MALAWI: On the Carpet with Honorable Saulos Chilima, The Vice President of Malawi
MALAWI: Question and Answer with Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima
Right Honorable Saulos Chilima is the country’s s Vice President and a staunch Catholic who is very proud to be a Catholic because it is a Church he has known ever since he was born. Chilima has participated in a number of Catholic Church activities including reading the word of God during celebrations of the Holy Mass, helping in liturgy and ensuring order during Eucharistic Celebration, giving his contributions during fundraising activities for the Church as well as successfully leading various Church committees. In the meantime, the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, a gathering of Catholic Bishops drawn from all the eight dioceses in the country, appointed him as a goodwill ambassador for the New Catholic Answer Bible.
ECM Communications Officer, Prince Henderson had a chat with Saulosi Chilima to find out what has been his Christian life and the role he plays as a goodwill ambassador.
Question: Can you tell us how your journey has been like as a catholic Christian?
Answer: I was born in a Catholic family and I started serving in the church first as a Mass Server at Ndirande Holy Ghost Parish in the years 1980 to 86. Then I went to Mtendere Secondary school where I was a member of Young Christian Students (YCS), I then went to Chancellor College where I continued serving in the church. After college, I went to St. Montfort Parish-Catholic Institute (CI) in Blantyre where I participated in Liturgy of the word of God as I was one of the readers in the church, I was also involved in fundraising activities among others. I then moved to Lilongwe at Maula Parish where I was a member before coming to St. Patrick’s Parish where I have been for over eleven years since 2002 now. I am an active member of liturgical committee and I am also Patron of one of the choirs and I am always available when my services and support are required in any other activities. I have also participated in big events in the church for instance, I was in the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) organizing committee for the 2014 plenary and I am now a member of a team set up by the Secretariat to look at business activities in the church for the financial stability of the church. So I am an active catholic.
Question: How did you welcome your appointment as The New Catholic Answer Bible Ambassador? And how do you balance it with your job as the Vice President?
Answer: Firstly, it is a humbling experience because I am not an expert of the bible, so at first I had questions of what exactly am I going to do. But eventually, I said what must be done, must be done and so I received the appointment and I said I have to deliver beyond expectations. Bible promotion is done on Sunday which is of course is a day set aside for prayer and apparently, bible promotion is done on Sunday and it is also part of the liturgy of the word of the Lord. Therefore I don’t see any conflict between being the bible ambassador and the Vice President of Malawi because I only work from Monday to Friday. My weekends are free so I can do other things which include going to church and promotion the bible. I am really humbled
Question: What message do you pass across in the Parishes as you visit in your mission to promote the bible?
Answer: The genesis of this bible is what we can call frequently asked questions where catholic Christians especially the youth are anxious to know after being challenged by their friends about them believes in the Catholic teachings. A team of experts was assembled in the US to do research and provide solutions and they found out that there are 88 questions that are normally asked and as Catholics we lack the confidence to defend our faith and practices. This bible promotion therefore gives that confidence to respond to the questions with biblical references as well as references to resolutions that were passed from meetings and conferences involving the church Leadership. It is because of that exposition that we are now able to refer to the scriptures and specific bible verses. Therefore, we tell Christians that this bible is a must have to deepen the understanding of our faith and also help others understand our faith as compared to the past
Question: What is your last words and advice to Catholics in this month of September being the Bible month?
Answer: It is not a matter of multiple choices, it is a must to have The New Catholic Answer Bible and read it to understand the teachings of the church. It’s available at K10, 000 each. So one should get a copy and deepen their faith. We should not always run to the Parish priest to ask, why do we pray the Rosary? Read for yourself. Just spare k10, 000 to deepen your faith and connect with our creator better.
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By Prince Henderson, Communications Office ECM
