MALAWI: St. Peter’s Major Seminary Immersed in “Missio ad gentes”
Seminarians in a group photo with PMS staff during the training
The Pontifical Mission Societies in Malawi (PMS) has taken another step in promoting missionary consciousness of ‘missio ad gentes’ by grooming theology students at St Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba as they continue with their formation to priesthood.
‘Missio ad gentes’ is being promoted to reawaken the missionary consciousness among all Catholics, reminding them that they are baptized and sent to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world (Mk16.15). This has been given a special attention this year especially in view of the forthcoming celebration of the Extraordinary Mission Month in October 2019 as announce by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
The three-day workshop opened with the Eucharist Celebration presided by the PMS National Director Father Vincent Mwakhwawa from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. In his homily, he emphasized that, ‘Missio ad gentes’ beckons those in formation to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all.
“As priests of tomorrow, it is your pastoral responsibility to preach to the people, making them understand that the Good News and convert, just like Jesus did during his earthly ministry,” Fr. Mwakhwawa explained.
Fr. Mwakhwawa also urged the seminarians to be available to all people of God but in a special way to children and the youth.
“The mission is not limited to specific people in a parish or diocese. The Holy Father, has asked us all to think about it and to go out and spread the Gospel to those who do not know it. As people who are baptized and sent, all of us (priests, Religious, Laity and seminarians) should work together so that many souls can be saved,” Fr. Mwakhwawa further explained to the excitement of the seminarians who were eager to learn more about their missionary responsibility.
The PMS National Director engaged a team of facilitators from the National office as well as from diocesan PMS offices. About 74 seminarians from all the 8 dioceses in Malawi and 4 Capuchin seminarians participated in the workshop. St. Peter’s Major Seminary is a National Theological Seminary where seminarians from all the dioceses under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi do their formation.
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By: Rosemary Tsoka Banda
