MALAWI: Radio Maria Malawi Drums Up Support for Vocations Sunday 2021

Jenipher Changwanda

As preparations for Vocations Sunday are underway in the Catholic Church in Malawi, Radio Maria Malawi has been urged to raise awareness among the people of God about the Vocations Sunday through its programming.

Pontifical Missionary Society (PMS Malawi) Animator, Mr. Noel Chimbenje made the remarks during an orientation workshop on this year’s Vocations Sunday which PMS Malawi National Office organized on 25 March 2021 for media practitioners at Radio Maria Malawi main studio in the Diocese of Mangochi.

Chimbenje said the Catholic media have a significant role to play, of sensitizing the Catholic community on the pillars of this special day namely praying for vocations, teaching about vocations and collecting money for the Solidarity Mission Fund of St. Peter the Apostle for formation of future priests and Religious men and women in the mission territories.

“The Catholic media have a role to enlighten the faithful on the significance of this special day. To do this job well there is a need for them to understand the meaning of Vocations Sunday, hence the training,” Chimbenje said.

Chimbenje added that he was optimistic that the coming in of Radio Maria Malawi in sensitizing the wide community in Malawi and beyond, will yield a meaningful celebration as the radio has the capacity to reach its intended and other audiences.

“As a National Office and an arm of the Holy Father, we are facing challenges to reach out to a lot of people due to lack of enough funds, personnel and the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. But with Radio Maria Malawi, we are going to achieve our goal because this radio has a wide coverage and large audience,” Chimbenje said.

Apart from being drilled on the Vocations Sunday, the participants have also been oriented on other societies under the Holy Father in the Congregation of Evangelization of People namely, Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of faith, Pontifical Mission Society of the Holy Childhood and Pontifical Missionary Union.

Meanwhile Sr. Joyce Moyo the Acting Administrative Assistant of PMS National Office emphasized to the participants the importance of their being conversant with the PMS calendar of events in the Catholic Church.

“The PMS activities, especially the celebration of mission days come four times in a year in line with the four societies of the PMS. As such, Radio Maria volunteers need to help listeners understand what is happening in the Church so that the people of God may participate actively as baptized members of the Church,” said Sr. Joyce.

And on his part, the Director of Programs for Radio Maria Malawi Rev. Fr Joseph Kimu hailed the cordial relationship between Radio Maria Malawi and PMS Malawi, saying that these organizations depend on each other as their works interlink.

“Radio Maria Malawi and PMS have a common goal and most of the time they train volunteers on different issues. This training will help Radio Maria Volunteers to deliver right information to listeners about Vocations Sunday in line with the Pope’s message,” Fr. Kimu said.

One of the Radio Maria Malawi presenters Daflen Jailosi said that the training has equipped him with enough knowledge on Vocations Sunday and PMS’s activities.

“I find this training inspiring and helpful. The presentations have shed much light about this special day in the Catholic Church. As such, I know what to say on the radio about Vocations Sunday.

This year’s Vocations Sunday will be celebrated on 25 April, 2021 under the theme “A call to service after the example of St. Joseph”.

In Malawi the national event will be held in Mtendere Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Dedza.

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