MALAWI: PMS Launches Radio and Television Programs Targeting Children and Youths
Andrew Viano
As part of preparations for Mission Sunday which falls in October and giving Pastoral missionary care to children and young people in the time of Covid-19 pandemic, the Pontifical Missionaries Society of Malawi (PMS) in collaboration with the National Pastoral Commission, National Communication Department, Luntha Television and Catholic radios under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi have launched a series of programs that are targeting children and young people.
The programs have started on Saturday 8 August 2020.
PMS Director Father Vincent Mwakhwawa said this development follows realization that children and the youth are left out in pastoral care during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic when the Holy Father urges us to go digital, more especially in this time of the pandemic.
Fr Mwakhwawa further added that there is need for children and young people to be drilled on their role in the universal mission of the Church and help them to learn their faith using the digital means.
“For a long time, there has been an outcry to have faith-enriching programs on Luntha Television, Radio Maria Malawi and other Catholic radios targeting children aged 5 to 14 and young people aged 15 to 35 years old. With the closure of schools and other church-based activities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020, children and young people are mostly at home,” he explained.
On Luntha Television, the missionary catechetical programs will be broadcasted every Saturday from 08:00 to 09:00 in local language Chichewa and from 09:00 to 10:00 in English for children; from 10:00am to 11:00 for the youth.
On Radio Alinafe of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, the program is aired on Saturday from 9:00 am to 10:00am. On Radio Maria Malawi, the program is aired from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
There will also be a quiz program as follow up of the Saturday missionary Catechetical lessons which will be aired live every Sunday from 13:30 to 14:30 for the youth and 14:30 pm to 15:30 pm for children. Both will be done in both Chichewa and English languages.
The programs are called ‘Learn Your Faith and Win.’ With guidance from Luntha Television and ECM’s National Communication department, these programs have a concept of sharing and discussing the Catholic faith with children and young people.
“Prizes for the quiz winners and participants shall include religious articles such as rosaries, the Bible and other branded Church materials,” said Fr Mwakhwawa.
For the three months till October, the programs will focus on preparing children and young people for the World Mission Sunday.
World Mission Sunday was first established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI. This year’s theme is Here I am Send Me, adapted from Isaiah 6 verse 8.
Malawi has over 4 million Catholics from 8 Dioceses.
