MALAWI: PMS Directors Urged to Form Missionary Consciousness Among Christians
National and Diocesan PMS Directors
The Pontifical Mission Societies’ National and Diocesan directors in Malawi have been challenged to continue designing programs for missionary formation so that Christians assume their share of responsibility in the universal mission of the Church.
Bishop Chairman for Pastoral Commission Rt. Rev Peter Musikuwa made this call as he addressed the PMS National Council at Bangula Pastoral Centre in Chikwawa Diocese. He said it depends on their hard working that the affirmation of the Second Vatican Council which states that ‘the whole Church by her nature is Missionary’ becomes an effective reality.
“The purpose of PMS is to promote missionary spirituality among Christians. Each Christian has to answer the call of the Holy Spirit. PMS is the instrument that the Universal and local Church relies upon. The second Vatican Council gave the PMS the ‘pride of space to become the means of imbuing Catholics with a genuinely universal missionary outlook,” reads part of the Bishop’s address to the Directors.
Bishop Musikuwa continued by saying that that PMS has to convince Christians that their participation in the missionary activity of the Church is not something imposed on them but rather an expression of their baptismal promises. Therefore, fostering and directing missionary work in parishes and dioceses in the country and the world makes present the missionary spirit and zeal of the People of God through which the whole Church becomes missionary
He reminded the Directors that there is need for not only pastoral renewal and confirming the importance of evangelization or searching for alternative methods of proclamation but also a real promotion of the laity to be witnesses of Christ. As such, formation for missionary consciousness should become the top pastoral priority in the parishes and dioceses in the country for the next few years.
“As National PMS Council, this can be one top recommendation that you can make to the Episcopal Conference of Malawi so that we reflect seriously on how Christians are bearing witness to the Gospel here and now. With formation for missionary consciousness, Christians can generously come out of themselves and share with others the goods they possess, including the most precious gift of all, which is their faith,” continues the Bishop’s address.
In his remarks, the National PMS Director Rev Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa thanked the Directors for their commitment which he said has made PMS active and visible in all the dioceses. He requested them to share ideas on how to continue giving best animation to the pastoral life of the Church.
“Our role as PMS Directors is to animate the pastoral activities and groups in all diocesan structures. The animation approaches you have taken, for instance, networking with pastoral Coordinators and youth Chaplains are recommended and that’s what the bishops are encouraging,” Fr. Mwakhwawa encouraged the Directors.
During this first PMS National Council meeting for this year, the Directors also received an update on the progress of the Agriculture Initiative from the ECM Agriculture expert; they reported and evaluated this year’s Epiphany Sunday Celebrations in each diocese; they presented the planned activities in Preparation for the Children’s Congress of 2020; and they discussed Preparation for Vocations Sunday and preparations for National Training for Holy Childhood Animators and many others.
~End~
By: ECM’s Stella Zulu
