MALAWI: WUCWO Conference underway in Malawi
Participants of the Conference at CIVO Stadium During the Eucharistic Celebrations at the Opening of the conference
By Prince Henderson, Communications Officer ECM
The 9th African Region Conference and Golden Jubilee for the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation (WUCWO) Conference is underway in Malawi’s Capital, Lilongwe under the theme “Women of Africa Proclaimers of God’s Mercy: “Come and See the man who told me everything I did. Could this be the Messiah?”.
During the Eucharistic Celebrations at the
Opening of the conference
Thousands of Catholic Women faithful and people of goodwill from all the regions, dioceses and tribes turned out for an opening mass at Civo Stadium on Wednesday where Malawi President, His Excellency Professor Peter Mutharika, his wife Madam Getrude Mutharika and the Vice President, Right Honourable Saulosi Chilima and Madam Mary Chilima were in attendance.
Speaking at the function WUCWO President for Africa, Rosaline Nganku Menga said the conference is crucial and special not only to the Church, but to the society at large.
She said despite efforts made by some governments, the Church and some Non-Governmental Organisations, the challenges in the region still leaves much to be desired hence the conference is aimed at finding solutions to these challenges.
“As if poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, HIV/Aids, corruption, bad governance, were not bad enough, more challenges have come up during the recent years, for example terrorist groups, Ebola, negative impact of social media, trafficking, youth migration and climate change,” she said.
Stadium by Archbishop Ziyaye and Archbishop Msusa
According to Menga, the conference will discuss and analyse the theme under seven sub-themes and come up with concrete proposals to implement the actions in their families, Church and society at large.
She said among the topics to be discuss during include issues of African women and youth as Agents of Dialogue, Justice and Peace, a key to a prosperous Africa; Climate Change; Access to drinking water and sanitation as a human right; Women of Africa, Proclaimers of God’s Mercy; love and protection, WUCWO women of Africa in the light of Evangelii Gaudium of Pope Francis; and Mercy and Hope in action at the service of the family, youth and the suffering in Africa.
Meanwhile President Mutharika said that his government recognizes that the conference is crucial for the global, African and national development agenda both physically and spiritually.
He said the work of faith based organisations such as the Catholic Church complement government effort in the development agenda.
Conference Center in Lilongwe
“It is against this background that the government is very committed to work with ECM, WUWCO and Catholic Women Organisation in general to achieve the goals of the conference which are also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” the president said.
The opening Mass was presided over by Most Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Archbishop of Blantyre. Other Bishops in attendance included Most Rev. Tarcizious Ziyaye (Lilongwe Archdiocese), Bishop Emmanuel Kanyama (Dedza), Bishop Montfort Stima (Mangochi) and Bishop Emeritus Alexandro Pagani (Mangochi)
Over 150 international and 350 local delegates are attending the conference which ends on Sunday 4th September.
∽End∽
