MALAWI: Archdiocese of Lilongwe Commissions The Faithful As It Launches Extra Ordinary Mission Month
Archbishop Ziyaye Commissioning Agents of Evangelization
Maula Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Malawi hosted the launch of Extra Ordinary Mission Month on 28 September 2019. Most Rev. Tarcisius Gervazio. Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe, presided the Eucharistic celebration during which he also commissioned various pastoral agents in the Church.
Archbishop Ziyaye called upon all pastoral agents in the Archdiocese to commit themselves to fulfil the four pillars of the extra ordinary mission month of October, which the Holy See declared under the theme, ‘Baptised and Sent’.
Lilongwe Presenting the Mission Month Message
“Let us all tell the world about our faith through reflecting on the lives of saints, supporting the missionary work, being merciful to the poor and taking time to pray. We do this in commemoration of the Maximum Illud, the letter that Pope Benedict XV wrote in 1919,” said Archbishop Ziyaye.
The occasion was marked with activities that included celebration of the Eucharist, presentations, commissioning of pastoral agents and a music concert performed by choirs and church artists.
The Archbishop commissioned the pastoral agents that included the Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Lilongwe, Association of Women Religious in Malawi, Association of Men Religious in Malawi and groups of the laity including parish council executives and the Association of Catholic Journalists in the Archdiocese.
Fr. Jos Kuppens, a Missionary of Africa, gave an outline of the missionary work in the Archdiocese since its inception more than a hundred years ago. He then challenged the faithful to reflect upon and learn those great missionaries who worked with passion amidst several risks.
Fr. John Kaliwamba gave a Biblical Perspective of Mission while Mrs. Prudence Kadiwa, Chair Lady of the Catholic Women Organisation in the Archdiocese explained the Catholic Action Mission. She dwelt much on the ways in which the lay mane and women can play a role in supporting the Church in the Archdiocese, telling the fully parked Maula Cathedral that Christians should support the priests, the Religious and the developmental projects of the Archdiocese.
“Resources such as time, manpower, money, services bust also giving businesses opportunities to Church institutions are what we need to offer to the Church,” said she.
Delegated by the Archbishop, Fr. Francis Lekaleka who is PMS Director for Lilongwe, outlined some of the activities that will be carried out in the mission month of October in the Archdiocese. He said that three areas had been earmarked as Mission territories where for a week in October, all pastoral agents in the Archdiocese will focus their missionary activities which include public rallies, Mass, workshops for traditional leaders, Catholic teachers, the youth and children.
The launch was jointly organised by the Pontifical Mission Societies and the Pastoral Commission of the Archdiocese. Priests, Religious men and women and laity came from all the 40 parishes in the Archdiocese. Also present at the event was the PMS National Director, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, whose office provided animation materials for the Extraordinary Mission Month activities.
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By Sam Kalimba
