MALAWI: Prelate Urges Youth to Champion Peer Vocations Promotion

Brenard Mwanza

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa has encouraged Catholic youth to take an active role in promoting vocations among their peers as preparations intensify for the 2025 World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Bishop Mwakhwawa delivered this message on Divine Mercy Sunday at St. Augustine (Chimudzi) Outstation in Lumbadzi, where he presided over Holy Mass before engaging with youth from St. Mathias Parish. The parish is hosting this year’s archdiocesan celebrations on May 11, under the theme “Youth Are Missionaries of Hope.”

Speaking during the interactive session, Bishop Mwakhwawa challenged the youth to go beyond preparing for the event and to act as ambassadors of God’s call within their circles.

He emphasized the importance of understanding the different vocations — including priesthood, religious life, marriage, and consecrated single life — not only for their personal growth but also to guide fellow young people, which is dubbed as “peer-to-peer vocations promotion”.

“You are not just preparing for an event,” he said. “You are being called to become missionaries of hope in your own circles. By learning about all vocations, you become ambassadors of God’s call.”

To support this initiative, the youth will utilize the Vocation Promotion Booklet developed by the National Vocations Team. This comprehensive resource features nearly 40 religious congregations present in Malawi, along with their unique charisms. Through it, young people are empowered to learn, reflect, and actively animate both their peers and adults about the rich diversity of vocations within the Church.

The bishop further advised the young people to remain prayerful, focused on education, and wary of societal pressures that lead to early marriages — warning that such choices often result in poverty, broken dreams, and school dropouts.

To sustain the initiative, Bishop Mwakhwawa proposed the formation of small vocation groups within the parish where young people can meet regularly to reflect, share experiences, and invite guest speakers from different life paths.

The youth, in turn, expressed excitement over hosting the archdiocesan event and pledged to take the bishop’s guidance seriously. They committed to championing vocations and fostering respect and responsibility among their peers.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations, observed globally on Good Shepherd Sunday, offers the Church an opportunity to encourage and nurture vocations.