The Catholic faithful in Mchinji District have been challenged to find ways of addressing some of the driving factors behind the rising cases of early child marriages.

According to some community members, the distribution of contraceptives by civil society organizations and government agencies in villages and schools is the root cause of the issue.

However, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, his Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa, quashed these concerns.

He said the Catholic Church does not allow its members to use modern contraceptive methods, allowing only traditional ones.

Bishop Mwakhwawa believes that the issue is a lack of faith in the community and urged them to deepen their faith to combat the problem.

Speaking at Mponda Zone of St. Joseph Ludzi Parish on Wednesday in Mchinji District, Bishop Mwakhwawa noted that most families do not pray in their homes, which he believes contributes to bad behavior.

He appealed to the faithful to deepen their love for prayer, the Eucharist, and to be hard workers and charitable.

He believes these practices will not only help end early child marriages but also strengthen the community’s Catholic faith and help them resist anything that contradicts church teachings.

St. Joseph Ludzi Parish Priest, Father Thomas Msalala, urged the 280 confirmed children to use the gift of wisdom they received from the Holy Spirit to know the difference between right and wrong.

“Sometimes it is very difficult for young people to differentiate between good and bad. They should realize that wisdom from the Holy Spirit surpasses intelligence,” Father Msalala said.

Mponda Zone Chairperson, Gift Saka, stressed the need for continued coordination so that children continue to receive church teachings, as confirmation alone is not enough.

One of the confirmed children, Joseph Jonathan from Maimbidwe Zone, expressed his joy after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, believing that his desire to be a PMS animator might now be fulfilled.

Jonathan urged his peers to see this as a blessing and use it to change their lives spiritually.

By Lester Mhone

Acting secretary for the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) under the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Madalitso Chilalire, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperatives under the Securing Sustainable Livelihood for 2,000 Subsistence Fishermen at Lake Malawi project.

Chilalire shared his excitement Wednesday during a monitoring visit to the Makwasa Fish Farming Club, Namauta Irrigation Scheme, and Nakalezi Cooperative in Salima District.

CADECOM is implementing the project with funding from BMZ through Sign of Hope, which is phasing out this month.

The project is focused on securing sustainable livelihoods for 2,000 subsistence fishermen and farmers in the region.

The secretary has called on members of the cooperatives to find other sources of funding to sustain the initiated projects.

“I have called on members of these cooperatives to find other ways of getting finances for sustainability,” he added.

Acting Chief Planning Officer for Salima District Council, Joana Chitaya, applauded CADECOM’s initiative, stating that it aligns with the Malawi 2063 development goals.

Chitaya highlighted that even though the project is phasing out, the district has plans in place to support the initiatives.

“Let me assure the cooperatives that the government has put plans in place to support such initiatives so that they are well-sustained,” she said.

Chairperson for the Namauta Irrigation Scheme and representing the three cooperatives, Langton Sayinani, said CADECOM has changed their lives through the support they have provided.

Sayinani then urged the government to provide full support for the project to ensure its sustainability.

“Let me ask the government to support us through loans so that we can continue with the projects,” he added.

By Dumayo

 

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has taken a strong stance against child marriages, a practice that the Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa describing it as an “evil that destroys” the lives of young people and contributes to national poverty.

Speaking recently during a sacrament of confirmation at Msukuwala zone in Guillime Parish (Mchinji), Bishop Mwakhwawa addressed the issue of child marriage, which he noted is common in rural communities.

The bishop emphasized the importance of safeguarding children’s rights and encouraged parents to resist pushing their children into early unions.

“We as church leaders, we take this opportunity of such celebrations, such gatherings of adolescents, that they should love school,” he stated.

Bishop Mwakhwawa also appealed to the adolescents to focus on their education and future goals, rather than rushing into marriage.

He acknowledged that poverty often drives the practice, with some parents pushing their children into marriage because they cannot afford school fees.

“It was very clear here that parents also are encouraging this kind of bad practice, noting that some parents may even seek to gain income from the weddings,” the bishop said.

Hislordship mentioned that the church, in collaboration with the government and other organizations, is actively working to combat this trend.

He urged parents and young people to prioritize education, which he said is essential for personal growth and for the development of the nation.

“Through this celebration, we have encouraged young people to love school and also have ambitions of getting education that they can save the country in their various capacities when they finish school,” Bishop Mwakhwawa concluded.

By Lester Mhone

Dedza Linthipe 1 Multi Skills Group has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Congregation of Teresian Sisters for their significant contribution to community development through various educational and empowerment initiatives.

Speaking on Sunday after a training workshop organized by the sisters in Lilongwe, group leader, Bezayi Fredrick commended the Teresian Sisters for equipping participants with practical skills aimed at fostering economic self-reliance.

The workshop focused on hands-on training in soap making, body lotion production, and other income-generating activities.

Fredrick shared his enthusiasm, stating that the newly acquired skills would greatly benefit their youth group and help them become economically independent.

“Through this training, we’ve learned how to make laundry soap, body lotion, and other useful products. I’m confident that these skills will improve the lives of young people in our area,” Fredrick said.

Sister Teleza Mulenga, the project coordinator, explained that the initiative was designed to uplift communities and address poverty-related challenges, including gender-based violence.

“As a congregation, we aim to empower people at all levels, including members of other religious institutions. Our mission is to liberate individuals from all forms of slavery, and we serve every human being without discrimination,” Sister Mulenga emphasized.

Among the participants was Precious Mangumba, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Dedza, who expressed his appreciation for the opportunity.

“I am grateful for the training. I plan to share these skills with fellow church members so that they, too, can start small businesses and become empowered,” Mangumba said.

Trainer Louisa Kachingwe expressed satisfaction with the workshop’s outcome and voiced optimism that participants would begin applying the skills independently.

The training brought together 20 participants from across the Central Region, including youth, women, and men. They were trained in making laundry and dishwashing soap, body lotion, fertilizer from urine, and basic business management.

The Catholic Church in Malawi has held its inaugural National Children’s Congress at Don Bosco Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, signaling a renewed commitment to nurturing future leaders.

Spanning four days, the historic gathering focused on empowerment, education, and spiritual growth for children from across the country.

Children received guidance and teachings on a wide range of topics, such as Catholic social teaching, mental health, child trafficking and labor, environmental stewardship, and the Malawi 2063 Vision, delivered by bishops and animators from various dioceses.

During the closing Mass celebration, children voiced their concerns to the bishops, requesting support for challenges such as access to quality education and better care across parishes.

The President of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, reaffirmed the Church’s commitment, for the life of the child.

“As Bishops, we are concerned about your challenges. We promise to do everything possible to resolve them, especially issues around education and how you are treated in various parishes.”

Bishop Mtumbuka also called for coordinated stakeholder efforts, led by Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe who is also PMS President in Malawi, to ensure the Children’s Congress continues.

He also then thanked Pope’s delegate PMS General Secretary from Vatican Sister Ines Paulo for participating the Congress, saying it sends a good message on how the Pope’s love the church in Malawi, especially the mission on the children.

His Lordship also encouraged parish priests to allow children to lead their own Eucharistic Mass as a way of building liturgical leadership in them.

The Congress received international recognition, with Sister Ines Paulo, Pope’s delegate and PMS General Secretary from the Vatican, applauding the event’s success. She expressed gratitude to Malawi’s bishops, clergy, and lay Catholics for their dedication, encouraging the children to remain active in ministry.

“Continue serving the Church, you are the light of the world and of the Church.”

Sister Ines also pledged support through her office to help children overcome challenges they face in their communities in the country.

Father Ephraim Madeya, National PMS Director, echoed her sentiments and urged priests, religious sisters, and parents to actively support children’s ministry, ensuring lessons from the Congress yield lasting impact.

Tina Kandodo who was the organizing chairperson for the National Children’s Congress , celebrated the children’s enthusiasm and willingness to engage deeply with both church and social life.

Representing her fellow participants, Rachel Khalera of Bangwe Parish in the Archdiocese of Blantyre shared her excitement.

“We have had a great Congress and learned many things that will positively affect our lives, spiritually and physically. We have made resolutions and presented them to our Bishops, and we hope they will help solve our challenges.”

Children further demonstrated their commitment to creation care by planting trees, guided by bishops, as part of their environmental lessons.

This first-ever nationwide Catholic children’s gathering in Malawi united participants from every diocese, offering new insights into how the Church can guide young people toward becoming responsible citizens and leaders.

Among the resolutions presented were, establishing children-led Eucharistic Masses in all parishes, promoting accessible, high-quality education for every child, training clergy and religious members in PMS activities, strengthening coordination among bishops, clergy, sisters, and parents to enhance children’s spiritual and physical well-being, teaching and enforcing the Church’s Safeguarding Policy

The Congress attracted distinguished guests, including, Holy Childhood Coordinator from the Archdiocese of Boston from the Pontifical Mission Societies office Daria Braithwaite from (U.S.A), PMS director and delegates from Zimbabwe, and other international dignitaries.

This year’s theme was “Children Are Pilgrims of Hope”, with a total of 1,628 children participating from all dioceses, in the country.

 

By Titus Jata Phiri