Help Realize “the Malawi you want, utilize your influence”: Bishop to Catholic Women

Lilongwe, 25 July, 2023 / 6:50 PM

Members of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in Malawi have been challenged to help realize the country they want, where current challenges are addressed.

Speaking during the CWO Golden Jubilee celebration, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka highlighted the challenges the people of God in Malawi are facing, and urged Catholic women to “utilize your influence” to bring about positive change.

“Malawi is facing many challenges which have crippled people’s livelihoods due to the poor economic landscape,” Bishop Mtumbuka said during the July 22 event that was held at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

He reminded CWO members in Malawi that they “have that responsibility and power to choose the future”, and emphasized, “You have to choose the Malawi you want. Currently, things are not okay and we cannot continue with the way things are,”.

“Malawi is grappling with various challenges, primarily stemming from poor economic conditions, and you need to utilize your influence to elect leaders capable of addressing these issues,” the Local Ordinary of Karonga Diocese who doubles as the chairperson of the Pastoral Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) further said. 

Also speaking during the July 22 event, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe acknowledged the Catholic women's ability to contribute to the progress of the Church and the Southern African nation, and called for unity of purpose.

“When I see you, I see a great future; the works you do contribute significantly to the development of the Church and the nation so remain united and focused on the values and vision of CWO,” Archbishop Tambala said.

On her part, the representative of the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation (WUCWO) at the CWO Golden Jubilee celebration in Malawi, Eveline Mtenga, said, “We have different talents which we should use to benefit others.”

The President of Tanzania’s Catholic Women Association added, “Whatever we are capable of doing, let's do it in a positive way to contribute to the development of Malawi.”

Ms. Mtenga encouraged the CWO members in Malawi to look at the Blessed Virgin Mary for inspiration, saying Catholic women are renowned for their “charity work, evangelism, and humility, traits they emulate from Mary, their matron.”