ABOUT FENZA
The Faith and Encounter Centre of Zambia (FENZA) is an initiative of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). Its purpose is to empower Christians in Zambia to face the challenges of contemporary and traditional cultures with openness and to encounter people of different Christian denominations, religions and contemporary religious movements.
FENZA Staff
VENERATO DEUS BABAINE (director)
Missionary in Zambia since 1998, with experience in Mansa, Kasama and Lusaka dioceses. Fr Venerato admires Zambians' cultural expression through music, dance, art and languages. He promotes environmental protection and conservation. Producer of the documentary: “The Earth Our Home – Conservation for Integrity of Creation”.
PHILIP MERABA (financial administrator)
Missionary experience in Malawi from 2011 to 2019. Studied Ecumenism in Venice (Italy) for three years. Appointed to FENZA in April 2022.
MWAKA MULAVU (librarian and archivist)
Diploma in Library and Information Science from Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Sciences, in Lusaka, Zambia.
ASSOCIATE STAFF
MATHEW BANSEH
Missionary experience in Ghana, Burundi and Zambia (Chipata and Lusaka Dioceses). Co-author of Lumimba Parish Diary (2017). Recently he studied anthropology at SOAS University of London.
ROMARIC BATIONO
Missionary experience in Burkina Faso and Zambia (Dioceses of Mongu and Lusaka). BA in Christian Theology for World Religions, MA in Development Studies. Currently working in St Lawrence Parish, Lusaka.
PATRICK MUMBI
Missionary experience in Uganda and Zambia (Diocese of Lusaka). MA in Person-Centred Therapy, MA and PhD in anthropology. Author of Tonga mourning ritual (Dilwe): The therapeutic aspect (2019). Currently working in Kabwata Parish, Lusaka.
BERNHARD UDELHOVEN
Missionary experience in Chipata and Lusaka Dioceses of Zambia. Author of Unseen worlds: Dealing with spirits, witchcraft, and Satanism (2015). Currently working in Lumimba Parish, in the Luangwa Valley of eastern Zambia.
TOON VAN KESSEL
Missionary experience in Chipata and Lusaka Dioceses of Zambia. Author of Dzedzerere dzedzere salingana nkhugweratu: A collection of a 1000 Chewa proverbs (2015).
How to contact us
Address:
Faith and Encounter Centre (FENZA)
P.O. Box 320 076
Lusaka, Zambia
Telephone:
0979931510 (director)
0776962498 (financial administrator)
0979107838 (receptionist)
Email:
director@fenza.org
library@fenza.org
webmaster@fenza.org
Where to find us
From Lusaka city centre, proceed along Leopards Hill Rd, heading out of town. Just after the Bauleni turn-off, go past the Catholic Church and Radio Yatsani, turn left and follow the FENZA signposts.
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Looking for what we have in common; respecting our differences; sharing a common destiny. The circles can stand for different faiths, or cultures. They overlap, but they do not swallow each other up. They share common ground, but each circle retains its integrity.
Our history
FENZA opened in March 2007. It was the result of several "old dreams" of the Missionaries of Africa, who first came to Zambia in 1891. These dreams included:
- Fostering reflection between faith and culture
- Promoting encounter between Christians of different denominations and people of different faiths
- Making our archives and libraries available to the public
Since its opening, FENZA has been providing library and archival services, intensive language courses in Chibemba and Chinyanja, research and publications on cultural and religious issues, seminars, workshops, an introduction to Zambia course, and facilitation of several faith and culture learning and sharing groups.
Thus far, FENZA has spearheaded research into the following topics and welcomes wide participation in its research programmes:
- New Christian churches in Zambia
- Islam in Zambia
- Healing and deliverance
- Reconciliation
- Traditional healing
- Witchcraft and Satanism and person-oriented pastoral approaches of engagement
- Charismatic Christianity
- Bemba initiation rites (mbusa)
- Chichewa and Chibemba proverbs
FENZA has been offering seminars and courses on these topics at various levels, ranging from parish groups to tertiary learning institutions, as well as holding workshops with chiefs and other traditional leaders.