Zambian Bishop joins Sale Diocese parishes for Mission Month celebrations
Narre Warren & Cranbourne, Victoria — October 27, 2025:
The Diocese of Sale welcomed Bishop Edwin Mulandu of Mpika, Zambia, over the weekend as part of Catholic Mission’s 2025 Mission Month celebrations.
On Sunday, 26 October, Bishop Edwin concelebrated the 11:00 am Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Narre Warren, with Fr Ajin Albarnas. During announcements, Fr Ajin kindly invited a Catholic Mission representative to share a few words on the mission in Zambia. Parishioners then joined Bishop Edwin and the Catholic Mission team after Mass for a cuppa and sausage sizzle, engaging in heartfelt conversation about the life-changing work being done in Zambia.
Later that evening, Bishop Edwin concelebrated 6:00 pm Mass at St Agatha’s Parish, Cranbourne, with Fr Antony Rebelo. Fr Antony warmly encouraged parishioners to connect with Bishop Edwin following Mass and kindly and generously extended his hospitality by hosting Bishop Edwin and Catholic Mission reps for dinner, offering a warm and fraternal welcome that reflected the spirit of mission at the heart of the Diocese of Sale.
Bishop Edwin expressed his deep gratitude and admiration for the vibrant faith community, noting how full the church was and the inspiring turnout for an evening Mass on a Sunday.
“It is humbling to see the faith alive and active here in Sale Diocese,” Bishop Edwin Mulandu said. “Your generosity walks alongside mothers in rural Zambia who journey for days to give birth in makeshift shelters near toilets, and children who walk over ten kilometres each day just to access education.”
Fr Ajin Albarnas and Fr Antony Rebelo both expressed appreciation for Bishop Edwin’s visit and the opportunity to connect their communities with the Church’s global mission
Catholic Mission and Bishop Edwin conveyed heartfelt thanks to Bishop Greg Bennet, Fr Ajin, Fr Antony, and the faithful of the Diocese of Sale for their kind support and solidarity in “walking with mothers and children” in Zambia.
In the lead-up to Mission Sunday, Bishop Greg Bennet shared a video message inviting the faithful to join Pope Francis’ global call to mission and to pray for vulnerable communities
Watch Bishop Greg Bennet’s message: Click Here
For more information about Catholic Mission’s work in Zambia, Click Here
As Catholic Mission continues its work across more than 160 countries, Sale’s parishes are once again thanked and being called to be “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples,” the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s appeal.
