MALAWI: Blantyre Catholic Women to Take Child Abuse Head-on

Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in the Archdiocese of Blantyre has committed itself to curbing child abuse in Malawi, arguing that the women themselves have an important role to end child abuse in Malawi.

Lucy Vokhiwa, CWO Chairlady for the Archdiocese of Blantyre, said this while addressing the women who gathered for their 2018 Annual Conference at Nantipwiri Pastoral Centre from 15th to 19th August in the Archdiocese of Blantyre.

“We have high cases of abuse in the country. Sometimes it happens that women know about these abuse but they choose to remain quiet. In our families it happens that a man is sleeping with his own daughter, and the woman knows about but she chooses to be on the side of the man,” said Vokhiwa.

According to Vokhiwa, the CWO in the Archdiocese of Blantyre will soon embark on a project that will ensure that child abuse in the country has been.

She applauded the Women Conference saying that they had “wonderful” sessions that aimed at helping them to take a leading role in the Church.

“We are privileged to have been drilled on a number of issues and on the teaching of the Church, through Pope Francis’ letter, ‘Call to Holiness,’ she said.

Vokhiwa also disclosed that through the Conference presentations women have now understood their role in the May 2019 Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors General Elections as they now understand are aware of their Constitutional rights.”

Besides compiling reports from all the deaneries where these participants are coming from,

The Conference took the women through season for “mind-set” change in the modern World.

The Pastoral Secretary for Blantyre Archdiocese, Father Alfred Chaima, praised the CWO Executive for organizing the Conference, saying the indaba had set a new pace for the women to help in the growth of Catholic Church.

“When we are organizing such conferences we make sure that we are imparting new knowledge so that by the end of the Conference you the participants have the capacity to bring change in our Church and society”, said Chaima.

Over sixty women from deaneries of Blantyre Archdiocese have attended the conference that is end on Sunday.

Fr Chaima further assured of continued spiritual support to the women through Parish Priests from all the deaneries in the Archdiocese of Blantyre.

Blantyre Archdiocese has 8 deaneries and 41 Parishes with vibrant CWO at every Parish.

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By Luke Bisani