Reported by Brenard Mwanza
Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe Right Reverend Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa has called on Catholics to embrace more fully their vocation to evangelisation, urging the laity to become active participants in the mission of Christ and His Church.
He made the appeal on Saturday, 24 October 2026, during Mass at Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe, held as part of a fundraising initiative supporting the formation of seminarians preparing for priesthood.
“Let us not remain spectators. Let us become active participants in the mission of Christ and His Church,” Bishop Mwakhwawa said in his homily.
Reflecting on the vocation of the laity, the Bishop said the missionary responsibility of Catholics flows from the Sacrament of Baptism.
“From Baptism, the laity receive their mission,” he said, recalling the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the apostolate of the laity.
Bishop Mwakhwawa said lay Catholics have a particular role in bringing the Gospel into the realities of everyday life, including families, workplaces, businesses and communities.
“Wherever you are, you can bring Christ. You can bring Christ into your office, into your business, into your home and into your community,” he said.
He pointed to the marketplace as one of the places where lay Catholics can live out their missionary vocation, noting that those who work and conduct business there have daily opportunities to encounter others and witness to their Christian faith.
The Bishop also stressed the importance of ongoing formation, urging Catholics to deepen their understanding of their vocation and discern how God is calling them to serve.
He cautioned against a passive approach to Church life, in which the faithful attend activities but remain observers rather than taking responsibility for the mission entrusted to the baptised.
“There are people who are physically present in the Church, but they remain spectators. They watch, they listen and they analyse, but they do not actively participate in the mission,” he said.
Bishop Mwakhwawa further reminded the faithful that the apostolate of the laity extends beyond financial support for the Church.
He encouraged Catholics to offer their time, talents, skills and Christian witness in service of the Gospel.
The appeal came during a Mass linked to efforts to mobilise resources for seminarians undergoing formation for priesthood. Bishop Mwakhwawa said support for vocations forms part of the wider responsibility of the Christian community to accompany and strengthen the Church’s mission.
He encouraged Catholics to recognise their ordinary circumstances as opportunities for evangelisation, saying the witness of Christian life can bring the presence of Christ into society.
The Bishop reminded the faithful that through Baptism, they share in the mission of the Church and are called to use their gifts in the service of God and His people.
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