Extraordinary missionaries

St Philomena Church

The Extraordinary Missionary Month was announced by Pope Francis in 2017. “For the month of October 2019”, he said, “I ask the whole Church to live an extraordinary time of missionary activity”.

The theme chosen for the month was “Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World.” It will help us in our mission, the Pope explained, which he said is not about spreading a “religious ideology” or a “lofty ethical teaching.” Instead, he continued, “through the mission of the Church, Jesus Christ himself continues to evangelize and act; her mission thus makes present in history the Kairos, the favourable time of salvation.”

The month culminated in the celebration of World Mission Sunday on 20 October.

At St Kizito Church, Chigoneka in Lilongwe, various Small Christian Communities embarked on outreach visits within the parish, in local communities and further afield at other parishes. I tagged along on an outreach visit to an outstation of the St Kizito Parish in Msanje. Msanje is a location north of Area 56 and west of Area 49, on the outer edges of Lilongwe city.

A photo story.

preps before prayers

On our arrival at St Philomena church, we found the congregation waiting outside and ready for prayers of the day. Eucharistic mass is held once or twice a month. Sunday prayers are held on the other Sundays.

boy with lock
inquisitive boy

A catechist usually leads prayers. On this particular day, a member from St Kizito Church read the Word and preached.

sharing the word
prayer time
offetory time
outreach

After prayers, the congregation broke out into different groups – Catholic Men Organisation, Catholic Women Organisation and the Youth.

youth meeting

The congregants took the opportunity to evangelise and share notes on how they run their different churches.

girl with her mother

St Kizito Parish church built a junior primary school (standard 1 – 6) to serve the people of the wider community.

Manje primary school
st philomena church and msanje primary school

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