Secretary General of Holy Childhood applauds Malawi's initiatives in nurturing faith among children
In the heart of Malawi, the Church is making a significant impact on the lives of children, fostering their spiritual and human growth through grassroots faith formation initiatives.
Sister Ines Paulo Albino, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for Missionary Childhood, recently visited the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, emphasising the global importance of these efforts. She described service animators as crucial figures in nurturing children’s physical, moral, and spiritual growth. Sister Albino highlighted that forming children with the right values is essential for society’s future, and she has engaged with parish leaders and Holy Childhood members in places like Likuni Parish, where strong spiritual and missionary seeds are cultivated for tomorrow’s Church.
One of the key initiatives Sister Albino visited was Tikondane Transit Shelter, a rehabilitation centre for street-connected children run by the Archdiocese of Lilongwe and managed by Sr. Marie Sakina. This shelter provides psychosocial support, basic education, and family reintegration services, showcasing the Church’s practical response to children in vulnerable situations. More than 90 percent of children passing through Tikondane are successfully reintegrated into their families or communities.
Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa, as a church leader, supports these grassroots efforts by endorsing faith-based education and formation as critical elements of human and spiritual development for children in Malawi. His involvement underscores the importance of episcopal leadership in guiding and promoting grassroots faith initiatives.
The Sisters of Mother Teresa are also heavily involved in these efforts. Through their presence in Malawi, they provide not only spiritual formation but also psychosocial support, education, and family reintegration services, facilitating holistic human development alongside faith growth in children. The programs at Mulungu Alinafe, an outstation of Holy Rosary Likuni Parish, are led by the Sisters of Mother Teresa with support from parish catechists and youth animators.
Sister Albino expressed concern for children affected by poverty, neglect, and displacement, warning that if children are not formed with the right values, the future of society is at risk. She visited Tikondane Transit Shelter and Mulungu Alinafe during the ongoing National Children's Congress organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies under the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB).
Bishop Mwakhwawa expressed his appreciation for the children joyfully living out their missionary identity through prayer, liturgy, and charitable acts. The Church, through these grassroots initiatives, is committed to walking with children, accompanying them in faith, and equipping more animators to ensure no child is left behind in their journey of spiritual and human development.
These grassroots faith formation activities align with a broader movement in Malawi that values the local church and faith institutions as vital partners in moral and social development. The church’s efforts are seen as critical in protecting cultural values and providing a moral compass for the future of Malawian society.
- Nurturing children's physical, moral, and spiritual growth, as outlined by Sister Albino, is an essential aspect of education and self-development, echoing the grassroots faith formation initiatives that are making a significant impact in the heart of Malawi.
- The Church's efforts in Malawi, encompassing psychosocial support, basic education, and family reintegration services, are not only focused on spiritual development but also contribute to holistic human development, which can be considered a facet of education and self-development.
