Malawi: Preparations for AMECEA Plenary in Malawi are On Track
The Catholic Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of
Malawi has sent message that the preparations for the forthcoming AMECEA Plenary
in July 2014, which are already underway, are on track, with the lay faithful
actively taking charge of various tasks through the AMECEA Preparations
Coordinating Team.
Malawi has sent message that the preparations for the forthcoming AMECEA Plenary
in July 2014, which are already underway, are on track, with the lay faithful
actively taking charge of various tasks through the AMECEA Preparations
Coordinating Team.
Speaking on behalf of their team, Mr.Saulos Chilima (ofpublicity committee) and Dr Mary Shaba (of fundraising committee), recently
reported that there is great enthusiasm among the lay faithful to support the
meeting spreads across all the eight dioceses that comprise the Catholic Church
in Malawi so that the plenary becomes a memorable event.
The Role of the Laity
Asked how the preparations are being done, Chilima said,
“In response to the call that the Catholic Secretariat made, many individual
Catholics in various dioceses are volunteering their expertise and time in
order to make a meaningful contribution to this noble cause.”
“In response to the call that the Catholic Secretariat made, many individual
Catholics in various dioceses are volunteering their expertise and time in
order to make a meaningful contribution to this noble cause.”
In his report, Chilima noted that for most Catholic laity,
what is most pleasing is that while the Catholic Secretariat and diocesan
bishops are taking initiatives, they have also empowered them to take part by
using their expertize for the Church. Indeed the response is that many
Catholics have come forward to support the preparations with much zeal and
confident, a fact which demonstrates good Church leadership and also the conviction
that the AMECEA Plenary is not only an event of the bishops but the Catholic
Church as a family.
what is most pleasing is that while the Catholic Secretariat and diocesan
bishops are taking initiatives, they have also empowered them to take part by
using their expertize for the Church. Indeed the response is that many
Catholics have come forward to support the preparations with much zeal and
confident, a fact which demonstrates good Church leadership and also the conviction
that the AMECEA Plenary is not only an event of the bishops but the Catholic
Church as a family.
The Catholic Secretariat also initiated the establishment
of AMECEA Plenary Preparations Committees in each diocese but coordinated at the
national level through the Coordination Team, which comprises of publicity,
fundraising and liturgy committees.
The Spiritual Preparations for AMECEA Plenary
According to Fr Emmanuel Chimombo, who is pastoral
secretary as well as the deputy secretary general, these preparations are being
done in three ways. “Spiritually, through retreats and workshops that are
focusing on the theme of the 2014 plenary, which is ‘New Evangelization through True
Conversion and Witnessing to Christian Faith.’
secretary as well as the deputy secretary general, these preparations are being
done in three ways. “Spiritually, through retreats and workshops that are
focusing on the theme of the 2014 plenary, which is ‘New Evangelization through True
Conversion and Witnessing to Christian Faith.’
Pastorally, the Church embarked in the formation of the
laity council, so that the laity take more active role in this exercise; and
materially, by involving all the members of the Church, especially the laity,
in the fundraising activities”, said Chimombo.
The theme in itself has offered the Church in Malawi an
opportunity to make a spiritual journey whereby the clergy, religious and laity
can make introspect on how they are integrating the Pope’s messages in the Year
of Faith in the African context. As such, from the pastoral perspective, the
retreats and workshops during the preparations are talking issues such as
rooting the Church in the life of the people through the small Christian
communities; self reliance, self propagation and self ministering; the laity
using their expertise in the pastoral and social arms of the Church, and how
the Christians can intervene in political and social-economic issues
The Role of the Secretariat
In the exercise so far, the Catholic Secretariat is not
simply watching but rather under the AMECEA preparations Coordinating Team, is
offering what is referred to as “back-office support and co-ordination.”
simply watching but rather under the AMECEA preparations Coordinating Team, is
offering what is referred to as “back-office support and co-ordination.”
Indeed, while committing most of their time to other important areas in the
preparations, the office of the secretary general is, from time to time,
facilitating committee meetings, disseminating information and mobilizing the
lay faithful communities in line with the direction and needs as envisioned at
various stages.
“Under the Catholic Secretariat, the preparations are so
far focusing on areas such as publicity, fundraising and liturgy.
far focusing on areas such as publicity, fundraising and liturgy.
The
committees have already engaged various experts in the development of a number
of IEC materials, while dioceses and individual lay faithful are making
financial pledges so as to contribute to the budget,” said Chimombo
“I
therefore hope that my fellow priests and laity in all the eight diocese of the
Church in Malawi will continue to give the coordinating team and the Catholic
Secretariat the much needed support so that the preparations may continue to go
in the right track that they have so far taken,” said Fr Chimombo.
therefore hope that my fellow priests and laity in all the eight diocese of the
Church in Malawi will continue to give the coordinating team and the Catholic
Secretariat the much needed support so that the preparations may continue to go
in the right track that they have so far taken,” said Fr Chimombo.
Source: Fr. Andrew
Kaufa – ECM Communications
Kaufa – ECM Communications
