MALAWI: “World Mission Sunday Still Relevant in Modern World”

Thokozani Chapola

Director of Radio Maria Malawi, Father Dr. Joseph Kimu has emphasized on the need to continue with missionary activity which define the purpose of observing World Mission Sunday and Month despite the fact that the Catholic Church is currently all over the world.

Fr Kimu made the remarks in a special interview on Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) activities evaluation meeting with Radio Maria Malawi announcers.

He indicated that the mission activity is still relevant as the Church by nature is very nature missionary and that it is a result of the command that Jesus gave to his disciples before going to heaven.

“Jesus told them; ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, every member of the Church must be a missionary (Matt. 28:20). Saint. John Paul II once said that the Church that is not missionary, is dead. So, any Christian who is not missionary is a dead Christian. There is need for missionary activities so as to arouse the interest of Christians to feel that obligation and command which Jesus gave them,” he said.

Fr Kimu also highlighted that missionary work is very urgent in this modern world because of various problems that the Church is encountering citing issues such as campaigns for legalization of abortion, atheism, Pentecostalism and others which need to be addressed.

The Director of Radio Maria Malawi said that this year’s theme for the Missionary Month which is We Cannot, But Speak What We Have Seen And Heard (Acts 4 verse 20) is very relevant to missionary work since Christians who are missionaries by nature, are supposed to discuss real issues with the masses and convince them to follow Jesus Christ.

“No one can give something which he or she does not have. We must have a message which has moved, touched, and changed us. And we cannot remain silent but be restless and share it to others. Again, in so doing we are fulfilling our missionary duty to share what whatever we received from Christ. The Church that is not sharing what Christ has done for them is dead,” he said.

He also applauded the Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Malawi Father Vincent Mwakhwawa, for his active role in training Radio Maria Malawi’s volunteers, equipping them with missionary Sunday messages so as to help listeners understand issues to do with the missionary month.

“This is a very commendable initiative. He has been equipping the volunteers so that when they go on air, they must have something to say. We always encourage our volunteers that whenever they have a minute or two, they should squeeze in missionary month messages so as listeners to understand better about it. This will help them to pray, participate and contribute for the success of the Missionary Sunday,” he said.

The PMS Malawi at national office has been engaging Radio Maria Malawi announcers to help it promote its various activities in the country.