, and makes Christ present through the gift of the spirit.

The centenary offers a good opportunity to draw upon the forefathers and mothers of Catholicism as philosophies, refresh their founding thoughts, and empower the next generation not to lose their faith, the man of cloth said.

Nashenda encouraged young people, as they are the backbone of the future, the future of the church, the future of Namibia, and indeed the future of the whole world. He asked them to find new ways of working together with Christ, as the proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

-wakudumoauleria@gmail.com