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By Sam Kalimba

Youth in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe plan to raise an equivalent of USD4,000.00 on the Vocation Sunday that falls on 30 April, 2023. Revealing this was the Vicar General for the Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa on Thursday in an interview with this reporter.

The Vicar General who is also the national Pontifical Mission Society ( PMS) Director at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) said that the youth of Lilongwe were challenged by their counterparts from the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu who last year raised close to $3,000.00.

“The Vocation Sunday venue is on rotational basis. Last year it was hosted by the Diocese of Mzuzu youth and now it is the turn of the youth of Lilongwe to host. Much as the occasion is meant to train the youth how to discern and decide on their personal choices on the right path to serve God, the day also serves as a call for collections for the purposes of helping the universal Church fund the vocational institutes. I am happy to learn that the youth in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe have agreed to raise about $4,000.00 to be sent to Rome. It is so gratifying to see the participation of the youth in raising funds for the vocations,” he said.

Fr. Mwakhwawa said that the youth of Lilongwe will assemble on 30 April at one of the rural parishes in the Archdiocese to ensure everyone’s vocation is considered important. He said that among other activities, the prelate of Lilongwe Archbishop George Tambala will give a motivational talk to hundreds of youths that will gather at the parish.

“Our Archbishop has a soft spot in his heart for children and youths of the Archdiocese. He has special plans for them and he will speak to them from that perspective as he will be encouraging them listen carefully to God’s call to various vocations. We also have received confirmations from various religious institutes in the country to attend and provide talk sessions. We will also have lay professionals to provide career guidance to the participating youth,” he said.

The preparations for this year’s Vocation Sunday were launched on 25 February at the same parish that will host the event. Youths from the Diocese of Mzuzu presented a Candle to the youth of Lilongwe symbolizing the passing on of responsibility for the year 2023 to 2024. From 30 April, the youth from Lilongwe will among other activities engage in peer-to-peer animation on different types of vocations and how to get involved.

It is expected that youths will come from all the 46 parishes in the Archdiocese and some from other dioceses. Sunday collection for this fourth Sunday in Easter will go to the ECM Secretariat for the promotion of vocations. This year’s Vocation Sunday will be cerebrated under the theme ‘hearts on fire, feet on move’.