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| Rev. Fr. Anthony Chantry, Missio UK Director |
By Pilirani Tambala
Pontifical Mission Society of England has implored on Catholics in Malawi to change their mind-set regarding support towards seminaries and the vulnerable who form a critical mass in the propagation of faith as missionaries on earth.
Missio UK Director Fr. Anthony Chantry said, after a 14-day visit to the country with his 3-member delegation, that the Church in Malawi is growing and requires support more than ever.
"Because the Church is expanding, you'll need for instance more priests. You can’t open a parish without a priest so we need more priests and that costs money, " he observed.
He added that the growth of the Church entails addressing the need for dioceses to build more churches, convents, schools, health centres and homes for abandoned children and those with special needs.
"The whole of the Church's life needs support and as the Church grows, the needs grow as well," observed Fr. Chantry.
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| Rev. Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, PMS National Director Malawi |
Upon visiting projects, seminarians and operations in dioceses that are being financed by Missio UK, Fr. Chantry said they are not just impressed with the difference the support has made on the people of Malawi but that it is being used properly.
"We hope that the people will take responsibility on the projects being implemented for the sake of meeting the objective of our Mission which is solidarity," he said.
The Pontifical Mission Society National Director for Malawi Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa who hosted the visitors said Malawi is learning a lot through the support from Missio Uk and other partners, more especially about love as one church.
"Catholics in Malawi are joyful despite a myriad of challenges the people are facing and these people from UK mobilise resources, with love, to help us deal with such challenges," he said.He concurred with Fr. Chantry on the need for Malawians to work hard on increasing support towards the demands that are coming along with the growth of the church despite economic challenges, especially the formation of priests whose demand is growing.
"Fr. Chantry has assured us that he will share the experience from Malawi with the Catholics in England and Wales for continued support towards the needs of the Church here, but we also need to do more on our part," he said.