In 2001, Msgr. Pio V. Pinto met at his Propaganda Fide Residence in Rome, with Archbishop Mazombwe of Lusaka, Zambia, and Fr. Benjamin Phiri, then Rector of the Seminary in Lusaka. Archbishop Mazombwe desired to establish a monastic foundation in Zambia, having already initiated a discernment process, and identified a group of girls whom they deemed ready to commence the journey of monastic life.
In 2003, Mother Marianna Pinto from the Benedictine Monastery in Saint Lucia and Msgr. Pinto from Rome, embarked on a mission to Zambia, to meet the prospective candidates, to have a first immersion into the Catholic Faith in Zambia and to gain an understanding of the life and culture of the people. Later that year, on 16th November, Fr. Benjamin Phiri arrived in Saint Lucia with the first postulants from Zambia.
In June 2004, Sr. Margaret Mary Maynard OSB of the monastery in Saint Lucia, travelled to Zambia for a further immersion experience after she had completed a course for Benedictine Novice Masters and Mistresses in Rome.
In July 2004, the first Zambian postulants began their novitiate at the monastery in Saint Lucia.
In January 2005, four new postulants arrived in Saint Lucia from Zambia.
In 2006, the First Profession of the first three Zambian Benedictine Nuns took place at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka.
That same year, following an announcement by Archbishop Mazombwe of Lusaka, that a large piece of land had been donated for the building of a monastery, Abbess Marianna Pinto initiated plans for the establishment of a “daughter” monastic foundation in Zambia by the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of the Assumption, Coubaril, Saint Lucia.
Mr. Bonaventure “Ventus” Joseph, a Saint Lucian contractor, began work on the construction of the new monastery and church in 2009 with the foundation stone blessed on 6th December by Bishop George Lungu of Lusaka. Construction lasted five years.
The vision of the new monastery was to promote both the spiritual and human development of the people of Chipata. To achieve this, in addition to the monastic buildings and church, a school was erected as well as a health clinic and facilities to support agriculture.
