Diocesan Catholic Clergy meets, challenged on self reliance
By Prince Henderson
The National Director for Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa has called on the local clergy to embrace the spirit of self reliance as one way of animating the people of God on Missionary Cooperation.
Fr. Mwakhwawa was speaking at a meeting for the Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Malawi (ADCCOM) at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji where over 200 local priests from all the eight dioceses in Malawi met.
He said as the Clergy, they need to raise missionary consciousness in the people of God in Malawi hence need to make good steps towards self reliance.
“However, we still have a lot of assignments to do. There is need for us as clergy to work hard in teaching our people. Our people as much as they are praying hard and contributing money for our sustenance, still they need to grow in their understanding of their Christians duty or responsibility,” observed Fr. Mwakhwawa.
According to Fr. Mwakhwawa, a Christian is called to follow and live like Christ – called to be saved but also to work for the salvation of others.
He said the role of priests is to give missionary to people of God hence the efforts of self reliance will be effective if they work hard in teaching the Christians.
“You and me have to work hard to help our people understand that whatever we offer: prayers, services and money are for the building of Kingdom of God here in Malawi and other countries (the whole world). Let us not get tired of teaching and giving missionary formation to our people,” he said.
He said PMS is there as a tool for the Church to help you and people of God to grow in the missionary consciousness: PMS is a formation tool: Giving information for the formation and transformation of the people of God into true missionaries who are ready to pray for missionary work, give their services to the Church and contribute money for the mission work.
The meeting of Diocesan Catholic Clergy is held once in every two years.In attendance were also Archbishops Thomas Msusa,Tarcisious Ziyaye,Bishops Montfort Stima,Tambala and Kanyama.
Picture by Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa