READINGS:

1^st Reading:                 Acts 4:8-12

Psalms:                        118:1.8-9.21-23.26.28.29

2^nd Reading:                1Jn 3:1-2

Gospel:                        Jn 10:11-18

A GOOD SHEPHERD AMIDST COVID -19

A HOMILY BASED ON THE THEME OF A GOOD SHEPHERD AFTER JESUS CHRIST

Shepherding in ancient Israel

In the ancient Israel, shepherding was not uncommon. Majority of Israelites were pastorists. They tended the sheep in the fields. Many were hired shepherds to watch over and look after the flock. Therefore, the primary responsibility of every shepherd was to make sure of the safety and welfare of the flock. A shepherd was expected to graze the animals to areas of good forage and keeping a watchful eye against wolves, thieves and poisonous plants.

Shepherding was a difficult task because shepherds spent most of their time in the field with the flock. Sometimes they could take days on end in the field before they came home.

Another challenging part of shepherding in Israel was that shepherding was not compatible with family life; shepherds, because they stayed for long in the field, and uncertain steady income, they could not commit themselves to marriage. They therefore remained single, without wife or children.

Shepherds also were likely to be susceptible to danger of meeting treacherous wild animals who could threaten the life of the flock and even their own life.

Despite the dangers, shepherds were expected to defend the flock.

Qualities of a good shepherd 

A good shepherd was supposed to be a good guide of the sheep. A good guide brought the flock to good pasture to graze. He would bring the flock to safety areas to rest.

A good shepherd exercised patience because some members were difficult to tend; they could run away from the flock.

A good shepherd loves his sheep more to the extent of losing his life by defending the sheep against enemies that would devour the flock.

A shepherd after Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ says in the gospel of John 10:11-18 that he is a good shepherd. He lays down his life for his sheep. He is not like the hired shepherds who run away when faced with danger. He is a good shepherd because he knows his sheep and his own know him.

Knowledge of the sheep is key to good shepherding. Knowledge of the people a pastor is ministering to, is key of good shepherding. Modern pastors face this challenge of ministering to people they do not know. Sheep may hide from the eye a shepherd. A shepherd may be lazy to make an effort to get to know his own sheep.

In the Old Testament, a shepherd is related to a leader of the community. A good leader takes care of his people, watch over them for their safety. A good leader provides or creates good environment for his people to make progress. A good leader takes the welfare of the people first before his own. If we look around and see our leaders, we find out that qualities of good leadership are lacking. Let us take our civil leaders; most of them take advantage of poor administrations to harvest from public funds living the communities poorer and poorer. Poor structures in our communities is a result of poor leadership that we have.

The need for more vocations

The fourth Sunday of Easter is also The Good Shepherd Sunday. On this Sunday, the Church invites all to pray for vocations that will foster service in the Church and in the world. The world today more than ever, needs good willed people to serve selflessly, shepherds who can die for their sheep.

The Church today, more than ever, needs priests, sisters, brothers and couples who are more concerned not with their own good but the good of the people. Perhaps, other than praying for more people into priesthood or sisterhood or married life, we should pray for those already in the service to be good ministers after the heart of Jesus Christ. The people of God are crying for good ministers who are patient and selfless.

May Jesus Christ guide all pastors as they watch over the flock entrusted to them.

[Fr. Louis Chikanya]

VOCATION STORY

By Sam Kalimba

CLERGY FOLLOWING THE FINAL PROFESSION RITE AT LUDZI PARISH – ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE

GREY NUNS SISTER AFTER TAKING THEIR FINAL PROFESSION AT LUDZI PARISH

Dreams, reflections, situations, calamities, happy moments, sad moments and all may be your turning point to discern and accept God’s call. Were you called? By who? How?

Joseph, the husband of Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ offers us a typical example of vocation. He was a mere carpenter, an ordinary man surviving on a plane and harmer. He was called to a noble service.

Matthew 1:20 says, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Again Matthew 2:13,19 says, “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him…”

In both these scenarios, Joseph reacted positively. The first calling therefore is for us to accept to do the simple task and the rest will follow. Joseph in the first instance was asked just to accept a situation of being called a husband of Mary because God wanted that. He accepted. In the second scenario, he was asked to protect Jesus from the hands of Herod. He just did that and we are witnesses to this fact as we believe in the passion of Jesus Christ. He was killed as an adult and not a child. This confirms to us that Joseph protected Jesus in his babyish as well as in his youthful ages.

The turning point for Joseph’s vocation was a dilemma. Leaving Mary as custom demanded and taking Mary in respect to the calling. Many of us work as per customs and traditional demands forgetting that God speaks to us and we fail to recognize His voice. Vocation is not limited to priesthood, sisterhood or brotherhood. God calls everyone to different tasks and capacities to serve His people.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8).

The late Archbishop Ziyaye used to say, “The Church is rich. You only need to know who does what and relate well with them and you will achieve the mission of God.”

The two quotes above, allude to the fact that God recognizes our different roles, culture, language, race etc. as His fulfillment of the purpose of creation. In search for the meaning of vocation, one comes to the conclusion that it is being in existence that one is called to return to the father. Then you have St. Paul telling the Romans that cheerfulness in proportion to faith should accompany them.

An element of acceptance stands-out in understanding faith. Nothing more than time helps individuals to accept realities of life. As adolescents struggle to identify their calling, time is there to let them know what they are. As adults shun their calling, time is there to assure them accept that they are destined to the house of the Lord. If we want to cheerfully use our gifts, service and contributions towards achieving the purpose of God, let us accept what we are and where we are.

Gianluigi Buffon, an Italian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Juventus was signed by Parma as a midfielder in 1991. He accidentally became a goalkeeper in 1995 after being replaced because every goalkeeper at the time was injured. He became one of the best goalkeepers in history and a football legend. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and by some as the greatest ever. This is an example of how we should accept what we are. God speaks to us through the very same means he used to do with our ancestors. He speaks to us in dreams, situations, calamities, friends and more. What we need to do is to discern on the opportunities found in any situation.

Like a football team we must work to ensure we win the game. No football player can achieve the team’s goals by playing alone or selfishly. Coordination and collaboration are key to success.

We cannot talk of security lapse in our society unless those charged with the responsibility to secure lives and properties of God’s people realise who they are.

We cannot talk of lack of integrity among our leaders unless those entrusted with the responsibility to govern God’s people are fully aware of their mission.

We cannot talk of poverty and hunger engulfing our villages unless the Josephs of this world realise their dream and accept to serve their kinsmen.

It is only when each one of us plays their role cheerfully in the Lord that the purpose of God to have us in our different roles and positions would really be meaningful here on earth as it is in heaven. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.” This is the foundation of our calling, to work in the garden of Eden and care for it. How? Our different roles are the answer. No one single individual can ably work it and keep it. Everyone is tasked to work for the fulfilment of God’s mission.

A COUPLE AFTER TYING A KNOT

Let everyone, in their own right and situations prove to the world that they are a Joseph the Carpenter, Husband of Mary and care taker father of Jesus. Do not be entangled by the customs, traditions and secular influences. Not even a position, not even the type of work, not even marital status, not even peer pressure should obstruct us from doing the will of God. We are all called to do the will of God and nothing else.

BOARD MEMBERS APPECIATING THE

5 COLOUR MACHINE

LIKUNI PRESS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

AT A MEETING AT LIKUNI PRESS

The LPPH Board has set subcommittees to help in the Technical & Marketing, Finance, and Human Resources & Administration. This was done on 17th April during the Board’s first meeting after their appointment.

The Board is chaired by Mr. James Chima, a consultant as appointed by the late Archbishop Tarcisio Ziyaye. He encouraged the members to work as being called by God to assist and not to benefit out of it.
“We are here because the Church needs us and has trust in us. Let us work to the best of our special talents and expertise that enlightened the local ordinary to appoint us,” he said.

During the meeting, Mrs. Lizzie Chitosi, finance expert was elected unanimously as the Vice Chairperson of the board. She will also be doubling as the Chairperson of the Finance Committee while Mr. Charles Mhone, a lawyer by profession will lead the Human Resources & Administration Committee helped by Hon. Francis Belekanyama, expert in human resources management and Mr. Sam Kalimba, a communications expert will lead the Technical & Marketing Committee helped by Fr. Louis Chikanya, priest and communications expert.

The full committees are as below:
Finance Committee
Mrs. Lizzie Chitosi
Fr. Louis Chinkanya
Sr. Janet Angala

Human Resources & Administration Committee
Mr. Charles Mhone
Hon. Francis Belekanyama
Mrs. Ellen Simango

Technical & Marketing Committee
Mr. Sam Kalimba
Fr. Louis Chikanya
Mr. James Chima
Sr. Janet Angala

“AMECEA NEWS BLOG: MALAWI: ECM Calls for Christ-centered Education in Catholic Learning Schools” http://amecea.blogspot.com/2021/04/malawi-ecm-calls-for-christ-centered.html?m=1

The National Coordinator for the Education Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Brother Pascal Mtuwana has appealed to board members of Catholic secondary schools to ensure that their institutions reflect the life of Jesus Christ.

Brother Mtuwana was speaking at an induction workshop of board members organized by the Education Commission for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe on 10^th April, 2021 at Msamba Catholic center in Lilongwe.

He said, “The purpose of Catholic Education is to provide a good all-round education in the spirit of the gospel of Jesus aspiring in particular to live out its central message and challenge to worship the God who loves us; to love and help our fellow beings and to learn to exercise responsibility in the world around us,” quoting the Catholic Education Policy at ECM.

He said that Catholic schools educate and return students to society with a greater understanding of the Catholic Church’s view on living a Christian life in a global world. He further argued that Christ is the foundation of the whole educational enterprise in a Catholic school thereby asking the board members to ensure making decisions and policies that are illumined by the light of faith and permeated with the Gospel.

“Every member of the board has to play an important role in nurturing and strengthening the Catholic culture of the institutions. Therefore, each board member is challenged to be aware of the joys and sorrows, the celebrations and struggles of the families served by the institutions,” said Brother Ntuwana.

He quoted Pope John Paul II who, he said that any decision-making or pastoral planning must be grounded in contemplation and prayer (Novo Millennio Inneunte, n.15). Borrowing from this teaching, Bro. Ntuwana asked the participants to ensure that their meetings allow for time of prayer and reflection – both inside their meetings and beyond them despite the fact that the meetings will be filled with many agenda items.

“Any role of leadership in the Church demands a capacity to discern the signs of the times as they present themselves in the life of the community. Bring in the spirit of prayer and reflection as you undertake your responsibilities as members of the Board of Governors is therefore a matter of critical importance,” ECM’s National Education Coordinator taught.

He encouraged them to fully commit to support their institutions on behalf of the local Ordinary.

“Your membership on the board is a sign that you have been entrusted with a significant position of leadership in the institution. Your service to the Board is an example of a positive response to the Vatican Council II’s call for all the people of God to participate in the life of the Church (Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, n. 2),” he said.

He however, said that serving on a Catholic school board is a ministry and that members must provide a service for the institution and never be motivated to serve on a board for accomplishing personal agenda nor personal favours.

He advised the newly inducted board members to ensure that they fulfill the expectations of the Church, that is to establish centres of excellence in Catholic institutions by providing leadership, direction, and support the structures at their institutions.

In her remarks, Education Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Mrs. Chrissie Chisamba Mithi expressed hope that the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese will improve with the coming in of the new board members.

“We are grateful to the Lord for having these men and women accept the call to be board members. Our work at the Commission will be simplified if they will really take heed and make use of the training in their various communities. What it means is that we now have a complete set of structure that allows for good governance,” she said.

She also reported that all the Catholic secondary schools in the Archdiocese scored 100% pass rate in the just released Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination results for 2020/201 academic year and that one of the two best students who attained 6 points comes from Likuni Boys Catholic Secondary School.

The induction workshop had priests, nuns, and the lay faithful in boards for Catholic schools including Likuni Girls Secondary School, Likuni Boys Secondary School, Ludzi Girls Secondary School, Namitete Technical College and St. Maria Goretti Secondary School.

Also, in attendance was the board for Likuni Press and Publishing House (LPPH).

Download Mpingo Ndife Tonse, Tiyende Limodzi Magazine Easter 2021 edition
Tiyende Limodzi Magazine Easter2021 6Mb