MALAWI AND ZAMBIA: Bishops of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe Express Solidarity T0 COVID 19 Victims in Sub-region
By Mwenya Mukuka -ZCCB Communications
The Catholic Bishops of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have expressed their solidarity and spiritual proximity to “brothers and sisters who have contracted and are suffering due to the Coronavirus Disease.”
They have since urged them to put their faith and trust in God while continuing to cooperate with health professionals who are taking care of them and abiding by health guidelines that have been put in place.
This is contained in an Easter message signed by Most Rev. Thomas Msusa, President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM); Rt. Rev. George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu, President of Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB); and Most Rev. Robert Ndlovu, President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC).
The Bishops have also asked the Lord to sustain medical doctors, nurses and the supporting staff who are in the front line of the fight against COVID-19 to inspire them to render their life-saving services with due care, love and compassion. They have further conveyed deepest sympathies to all those who have lost their loved ones due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile the Church leaders in the sub-region have noted that due to the Coronavirus outbreak, many people are living in fear.
“As we continue to fight the spread of the Coronavirus disease, we call upon all to take personal responsibility by protecting yourselves and others, especially those are most at risk due to their preexisting medical conditions, our brothers and sisters living with chronic diseases, the aged and other vulnerable members of our communities. We further entrust those who are suffering from the Coronavirus and all the caregivers to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” they said.
In the introduction, the Bishops acknowledge that this year, they celebrate Easter in a challenging context and amid painful situations.
“In view of protecting our own lives and those of others, we cannot fill churches and make them resound with liturgical music. Instead, we commemorate the mystery of Easter and encounter the Risen Lord in our homes,” the message reads.
They further said that many [faithful] are experiencing fear and uncertainty as well as the trauma of the isolation of family members, including the tragic loss of relatives and friends due to the Coronavirus disease.
