Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima of Zomba Diocese has
encouraged youths in the Diocese to work hard in education in order for them to
effectively serve in different vocations.
Bishop
Chaima was speaking at St. Anthony (Thondwe) parish in the Diocese at this
year’s Vocations Sunday celebrations.
He said that vocations cannot happen without education, even in a family,
couples need to be educated to a certain level so that they can competently
manage the affairs of their families.
The Local Ordinary also urged the youths to read the Bible, attend retreats and receive Sacraments to deepen their spiritual life. He further encouraged them to tap their inspiration from the Good Shepherd who loves, listens and practices true servant leadership.
Youths dressed in vocational and professional attires to spice up the event
On cultural issues, the prelate urged the youths to preserve the values of their culture and avoid being influenced by bad and strange cultural beliefs.
At this juncture, the Bishop advised the youths not to resort to taking their own lives when things are not working.
“It is sad to note that cases of suicide among the youths are rampant nowadays. You must embrace a culture of endurance, do not hang yourself on petty issues because killing yourself will not help anything”, pleaded Bishop Chaima.
The Bishop also disclosed that the Diocese recognises youths as an essential component of the Church as evidenced by the inclusion of a special theme on youth empowerment in the Diocese’s five-year (2024-2028) Strategic Plan.
Bishop Chaima in a procession with some priests
On environmental conservation, Bishop Chaima encouraged the youths to play a leading role in ensuring that they plant more trees to save this country from the negative effects of climate change.
On the political front, the Bishop had three messages to the youths, starting with an encouragement to those that have the potential to contest as Ward Councillors, Members of Parliament or even Head of State, to do so in next year’s elections saying that the Church does not bar anyone from contesting in elections because it is their Constitutional right.
Secondly, Bishop Chaima mobilised the youths who have or will attain 18 years of age on the voting day, to register when voter registration opens so that they can vote for candidates of their choices.
Lastly on politics, the Bishop advised the youths not to allow anyone to use them to incite political violence, especially this time around when the country is preparing for tripartite elections in 2025.
some of the Christians who attended the event
Speaking at the same function, the Vocations Director for Zomba Diocese, Fr. Harold Bauleni, commended Thondwe parish for successfully hosting the event and thanked all the people who supported the event both in cash and kind.
At the function, people from different vocations and professions came and gave
brief motivational talks to the youths. The youths also dressed different
attires resembling different vocational and professional fields.
People from different vocations and professions
The theme for this year’s Vocations Sunday is “youths called to sow seeds of
hope and build peace, go and invite everyone to the banquet”.