MALAWI: PMS Malawi Cancels Celebration of the Missionary Day For CHILDREN

By Demetria Banda

The National Director for Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) Fr Vincent Mwakhwawa says they have cancelled the national celebrations of the World Missionary Day for Children which was scheduled for Epiphany Sunday of the Lord, 4^th of January 2021, due to directives by the Ministry of Health.

Malawi’s Ministry of Health has directed that there be no gathering in large numbers due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Epiphany Sunday is a day set aside by the Universal Church for the celebration of Missionary Children. According to Fr Vincent Mwakhwawa, on this day, children are given a chance to take an active role in Liturgy: singing, reading the Word of God, making announcements, leading liturgical dance, making offertory procession among others

“This is a day of prayer for children in the whole world; a day to teach about the missionary role of children in the Church and society; a day for collection of money for supporting holistic growth of children in the whole world (especially in young and needy Churches) through the Pontifical Missionary Society of Holy Childhood/Missionary Children.

This year’s Epiphany Sunday national celebrations in the country were to be held in Chikwawa Diocese under the theme Children are called to Holiness through Sacraments.

“This theme is set to help children to grow with sense of holiness as they live their Christian and missionary life .Living a Christian life is equal to living a missionary life and living a holy life. However, as PMS we encourage Parents, animators and Church leaders to help children grow in holiness because Children are holy,” said Fr Mwakhwawa.

Fr. Mwakhwawa continued that Holiness is a Christian calling whereby the one who accepts Christianity accepts a call to holiness. This is why the formation given to children in the Church aims at helping the children to achieve holiness.

He also said Holiness is a gift from God and he gives it freely to every baptized person. However, we have to respond and accept this free gift from God by preparing our hearts well, receiving the sacraments worthily and doing good work. Holiness requires full human cooperation with God.

The Missionary Day for Children, Epiphany Sunday, became a universal day in 1922 by Pope Pius XI to promote missionary formation for children: to empower children so that they can play their rightful role in the Church and society: children evangelizing children.