The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has urged Catholic Women Association (CWA) members to live out their faith and use their leadership roles to contribute to addressing challenges facing the country.
Lilongwe Archdiocesan Pastoral Coordinator Father Frank Lazalo Phiri made the call during a two-day leadership training for the CWA executive of Mtima Woyera Deanery, held from 11 and 12 September 2026 at Don Bosco Youth Centre.
Father Phiri said challenges such as corruption and mistrust are partly a result of Christians failing to put their faith into practice.
“Living our faith is the only sure way of empowerment and transformation. Without living the faith, we cannot transform, we cannot change anything,” he said.
He urged the women to take the knowledge gained from the training back to their parishes, outstations and communities to promote positive change.
One of the facilitators at the training, Father Maxwell Kubalasa who led a session on moral principles and CWA Spirituality, challenged the women to model their lives on Jesus Christ.
Fr Kubalasa said CWA members should cultivate virtues such as faith, hope, love, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, while looking to the Virgin Mary as a model of faith and commitment.
He also emphasised the role of women in building strong families, saying mothers have an important role in nurturing their children’s spiritual and moral development.
Meanwhile, Archdiocesan Finance Department staff member Leo Kaima, who facilitated a session on financial management, urged the women to apply the knowledge gained in their respective CWA groups and Small Christian Communities.
Kaima said proper accountability, reporting and management of resources should be among the key lessons replicated at parish and community level.
Mtima Woyera Deanery CWA Chairlady Fanny Kabinda said the training had equipped women with knowledge to improve their leadership, family life and service to the Church.
Kabinda said the deanery will develop an action plan to ensure the training reaches CWA members at parish and Small Christian Community levels.
“We will start with the parish executives, who will then train the Small Christian Community executives so that the knowledge reaches all women,” she said.
St. Mary’s Parish representative and Mtima Woyera Deanery Secretary Steria Phiri said the training had strengthened the women’s understanding of leadership, responsibility and spirituality.
Phiri said the women had been reminded that leadership is a responsibility entrusted to them by others and should therefore be exercised with humility and guided by God.
Meanwhile, Deanery Treasurer Agnes Muzeka said the financial management session had equipped her with practical skills in budgeting and proper management of Church resources.
She said the knowledge will help strengthen accountability and build confidence in CWA leadership across the deanery.
The training is part of the archdiocese’s efforts to empower CWA members spiritually and practically so that they can become agents of transformation in their families, parishes and communities.
The deanery comprises of Mtima Woyera – Falls Parish, St. John The Baptist – Msamba Parish, Utatu Woyera – Kawale Parish, Banja Loyera – Chilinde Parish, St. Philip – Area 44 Parish, St. Don Bosco – Area 23 Parish and St. Mary – Kamuzu Barracks Parish
By Lester Mhone