MALAWI: Karonga Diocese hosts National Mission Sunday Celebrations
Parishioners of St. Matthias Mulumba Misiku in Karonga Diocese turns up in Large Numbers to Participate in the Eucharistic celebrations to Mark World Mission Sunday. The Parish is Located in One of the Remotest and far away areas in Malawi
This year, the national mission Sunday celebrations were held at Mughese, St Matthias Mulumba Parish at Misuku in Chitipa, diocese of Karonga.
thanks the Bishopsfor choosing his Parish to host the National
Mission Sunday Celebrations
Mission Sunday aims at giving a chance to all Christians to reflect on their obligation of preaching the gospel to the whole world through prayer, service and monetary contributions for the missionary work.
The celebrations of this year, drew together the laity, clergy and the religious who thanked God for their Christian Faith that compels them to join the mission of Jesus Christ through praying for other people so that they believe in the gospel of salvation.
The venue for the national celebrations was a far isolated place chosen by the Bishops in coordination with Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) to make sure the gospel reaches everywhere including those places that are sidelined geographically which is the sole purpose of the Missionary work.
According to the National PMS Director in Malawi, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, Jesus Christ mandates each and every Christian to go and proclaim the gospel to the whole world. Therefore, on the mission Sunday and the whole month of October, Christians thank God for their Faith and contribute to the church’s mission.
‘World mission Sunday is a special Sunday on which Catholics in the world pray and contribute money for the missionary work of the church of preaching the gospel, thank God for their faith and share it to the whole world by praying for other people to receive the spirit of salvation. The Church therefore, celebrates this missionary spirit in its Christians and prays for the growth of this spirit so that the gospel should be preached to the whole world,” Said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
In his message titled “Mission at the heart of the Christian Faith” Pope Francis appeals to all Christians and the church at large to go forth from the comfort zone in order to reach all the peripheries in need of the light of the gospel.
“Through the Church, Christ continues his mission as the Good Samaritan, caring for the bleeding wounds of humanity, and as a good shepherd, constantly seeking out those who wander along winding paths that lead nowhere. Let’s acquire the holy audacity needed to discover new ways of bringing the gift of salvation to every man and woman through a spirituality of constant exodus”. Reads part of the Pope’s message.
The parish priest of Matthias Mulumba, Fr. Bernard Silungwe thanked the Bishops for choosing his parish to host the national Mission Sunday celebrations considering that the area is hard to reach.
“It is an honor to have this event here, we were so happy when we were informed that the national celebrations will be held at this parish because most things happen in far and distant places where most people of this area cannot manage to go. I thank the Bishops and the National office for considering the people of this parish”, said Fr Silungwe.
The Sunday was marked by Eucharist celebration in the morning led by Fr. Silungwe delegated by His Lordship Martin Mtumbuka, the Bishop for Karonga Diocese and traditional dances in the afternoon by parishioners.
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By: Stella Zulu, ECM Correspondent
