By Demetria Banda
The National Family Apostolate Chaplain, Rev.Fr. Valerian Mtseka, has asked the Catholic Family Movement (CFM) in Chikwawa Diocese to embrace Love, prayer and unity as the ingredients of their families.
Rev.Fr. Valerian Mtseka made the remarks on Wednesday, 1 December ,2021 at Bangula Pastoral Centre in Chikwawa Diocese during Family Apostolate Training Session, aimed at training couples, who would train other couples in their respective parishes.
During his presentation, Fr Mtseka said that Family Apostolate is the mission of the church to the family and consists various forms, activities and services which, may evolve from time to time in order to evangelise the present and future families, so that they may be helped, supported and guided to live their vocation, bearing witness to the love of Christ in the society in order that they may enjoy family life satisfaction.
He said that husband and wife must be faithful to each other, and live in a constant relationship with God, who instituted the family by creating them, man and woman.
“The family which stays closely with God will be able to produce the fruits that He wishes. All the members of the family should give importance to Bible reading, meditation and in living the Holy Word. God’s Word helps to grow the family in the relationship with God, Bible reading helps the family members to recognise God’s wish about the family while, the Holy Sacraments, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, sanctify all the family members daily;” said Fr Mtseka
The participants were also taught how to raise their children in a way God wants. They were also reminded of the importance of knowing each other, saying, failure to mutually understand the psychological characteristics of each other is the reason for many discords between the partners.
During the training sessions, Project Coordinator for Pastoral Commission, Mr Martin Njolomole, also taught the participants about budgeting, saving & Investments as well as retirement.
He said Family or household is the basic unit in the economic ladder of the society. It’s behaviour in matters of finance and wealth does influence the economic status of the nation.
“Discipline in matters of finance is very essential in ensuring the total welfare of the family. Being together means acting together. The habit of keeping daily family accounts by all the members together offers platform for proper orientation and training in keeping a budgetary approach to family finance.” Said Mr Njolomole
Njolomole added that budgeting is very important as it controls and builds spending habits, puts priorities in order, reveals wastes and negligence among others. He also explained more on the importance of saving money together as family.
Catholic Healthy Commission Programmes coordinator, Mrs. Marriana Nyawenda, also taught participants about Natural Family Planning (NFP), a method of birth control, that does not use drugs or devices also known as responsible parenthood, she said NFM helps to improve communication between the husband and wife.
“The church supports NFP as an authentic method of responsible parenthood because it is in line with God’s design. God’s design entails that conjugal act be expressed as a gift from God and a bodily language for the total self-giving between spouses and through which they glorify God, the author of that language and the source of love and life,” she said
Mr. and Mrs. Beu, one of the couples who participated during the training said that knowledge imparted on them will help them achieve many things and make good families.
“One of the major roles of this association of Catholic Family Movement is to encourage young couples to join family movements right from the day they register for their marriages. This will be achieved because as soon as we go back in our respective Parishes, we will start persuading young people to join by making them to realize that family without God is nothing. Most young couples face numerous challenges due to lack of guidance and counseling but with Family Movement Association; they will be able to tap knowledge from some of us who have stayed longer in the marriage,” said the Beu couple.
Chikwawa Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator, Fr Shadreck Malata who represented Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese thanked the National Pastoral Commission office of ECM for organizing the training and thanked the Couples from different parishes under Chikwawa Diocese for honoring their invitation and attend the training sessions. He further requested the National Office to continue organizing such trainings.
Christian Family Movement is a network of parish family groups who meet to discuss issues of relevance to today’s Christian families.