By TIMES REPORTER –
SUNDAY morning mass was repeatedly disrupted yesterday at St Charles Lwanga Regiment Parish Catholic Church in Lusaka after some congregants protested over the move to transfer two priests from the parish.
The congregants mainly lead by the women’s groups, carried placards denouncing the move by the Archbishop’s office to transfer Parish Priest Philip Phiri and his assistant Lackson Lungu.
The women sang solidarity songs as they refused to attend the 07:15 hours mass, which was celebrated by Farther Phiri, saying it was unfair for the two priests to be transferred when they have been at the Parish for six months.
The women demanded for the cancellation of the mass in a bid for the members to air their grievances to the Arch-Bishop’s office and demanded that the decision be rescinded.
“Why is it that priests at Regiment Parish just stay for a few months and moved? This is unfair, before we settle well with them, they are moved. We are just getting used to Father Phiri. It is like someone out there is working against us,” one of the women said.
Some women claimed a former parish priest was behind the happening and appealed to the Arch- Bishop to address the matter before the last day which is February 15.
Congregants had a tough time entering the church as the women insisted that mass should not be held, but Father Phiri braved the resistance from the women to celebrate mass, amid the chaotic noise.
The protesters maintained their stance and continued chanting solidarity songs as the mass was in progress and entered inside the church towards the end of mass, disrupting the last few minutes when announcements were being made.
But the parish executive committee, which was believed to have been in a meeting till late hours on Saturday night, promised to address the matter, saying they have already constituted a committee to seek audience with the Archbishop office.
Father Phiri remained calm throughout mass and did not at any point address the chaos that ensued, nor did he mention anything about his transfer.