Mwenya Mukuka
The Catholic Diocese of Solwezi has trained 50 people as Missionary Animators, under the School of Missionary Animation (SOMA I) Training Programme with the mission of promoting Missionary awareness and animation, focusing on fostering prayer and sacrifice in children in the Diocese.
Diocesan Pontifical Mission Societies for Solwezi (PMS) Director Father Wilbroad Musonda explained in his homily during the graduation Mass that prayer and sacrifice were needed as they inculcate in children a spirit of generosity.
He said the spirit of generosity is needed to help fellow children that are most in need, further reminding the graduating Missionary Animators that their being commissioned is in tandem with the Grand Commission that was given to the disciples in the Gospel of St. Matthews (28:19-20).
“Your participation in the School of Missionary Animation (SOMA I) as participants and now you have graduated as Missionary Animators is a great step in the realization of promoting Missionary awareness and animation that have to be focused on fostering prayer and sacrifice in the Holy Childhood children in the Catholic Diocese of Solwezi,” said Fr. Musonda.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything have been commended to you all. And surely the Lord will always be with you all to the end of age (Matthews 28:19)”, he added.
The 50 participants who were trained as Missionary Animators will be sent to their parishes, sub-parishes and missions in the Diocese with the aim of “making children evangelizing children, children praying for the children, children helping children worldwide”.
The School of Missionary Animation (SOMA I) Training Programme was held from 10th to 14thNovember 2021 at St. Kizito Pastoral Center in the Catholic Diocese of Solwezi in Zambia and attracted 50 participants who graduated as Missionary Animators.
These were drawn from Kifubwa, Solwezi, Kasempa, Mumbezhi, Ntambu and Zambezi Deanaries.
This School of Missionary Animation (SOMA 1) Training Programme, conducted by Parish Holy Childhood Animators team with the supervision of the Diocesan Pontifical Mission Societies for Solwezi (PMS) Director, was aimed at empowering Missionary Animators theologically, spiritually and methodologically for effective realisation of their service with children and fellow Missionary Animators.
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