His Lordship, Bishop Montfort Stima of the Catholic Diocese of Mangochi has urged all Catholics in the country to start preparations for the 2022 Mission Sunday. He said this during the launch of the preparations for 2022 World Mission Month at a rural parish of St. Montfort in his diocese on 25 June 2022.
As part of setting the pace, the Bishop has directed that for these three months every Small Christian Community in his Diocese and beyond should have a special mission collection every week when they meet for their weekly prayers.
“I ask all of you gathered here to take this announcement to every corner of the Diocese. Those of you who have come to represent other parishes, don’t only deliver the missionary materials you have collected but also my direction to have special weekly collections from now to September. In the month of October during the daily rosary prayers, there should be daily collection for the missions”, directed Bishop Stima.
He said that it was his hope that the strategy he outlined would be replicated in all other dioceses and their parishes to ensure that this year’s Mission Sunday is commemorated with an impact.
“Our Diocese has been chosen as a path setter and therefore I expect that we will join hands to show the world that we are able. It is from our actions henceforth that we will find other dioceses emulating,” the Bishop said.
The Bishop also commissioned lay leaders from Small Christian Ccommunities in the St. Montfort Parish and lay leaders of all Parishes in the Diocese of Mangochi to start preparatory activities for the month of October. He reminded them of the main three activities of praying for mission work and for successful October Mission Month; teaching about the mission of the Church and the importance of World Mission Sunday; and giving financial sacrifice for mission works of the Church.
Speaking on behalf of the Pontifical Mission Society Secretariat Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa the National PMS Director said that this year’s Mission Month will focus on the development of the adolescents in the Church. He thanked the Bishop for giving the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation to 109 youths during the Mass as he linked it with the 2022 mission Month intentions.
“Your Lordship, the National PMS office wishes to thank you for launching the preparations of this year’s Mission Month. In a special way, we thank you for the Holy sacrament of Confirmation that you have conferred on these young ones. You have indeed empowered and commissioned then to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, through their daily prayers, teaching others and offering financial contributions for the work of the Church” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
Diocese of Mangochi that covers 11385 km2 has 25 parishes found in the districts of Mangochi and Balaka in the southern Malawi.