Mzuzu Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in conjunction with its subordinate parishes on Sunday celebrated the 60th World Day of Prayers for Vocations at St Dennis Parish in Rumphi.
The Church celebrates the day on the fourth Sunday of Easter to pray for different vocations in the church and encourage young people to take up the path of Christian discipleship by joining different vocations.
Speaking after the celebrations, Pontifical Mission Societies’ Director in the Diocese of Mzuzu, Father Philip Luke Shaba said Vocation Sunday is an important day because the church prays for people to follow various vocations in serving the church.
“This particular day is very important for the church. The church prays and imparts knowledge on the youths on how they can answer different callings from God.
“Furthermore, on this very same day the church raises resources to be used for nurturing people who answer the call to priesthood, brotherhoods, sisterhoods and other vocations,” Shaba said.
He then called on the youths to answer the call of countless vocations within the church considering that the church has fewer ministers.
“There is a very big gap between members of the church and its ministers. Mzuzu Diocese has almost 19 parishes with 50 to 90 out- stations, so you can see that we have a lot of members but less ministers,” he said.
Mzuzu Diocesan Vocations Director, Reverend Father Peter Ndolo said Vocation Sunday unveils the vocations in the church and how people can respond to such vocations.
He said the diocese is putting in place several measures and strategies for wooing youths to answer the call of being ministers of the church.
“As you know, a vocation is a gift from God. He might be calling the youths but they might also be lacking awareness and knowledge on indicators of their call, as a church we have a team which periodically goes around the diocese’s institutions to sensitize youths about different vocations,” Ndolo said.
Mphatso Chipeta who wishes to become a sister applauded the church to holding the day saying it has enlightened her on the requirements needed for one to become a sister.
“I now know what I need to do to become a sister. At first I thought sisters are selected from different choirs but that is not the case. I would like to become a sister,” Chipeta said.
The theme for the day was “Hearts on fire, feet on the move” adapted from Luke 24 verse 13-35.
