Seminarian James Nkhoma of Mzuzu Diocese spelling out some of the proposals--Photo by Watipaso Mzungu.jpg

Malawi: Major Seminarians ready to celebrate the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019

Seminarians at Kachebere Philosophical Major Seminary in Mchinji have proposed activities to be done in preparation for and during the month of October 2019 to mark the Extraordinary Missionary Month 2019. The activities are based on the four Dimension the Holy Father proposed to be used in the celebration of the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019.

The seminarians emphasized to pursue missionary renewal in their lives and in the life of the universal Church by ensuring the personal encounter with Jesus Christ alive in the Church especially through the Eucharist, Word of God and daily prayers. The seminarians also have also resolved to reach out to the people in the communities surround the seminary in order to strengthen their faith through the various apostolates available in the seminary and other pastoral visits that may be guided by the Rectors and staff.

The seminarians made these proposals at the end of weeklong training session on sustaining the sense of Missio ad Gentes of the Church, which the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) organized in early June 2019 to equip the future church leaders with skills required for a priestly and missionary work.

In a document of recommendations presented to PMS National Director Father Vincent Mwakhwawa and the Rector of the Seminary, the seminarians propose that during adoration and/or benediction, they will focus their intercessions on praying for vocations and the youth to join different vocations, praying for the families that they should be a foundation of the Church by teaching their children how to pray and other Church observances.

“We also need to pray for missionary work in Malawi and the whole world, developing strategic plans concerning vocation promotions and introducing extra contributions on Sundays to help in vocational activities. We are also ready to be involved as seminarians in pastoral work, mainly in outstations, which are not visited by priests regularly and also other apostolates like the hospitals and schools,” the document reads in part.

 The Seminarians also recommend that they should be in the forefront to visit the Catholics who have not been active in church activities with much emphasis on the Sacrament of confession in order to renew Christian life of the lay faithful and seminarians. “We should also take part in encouraging people to take part in and support PMS activities and also praying over its objectives to succeed e.g. Rosary and personal prayers,” they recommend.

On the dimension of Witness of Saints and Missionary martyrs, the major seminarians have also stressed the need for the church to search among the Christian communities Catholics who were the first to be converted to Christianity and register them as the giants of their mission history. These early Christians in the Malawian communities gave a powerful witness of faith in their missionary life and this year, we have to remember and celebrate their life and learn from them.

On Missionary charity, the seminarians have proposed that they will take a role in raising funds for missionary activities of the Church. They will also help in animating Catholic communities when they go for pastoral experiences in their respective dioceses and parishes.

Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, the National Director of PMS in Malawi, commended the major seminarians for the bold step they have taken to propose activities to be done in the seminary and beyond as the Church celebrates the Extraordinary missionary month. He thanked them for abiding to the Holy Fathers appeal and proposal to take time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maximum Illud with an aim of renewing the missionary commitment in the hearts of all the baptized.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                Malawi

Lilongwe

June 26 2019

 by Watipaso Mzungu

 

Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa--making presentation to Major Seminarians in Malawi--Photo by Watipaso Mzungu.jpg Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa--making presentation to Major Seminarians in Malawi--Photo by Watipaso Mzungu.jpg