During the May 6 review meeting that was held at Thondwe Pastoral Centre of Malawi’s Catholic Zomba Diocese, the National Chaplain for the Laity is said to have emphasized the need for “commitment” and sacrifice on the part of those, who will be elected to various positions.
“Sometimes there is little commitment from the elected lay faithful,” Fr. Madeya reportedly observed, and appealed, “We should be looking for people who are ready to commit their busy time to the work of God. Lay leaders are not only figure heads, they are moral guides … so they need to demonstrate that in what they do.”
The Malawian Catholic Priest also underlined understanding of liturgy as an essential quality of those to be elected.
“We have to ensure that we elect liturgy leaders who understand what they are supposed to do,” he said, and emphasizing both “commitment and qualifications”, described liturgy as “the hub of the Catholic Church.”
In the report, Fr. Madeya is quoted as calling upon lay leaders to spearhead spiritual initiatives, “encouraging the lay faithful to enhance spirituality in all that we do.”
“Let us help protect the church and promote the values of our faith,” he reiterated during the May 6 meeting, in which Diocesan representatives presented their respective annual reports, highlighting activities that were undertaken, successes, as well as challenges.
Meanwhile, in her remarks during the May 6 review meeting, the National Laity chairperson, Virginia Mahata, is said to have urged the Laity to safeguard the reputation of the Catholic Church, taking the responsibility of managing conflicts, whenever they arise.
Ahead of the sub-regional conference of members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) that is scheduled to take place in Malawi, Mrs. Mahata is said to have urged the Laity in the country to take an active role in ensuring the convention succeeds.
The July 15-19 meeting is to “provide a platform for Bishops to come together, fostering unity among different regions and promoting collaboration on common issues,” the Chairman of ECM, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of Malawi’s Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe Archdiocese said last September.
Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.
