Prince Henderson
Fifteen Malawian Catholic youths who traveled for the World Youth Day (WYD) along with His Lordship Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese as an accompanying bishop and other two Priests have returned back home from Krakow in Poland via Kamuzu International Airport on Wednesday this week.
Immediately after their arrival, they went straight into a thanks giving mass at Catholic Secretariat just to thank God for the wonderful trip to Poland and Bishop Musikuwa presided over the mass.
In an exclusive interview upon the return, Leader of delegation, representing the national youth chaplain Fr. Frank Mwinganyama said the trip was nice and safe one such that the Malawi delegation has among others raised the country’s flag and deepen their faith.
“We were warmly welcomed in the Diocese of Opole where we participated in a number of festivals and did some charitable works. Many families received us in their homes where we were happily accommodated,” said Fr. Mwinganyama.
He said while in Poland, they had an opportunity to visit some shrines saying for instance they celebrated mass where an Icon of Mary is kept and at that place miracles do happen.
Fr. Mwinganyama also said they had an opportunity for cultural interaction with fellow youths from other countries like Brazil, Colombia and France where they had food eaten together and displayed some traditional dances.
“It may also of good interest to note that as Malawi delegation we managed to sell out our beautiful country in terms of tourism features and many who had no knowledge and were not aware that Malawi exist as a country have promised to visit Malawi during their holidays,” said Fr. Mwinganyama who is also the Youth Chaplain for Blantyre Archdiocese.
According to the youthful Father, they have learnt a lot from the trip and one of it is the way how people especially the youths love their Catholic Church and the way they are organized.
During a Eucharistic celebration that Pope Francis president over, he centered under the theme “Mercy” hence challenged youths all over the world to be ambassadors of Mercy by serving others.
“Go out of your comfort, your computers, expensive gargets and comfort of your homes to serve others,” Pope Francis said.
The Pope said youths should make use of the opportunity they have by developing personal relationship with Jesus.
Also during the mass, Pope Francis commended Saint John Paul II for introducing the World Youth Day.
Alinafe Kondwani, a journalism student at Malawi Polytechnic College of the University of Malawi who was part of the trip to Poland said her historical visit was crucial and important since she has learnt how fellow youths are organized.
“Actually, many youths in Poland work as volunteers, helping their Church and the nation at large. We as Malawian youths can also emulate from this gesture thereby, help in developing our country,” she said.
Another Malawian youth Martin Njolomole said he has been inspired with faith and strength having visited Czesto Chowa, where there is an icon of black Madona, a visit to Divine Mercy Sanctuary where there is the tomb of Saint Fostina and another visit to the shrine of Saint John Paul II Sanctuary where there is a Cassock that he wore when a boy from Turkey shot at him in 1981 hence blood spots are still there.
Pope Francis has since announced that Panama in South Asia will host the next World Youth Day which comes in 2019.