Promote peace, co-existence Priest urges flock
Members of St Padre Pio Church in Area 49 Gulliver, an outstation of Kaggwa Woyera Catholic Parish in Lilongwe have been encouraged to continue promoting peace and co-existence for the church to grow.
Kaggwa Woyera Catholic Parish outgoing priest Father Constantine Mgunda said this last Sunday during a farewell mass as he moves to St John Paul Parish in Chitedze, Lilongwe.
He said the six years he has been at the Parish, the church enjoyed peace and liturgy was been conducted in an orderly manner.
Mgunda admitted that the time he was being posted to the Parish, peace did not reign which resulted in premature ending of mass at one of the outstation within the parish.
“I was only four years within the journey of my priesthood that I had to experience what other older priests have never seen. It happened that one day, when I was conducting mass in one of the outstations, church members decided to end the mass due to misunderstandings,” he recalled.
The parish priest said it was resolved and peace returned to the parish.
Mgunda said he believes that God uses His people to achieve certain things for the betterment of the church and his coming played a crucial part in ending some of the misunderstandings.
He commended members of St Padre Pio Church for their faith and dedication, saying although the outstation was small, activities that were happening were massive.
“Continue giving out offerings, conducting morning masses, small community masses, remitting tithe and developing the culture of taking sacraments as much as you can,” he appealed.
The parish priest thanked the members for providing assorted gifts, saying the spirit of giving out should continue at the church.
Padre Pio Church chairperson Alex Chisanthi described Mgunda as a priest who desired to serve the church.
He said despite encountering a number of challenges, the priest was able to overcome them and provide solutions.
Chisanthi praised Mgunda for spearheading development projects in the parish.
“Continue the good works of developing parishes. It is my hope that you will continue providing guidance so that your next duty station should develop,” he told the priest.
Mgunda will be replaced by Monsignor Patrick Thawale.
