The Parish construction projects, the Bishop said, “shall be supported by the entire parish community, and where necessary, the Deanery may be requested for extra support.”
“No financial support shall be sought from overseas partners for pastoral related construction projects except those applied for by religious congregations for their benefit, and not for parish,” Bishop Mtumbuka said.
The Malawian Bishop said that communities seeking to establish new parishes or substations will be required to meet minimum structural requirements before their applications are considered.
“The spirit and commitment to put up pastoral related infrastructures shall be instilled in all Christ’s faithful in the Diocese from Sunday School children up to their parents,” said the 66-year-old Local Ordinary of Karonga Diocese who has been at the helm of the Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in November 2010.
The Diocese also addressed issues related to financial obligations, including the payment of medical schemes for Priests, previously supported by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Medical Scheme.
“Gradually, each parish will take full responsibility for paying for diocesan Priests’ medical scheme,” the Bishop announced in the October 17 circular.
In the circular addressed to all Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians, and Heads of Institutions, the Chairman of the Pastoral Commission of ECM also called for more active participation of the laity, especially through pastoral care.
The Bishop urged families to instill a commitment to parish projects from a young age, with Sunday school leaders, pastoral secretaries, and catechetical leaders playing key roles in this initiative.
The Malawian Catholic Church leader reminded parishes with arrears in the Seminary Fund to settle their debts before the Diocese’s annual Thanksgiving Mass scheduled for November 23, this year.
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.
