Pontifical Mission Societies in Malawi (PMS) has taken another step in sustaining and promoting the missionary consciousness of ‘missio ad gentes’ by grooming theology students at St Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba to become better and responsible missionaries as they continue their formation to the priesthood.

‘Missio ad gentes’ is being promoted to reawaken missionary consciousness in all Christians, reminding them that they are baptized and sent to proclaim the gospel to the whole world (Mk16.15). This has been given a special attention this year especially in preparation for the celebration of the Extraordinary Mission Month in October 2019 as announce by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

The three day workshop was opened with the Eucharist Celebration presided by the PMS National Director Father Vincent Mwakhwawa from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. In his homily, he emphasized that as seminarians, ‘Missio ad gentes’ beckons those in formation to go out to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all. 

“As priests of tomorrow, it is a pastoral responsibility to preach to the people, making them understand that they are to convert, just like how Jesus was doing during his ministry on earth,” Fr. Mwakhwawa explained.

In his opening presentation, Fr. Mwakhwawa asked the seminarians to be available to all people, both men and women, but also in a special way to children so that people may be aware of other mission days. He reiterated that the seminarians have a role to play to prepare the people so that they may follow the special activities organized for the celebration of the Extraordinary Mission Month.

“The mission is not limited to specific people in a parish or diocese rather the whole Church is to be involved. The Holy Father, Pope Francis has asked all of us to reflect, to go out and spread the gospel to those who do not know it. As people who are baptized and sent, priests, religious, laity and seminarians, should work together so that many souls can be saved,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa, further explaining to the many seminarians who were eager to learn more about their missionary responsibility.

The PMS National Director engaged a team of facilitators from the National PMS office as well as PMS Directors from Dioceses of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba. About 74 seminarians from all eight dioceses in Malawi and 4 Capuchin seminarians participated in the workshop. St. Peter’s Major Seminary is a National Theological Seminary in Malawi and this is where seminarians from all eight dioceses under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi have their formation.

Malawi

14 februaryth

Supervised by Rosemary Tsoka Banda

Episcopal  Conference of Malawi