By Prince Henderson
Over 400 Catholic Students from Institutions of higher learning in Malawi last weekend gathered at Salima Technical College in the lakeshore district of Salima for a two day conference organized by the National Movement for Catholic Students (NMCS) which falls under the youth ministry for the Pontifical Missionary Societies in Malawi (PMS) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).
Among others, the students were presented with various topics from different presenters ranging from the Pope’s Encyclical which is challenging every human being to care for the environment hence students are part of the groups of people being targeted, reflection on Catholic Bishops Pastoral Statement based on the social, economic and political status of the country.
Presenting her inspirational speech to the students, Guest of Honor, Dr. Janet Banda, Solister General for the government of Malawi and Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitution Affairs challenged them to be God fearing students in everything so that they active their desired goals in the future.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of everything. If you want to succeed in your life and as a student, first fear the Lord,” she said.
Dr. Banda who is the former student for Chancellor College said the Catholic Church has influenced her spiritual, family and professional life and this is the reason she has managed to achieve all what she is today.
Taking his turn, Fr. Enock Kanjira said as Catholic students they need to seriously care for the environment as Pope Francis highlights in his Encyclical called Laudato Si where he is concerned of what is happening to our common home.
“Pope Francis gives the human roots of the ecological crisis and sees humanity to be at the centre of the crisis. He is talking about the Integral Ecology whereby he calls upon us all to action,” said Fr. Kanjira.
The Social Directorate of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) and Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) also presented on the social, economic situation of Malawi and challenged Catholic students to act accordingly in responding to the challenges the country is facing.
The students were also tipped on how they can prepare themselves to a Christian marriage amidst some threats to Christian family today.
The national Director for Pontifical Missionaries Society, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa said his office thought of bringing Catholic Students from all the Universities and Colleges in Malawi for the first time in order to give a platform for them to interacts and at the same time ensure that they leave to their Christian faith and true witnesses of the Catholic Church.
“Our Bishops who form the Episcopal Conference of Malawi are committed to ensuring that our youths are well taken care of by the church. They would like to see their faith being deepen on hence this conference. Infact, I am overwhelmed with the way the students have responded to this first ever conference, I am impressed,” he said.
Against this background, His Lordship Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa diocese and Bishop Chairman for the youths at a closing mass for the conference challenged the students to be exemplary in whatever they do.
He said the future of Malawi and the Church lies in the hands of the youths and it is for this reason the Episcopal Conference of Malawi recognizes them hence they should be ready to serve their Church and the nation by among others being patriotic.
Meanwhile, the National Movement for Catholic Students has elected Emanuel Kafulafula of College of Medicine as its President.His deputy is Violet Matika from Catholic University of Malawi where as Secretary General is Lombani Chirambo,Bunda College;Jamin Chiyamba of Mzuzu University is the Vice Secretary General;Treasure is Ignatius Matewere of Catholic University and Mphatso Luka of Natural Resources College and Annie Chinsewu of Polytechnic College is the Publicity and deputy publicity secretary respectively.
Below is a pictorial focus
