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| Group Photo of Archbishop Msusa and the Children |
Children from Blantyre Archdiocese have called on government and Church leaders to take a deliberate effort in protecting and safeguarding the rights of children who are regarded as future leaders in the country’s development.
The Children expressed this at Saint Montfort, Catholic Institute (CI) during the Archdiocese’s celebrations of Holy Childhood Mass which attracted thousands of Catholic Children drawn from all the Parishes in the Archdiocese.
The climax of the celebrations was marked by Holy Mass which was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Thomas Msusa of Blantyre Archdiocese, while all liturgical arrangements for the Mass were done by the Children themselves. Later, after the Holy Mass, the children show cased different activities including poems, drama and songs which were performed before His Grace the Archbishop.
In their petition to the government and the Church, the Children are calling upon the authorities to promote education by supporting them with adequate teaching and learning materials including enough schools, elimination of child labour and provision of proper security to the children.
According to one Priscilla Njovuyalema who did the first reading during Mass, Children in this country and elsewhere face a number of challenges hence the need for the leaders to address them.
In his homily, Archbishop Msusa acknowledged numerous challenges that children face and called upon all stakeholders to join hands and make the life a child better than before.
“It is our responsibility to make sure that our children are well protected. And it is for this reason that I also invite parents to make sure that they strive to support their children to grow both in body and soul,” said Archbishop Msusa.
The Archbishop also called on Children and people of good will to pray for children who are currently struggling in their respective countries that peace should be upon them at all times.
“Please pray for your fellow children who were abducted in Nigeria, pray for your fellow children within Malawi and elsewhere who are currently struggling in different ways. We should also pray for people who are violating children’s rights that they should change their behavior and start loving children,” said Archbishop Msusa.
The Archbishop also asked the children to pray for their parents, the priests, religious men and women and also to him too as well as the leaders of the country including the president.
Episcopal Conference of Malawi is currently implementing a Child Protection Project with an aim of strengthening the capacity of the Catholic Church in Malawi in dealing with issues related to child abuse and creating children’s safe environment. Meanwhile, the Conference has development a Child protection policy.
Source: Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer