MALAWI: Mangochi Catholic Women Organization Supports Seminaries
Jenipher Changwanda
The Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in the Diocese of Mangochi have been applauded for donating food items and utensils worthy K500 000.00 (USD 670) to St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba and St. Paul the Apostle Minor Seminary in Mangochi.
The National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies in Malawi and National Chaplain of the Catholic Women Organization Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, commended the faith action of the CWO Mangochi for supporting the two seminaries during this COVID-19 time and when the Church is preparing for Vocations Sunday on 22 April 2021.
“Most institutions in the Church, especially seminaries are struggling economically due to Covid-19 pandemic. Dioceses have no adequate resources to pay school fees for seminarians and the day to day running of the seminaries is affected due to lack of funds. So, supporting the seminaries with food items, utensils and other items at this time is very much appreciated,” Fr. Mwakhwawa said.
The Catholic Women have supported the seminaries as a way of supporting the formation of future priests who will minister in the Church in Malawi and beyond. The support is also a response to the needs of the seminaries that have been affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
Chairperson for CWO in the Diocese of Mangochi, Isabell Khumbanyiwa Nakutho said her organization made the donation because Catholic women know their baptismal obligation of taking part in the formation of future priests through spiritual and material support. She also said the women understand the challenges faced by seminaries due to the pandemic.
“We have donated these items to support our formation houses because they do a commendable job of nurturing our future priests and also to show love to our seminarians as well as to motivate them to reach their goal of serving God and fellow human beings,” said Mrs. Nakutho.
Nakutho added that the responsibility of taking care of seminaries in the Church is a shared responsibility in which the laity have to help the bishops and formators
“Let us join hands and build a Church which is self-reliant as well as self-propagating by supporting these institutions. Gone are days where seminarians used to receive donations from abroad. The responsibility is in our hands today, so I am urging all organizations and associations in the Catholic Church and people of good will to support our seminarians who are the future leaders and ministers of the Church and society”, hinted Nakutho.
Speaking after receiving the donation Rector for St Peter`s Major Seminary Rev. Father Anthony Kadyampakeni hailed the gesture saying that its timely because seminaries are struggling to run their day to day activities.
“This is a great gesture of generosity and I am moved by this action of faith by the CWO. I am urging other the faithful to emulate this example. When we say sustainable progress of our seminaries, we need such kind of donations and building a self-reliant church needs collective effort whereby all individuals come together in formation of priests and other developmental activities in the church”, Father Kadyampakeni hinted.
Rector for St Paul the Apostle minor seminary Rev. Father Simon Mundisiye also thanked the CWO Mangochi for visiting the seminarians and donating the items.
“We appreciate what CWO Mangochi has done. This is an indication that seminarians are not alone in their journey to priesthood. You know seminarians need our prayers, love and encouragement,” said Father Mundisiye.
The donations included foodstuffs such as maize, loaves of bread, sugar, face masks and buckets.
