MALAWI: Called to Be Responsible Fathers as St Joseph

Luke Bisani

Being a father helps one to understand the responsibility that one has towards children in a family, society and in our country. But that is not the case with some men whom the media has carried stories to be “monsters” for being irresponsible.

Sexual desire has left some men in cooler and marks of unforgettable memories as people who were supposed to be responsible towards our young girls but turned to be irresponsible.

Of late, the media in Malawi has been a washed with stories of men raping young girls for reasons best described as uncontrolled sexual desire.

Likisoni Chadza aged 40 from Dowa district is a father who recently raped his 14-year biological daughter. He is reported to have gone for a drink on February 14, 2021 and lied to his wife that he wanted to take his children to their home of origin; he then forced himself to the daughter on their way to the place. Now, Likisoni has brought shame to his family and society, together with all other men

Looking at St Joseph’s exemplary life as a foster father of Jesus, every man is called to a unique vocation of taking care of his family and be responsible to every member of that family.

Reflecting on the life of St Joseph’s, men are challenged to be protectors of their families and not being a threat to any family member through gender-based violence or rape. Fatherhood must become part of that continual and mutual self-gift of spouses for their own sake and for the sake of their children and not a shame.

Father Alfred Chaima who is a Pastoral Secretary for the Archdiocese of Blantyre of the Catholic Church commends a fatherhood that is characterized by responsibility. He expresses sadness on the alarming number of cases of abuse by men, which are reported in the country.

Statists show that in the year 2018, the Malawi Police Service recorded a total of 1,539 such cases; in 2019, a total of 1,766; whereas in 2020, between January and September, the law enforcers recorded a total of 1,501 cases, a figure that was likely to go beyond by the reach of December same year.

Fr Chaima further added that the Catholic Church has been geared up to help men to be responsible in their families, society and the country at large.

“We are preparing groups that can help in curbing abuse by men and helping them to be responsible in our communities. One such group is the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) that we are assured that they will have this issue as a food of thought to help one another in being responsible in our societies” added Father.

The Pastoral Secretary further expressed hope that CMO is to help its members and fellow Catholic men to reflect the life of St Joseph, a husband to Mary and a foster father to Jesus who was responsible to his family.

On May 1, the Catholic Church commemorates St Joseph. The day is celebrated by looking at St Joseph as a protector of Mary and the child Jesus.