By Luke Bisani Archdiocese of Blantyre Communications Department
Catholic couples in the Archdiocese of Blantyre on Valentine’s day expressed their love through a fundraising dinner and dance towards medical scheme of Catholic priests of the Archdiocese.
The dinner and dance that was held at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre aimed at supporting eighty-five Catholic priests to cover their medical scheme.
Speaking during the event, Vicar General of Archdiocese of Blantyre Father Boniface Tamani disclosed that each priest needs USD $350 (K240,000) for medical scheme per year.
Father Tamani then urged the couples to support the priests saying the Church needs healthy pastoral workers to serve the Christians in the parishes.
“We all fall sick, that is why we need this support. A healthy priest helps in leading a health Church, he is readily available to administer Sacraments to people” said Father Tamani.
He then commended couples for patronising the dinner and dance said the gesture is in line with Archdiocese’s strategic plan that drives at having a self-reliant Church.
Concurring with Father Tamani, His Lordship George Desmond Tambala Bishop of Zomba Catholic Diocese who was the guest of honour at the function, said that fundraising is to help priests to have quality health care, this is a very important initiative.
“There was a priest who was sick in his old age, he suffered for years but one thing his Catholic Christians never stopped was providing his medical support. He died while having access to quality health care. That is what many of us would wish to happen in our lives,” said His Lordship Tambala.
The dinner and dance on Valentine’s day which the former Head of state, Dr. Bakili Muluzi attended witnessed couples, parishes, Catholic Church groups and government officials contributing to the medical scheme of Catholic priests.
The event has fetched nearly USD $ 30,000 (K20 million) in cash and pledges that are to be collected from couples, and other well-wishers.