Circular Letter of the Archdiocese of Windhoek-December 2025-June 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
O. INTRODUCTION
At this winter season, I wish all of you in good health and in good spirits. Despite
the cold weather, I hope your hearts remain warm to listen to God who speaks to us
through the signs of the times, through our encounter with fellow human beings
and through His Word and sacraments.
Facing the phenomenon of artificial intelligence, as a People of God, let us be
guided by the teachings of the Church, particularly, the first encyclical letter of
Pope Leo XIV, issued on 25 May 2026, entitled Magnifica Humanitas. This
encyclical offers a discernment on safeguarding the human person in the age of
artificial intelligence, interpreting technological development as one of the decisive
aspects of the contemporary change in epoch. The encyclical places the dignity of
the human person at the center of all reflection, recognizing it as the fundamental
criterion that should guide both technological progress and the assessment of the
social , cultural , and moral consequences of such development. It also asserts that
human experience , expression, and intelligence are divine creations, not
comparable to artificial intelligence systems which optimized according to
technocratic principles.
The encyclical affirms the principles of the Church’s social doctrine —particularly
common good , solidarity , and subsidiarity —as tools to be used for interpreting the
ongoing transformation. Faced with the risk of a culture consumed by power,
domination, and war , the document proposes the alternative possibility of a
civilization of love founded on justice , dialogue, and shared responsibility.
NEWS NEWS NEWS

  1. PRIESTLY ORDINATION:
     Fr Ananias Simeon, Fr Jonas Timoteus, Fr Josef Filemon, Fr Josefat
    Paulus and Fr Gabriel Shivolo OMI were ordained to the priesthood on 14
    February 2026 at St Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Oshikuku by
    Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda OMI.
  2. CONFIRMATION:
    Hereunder, follows the list of those confirmed in the last few months.
    PARISH Number PARISH Number
  3. Okatana Parish 130, 28. Ondjungulume 89
  4. Ongwediva Parish 153, 29. Uutsima 58
  5. Amutanga Parish 109, 30. Okathitu 70
  6. Oshakati Parish 136, 31. Omutaku 73
  7. Emono Parish 145, 32. Uukwanatshikare 79
  8. Omagongati Parish 124, 33. Omuthitugwonyama 84
  9. Omege Parish 157, 34. Otshikutshatshipya 46
  10. Iilyateko Parish 37, 35. Etsikiro 10
  11. Onelago Parish 140, 36. Otshikuku 163
  12. Osisiya Parish 152, 37. Eparara 69
  13. Omuulukila Parish 110, 38. St Joseph’s, Döbra 65
  14. Iipanda Parish 42, 39. Corpus Christi, Wanaheda 62
  15. Ondombehethindi Parish 44, 40. St Peter Claver 59
  16. Ombafi Parish 87, 41. Khomasdal OLHC 48
  17. Anamulenge Parish 152, 42. Tsumeb Parishes 69
  18. Olupaka Parish 114, 43. Omuthiya Parishes 59
  19. Ruacana Parish 37, 44. Ondangwa 31
  20. Khorixas 39, 45. Ongha 122
  21. Dornfeld 64, 46. Okambebe 70
  22. St Konrad/Gobabis 9, 47. Olyavahenge 126
  23. OL Fatima 108, 48. Onangama 100
  24. Witvlei 32, 49. Okalongo 56
  25. Blouberg 3, 50. Holy Redeemer-Katutura 49
  26. Okando 105, 51. Oshakati 81
  27. Otshuuli 11, 52. Omagongati 62
  28. Otshuudhi 24, 53. Emono 54
  29. Etayi 84, 54. Ohakweenyanga 46
  30. Oshikuyu 94, 55. Amutanga 91
  31. Oshitutuma 45, 56. Ongwediva 129
  32. Onampira 46, 57. Oniimwandi 94
  33. Otshinyadhira 31, 58. Iiwiyongo 64
  34. Omusimboti 47, 59. Okatana 104
  35. Omeege 88
    Let us pray for these newly confirmed Catholics to be committed witnesses of the
    risen Lord and to grow daily in their encounter with Him through prayer.
  36. PROFESSION OF VOWS: TEMPORARY/ FINAL
    3.1 Final Profession:
     Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing: Sr Michael Marie
    Kudumo, Sr Mary Aloysie Matias, and Sr Mary Justin Hairwa
    at St Benedict Priory House Chapel, Nubuamis on 23 May 2026.
     Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku: Sr Calista Cipriana
    Ndawedapo and Sr Anna Maria Kaulikalelwa Ndanyakukwa at
    St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Oshikuku on 06 January 2026.

3.2 First Profession
 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart: Sr Maria Magdalena
Herman, took her first profession of vows on 04 February 2026
at the MSC Provincialate Chapel, Windhoek.
 Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother
of God: Sr Sylvia Nangolo, Sr Gabriela Pamwehashili, Sr
Margareth Kambwale, Sr Michaela Kapfunde and Sr Dominika
Kaffer, took their first profession of vows on 14 February 2026
in Dornfeld, Gunichas.


 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing: Sr Mary Paul
Shimbonde, Sr Hedwig Mweneni and Sr Gregoria Musongo had
their first profession of vows on 14 February 2026 at St
Benedict Priory House Chapel, Nubuamis.
 Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku: Sr Lahja Naipopya Niiyela
Aiyambo, Sr Laurencia Shiveinge Ndilimoletu Liborio, Sr Tresia
Halwoodi, Sr Saara Tunyanyukweni Mangundu, and Sr
Christofine Nelao Kaputura had their first profession of vows on
06 January 2026 at St. Therese Parish Oshikuku.

  1. JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS:
    4.1 Centenary
     OSB-Tutzing, Seoul and Daegu Priories, who had been sending
    Sisters to work in Namibia, especially in the RC Hospital, had
    their Centenary celebrations in Korea on November 2025.

4.2 50 th Golden Jubilee
Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku: Sr Martha Naukongo Karlush
4.3 25 th Silver Jubilee Priesthood
 Fr Jean-Pierre Lwele, OMI will celebrate his priestly Jubilee on
01 August 2026 at RC Epukiro
Religious Life:
 Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku: Sr Elizabeth Ndelipendina
Nghidimondjila, Sr Theresia Ndahafa Ndahalaanhu Ndjalo, and
Sr Anna Rosa Mushova Kanyanga celebrated their Silver
Jubilee on the 6 th of January at St. Therese Parish Oshikuku.
 Poor Clares: Sr Mary Mphatso of the Poor Clares celebrated her
Silver Jubilee of profession on 06 December 2025 at Poor
Clares Monastery, Windhoek.

  1. TRANSFERS AND APPOINTMENTS:

 Fr Raimund Shikesho OMI was installed as the new Provincial
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate on 19 March 2026.
 Fr Rufus Nekondo, OMI left for Kenya for studies as he finished
his term as Provincial in March 2026.
 Sisters Jisa Rani and Daisy Jose of the Sacred Heart
Congregation, Jyothi Province, returned to India for good after
serving in Canisianum High School for twenty (20) years.
 Fr Vitalis Johannes, OMI was appointed and installed as the
new Parish Priest of Okatana on 14 May 2026.
 Fr Linus Ngenomesho OMI – appointed as the Apostolic Vicar
of the Vicariate of Rundu on 11 May 2026 and will be
consecrated and installed on 18 July 2026 by His Excellency
the Nuncio, Archbishop Henry Jagodziński.

  1. GENERAL INFORMATION
     Visit of the New Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop
    Henryk Jagodziński – He was the main Celebrant and homilist at the NCBC Plenary opening Holy Mass and launching of the Jubilee Year 202 in St Mary’s Cathedral on 26 January 2025 which ended on the 06 January 2026.  Visit of Pope Leo XIV in Angola – 17-21 April 2026 – an opportunity for Archbishop Liborius Nashenda, OMI to attend the occasion representing both the NCBC and IMBISA region and meet the Holy Father.  OMI Bishops’ Meeting in Rome – 16-22 May 2026 – attended by the Archbishop as well as other oblate bishops from different parts of the world.  NCBC induction Programme – 25-29 May in Döbra. It was attended by 62 participants: 34 Priests, 28 Sisters.  APCM Meeting in Döbra – scheduled on 27-30 August 2026. Parish Priests, Assistant Parish Priests, two (2) delegates from each Parish and Provincial Superiors of all Congregations are expected to attend. Please consult the convocation document information.
  1. OUR SICK/DECEASED
     Missionaries of the Sacred Heart: Sr Elizabeth Borg, who passed on at St
    Joseph’s Convent in Mariental on 16 May 2026.
     Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny: Sr Beatriz Nangueve, who passed on in
    Angola on 11 June 2026. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
     Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy: Br. Dr. Hermenegildus Beris, CMM,
    died on 19 June 2026 in Holland, aged 96 having worked for many years in
    Namibia especially in St. Paul College and NCBC. May his soul rest in God’s
    eternal peace.
  2. CONCLUSION
    May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you in all your undertakings and may
    the Blessed Mother Mary continue to protect you wherever you go.
    Sincerely yours in the Lord,
    +Most Rev. Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, OMI
    ARCHDIOCESE OF WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA

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