MALAWI: National Liturgical Commission in Malawi Calls for Uniformity ln Liturgy Celebration

Stella Zulu

Malawi National Liturgical Commission has called on all Catholics in the country to celebrate Mass in a unified Catholic manner and avoid mistakes that may arise due to inculturation and lack of balance between solemnity and celebration.

Speaking after the meeting which the commission held at the Catholic Secretariat, the National Pastoral Coordinator Rev. Fr. Joseph Sikwese said there are several mistakes and differences observed during Mass which has made liturgy to be celebrated not in a Catholic way in some cases.

“Despite the fact that we have eight dioceses in Malawi, with regions that have different cultural backgrounds which are incorporated in the liturgy, the basis and emphasis is that any cultural practice adapted in liturgy should help people to have an encounter with God. That’s the purpose of Liturgy. Anything apart from that becomes entertainment and that is not the purpose of the liturgy,” said Fr. Sikwese.

He continued that the Commission will present its resolutions to the Bishops for approval before dissemination to all dioceses. Among other things, the commission suggested the need for trainings in all dioceses on how liturgy is supposed to be celebrated.

The meeting therefore, was meant to give guidance and map the way forward in addressing the mistakes and the differences in the dioceses.

The National Liturgical Commission was appointed by the Bishops to look at the way the Liturgy is celebrated in the Catholic Church in Malawi.