Catholics celebrate feast of the Epiphany
The Mzuzu Diocese of the Catholic Church last Sunday celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany on Sunday with emphasis on children to take part in the affairs of the church.
Speaking at the feast which celebrates the revelation of God the son as human in Jesus Christ, chaplain for children Father Tony Mfune said children are important in the affairs and growth of the church.
He said children need to be given an opportunity to take part in church activities, pray for each other and raise money for the support of fellow vulnerable children.
He said: “Usually, children are side-lined in church activities which limit their contribution to the church. But we need to allow them to take part in church activities so as to grow with the love of the church.”
Mfune said the church is saddened by tendencies by some individuals who subject children to child labour.
He said families need to the domestic churches where they can learn about the love of God so as to contribute meaningfully to the running of the church and other roles in society.
Mzuzu Diocesan administrator Monsignor Father Michael Mughogho said children should be trained to fear the Lord at a tender if the nation is to eliminate issues of corruption and theft of public funds.
Mughogho said issues of corruption and theft are rampant these days because most individuals are not trained to fear the Lord at a tender age.
“Children are human beings, critical in the socio-development of the nation. If we don’t prepare them spiritually at a tender age then we will continue to have issues of Cashgate in public institutions,” said the priest who is leading the diocese following the death of Bishop Joseph Zuza.
Mughogho decried tendencies by parents who focus on the physical upbringing of their children at the expense of spiritual development.
“We need to educate them holistically so that they should grow in the love of God,” he said.
The celebrations in Rumphi drew together over 350 children from various parishes of the diocese. n
