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| Rt. Rev. Peter Musikuwa, Bishop of Chikwawa |
Rt. Rev. Peter Musikuwa, Bishop of Chikwawa Diocese, has announced that the Diocese will on August 29, 2015 celebrate its Golden jubilee and has since called on various individuals, companies, government and other well-wishers to offer their support to the Church.
Bishop Musikuwa said that among other things, the Diocese plans to intensify self-reliance for the communities through evangelization, promotion of education, construction of a technical college, youth center and establishment of the Radio Station of the Diocese.
He further said that they intend to promote agriculture and disaster risk management projects, interfaith dialogue and early childhood development program.
“A Diocesan committee to steer the preparations for the celebrations has already been formed. We are, therefore, appealing for any help whether in kind or cash so as to make the celebrations colourful,” Bishop Musikuwa said. He added that the diocese has made arrangements to print and a sell a special cloth (chitenge) to Catholics as well as everybody else who would be interested to buy it.
According to Bishop Musikuwa, the Diocese is facing a number of challenges in its quest to meet the demands of the growing number of Christians.
Shortage of agents of evangelization, especially priests, religious men and women as well as catechists to serve the growing numbers of Christians in the Diocese, is a major challenge he pointed out. At the same time he said that the Diocese is also facing the challenge of lack of adequate and reliable transport and funds to pay fees for seminarians in the major seminaries as well as the upkeep for priests.
On a different note, Bishop Musikuwa challenged the government and development partners to urgently make full utilization of River Shire, which falls in his Diocese to boost agricultural activities in the area and improve water supply to people of Chikwawa and Nsanje Districts.
He said, “it was sad to note that lack of expertise and financial resources to promote extensive irrigation farming have exposed people to face acute food shortage and portable water.”
Bishop Musikuwa went on to indicate that the Church will continue to strengthen the existing collaboration with government in the area of social development.
The Diocese has therefore highlighted a number of initiatives to support people in the lower part of River Shire to intensify the spirit of self-reliance. It intends to construct a technical college and a youth center as well as promoting agriculture and disaster risk management.
The Diocese also intends to construct a new Cathedral that will accommodate the growing number of Christians as well as promote early childhood development and inter faith dialogue among others.
“For all these projects to happen there is need to have money and expertise and that is why I call on Christians and other well-wishers including government to support the Golden Jubilee’s preparations and future lined up projects,” he explained.
Chikwawa Diocese has 12 Parishes with only 26 Priests serving over 1.2 million Christians and the celebrations this year, will be based on the theme “Evangelization, True Conversion and being rooted in the gospel of Christ.”
Source: Prince Henderson & Christopher Sande