Make interventions in the world you live – CFM urged

The Christian Family Movement in Malawi has been urged to play a role in different interventions in the society. The call was made during its Annual General Meeting in Chikwawa diocese, from 11th to 13th November 2022, where couple representatives from all the Dioceses in Malawi met to deliberate on issues that affect them as Christian families in their ministry.

Addressing the gathering, the Chikwawa Diocesan Chair couple, Lawrence and Grace Bzyakulima thanked Bishop Musikuwa for his tireless efforts in preparations for the AGM.

Echoing this year’s theme of Family Love as a calling and a way of sanctifying families, the chair couple called on all families to take the gathering as an opportunity to renew their family commitments.

 Taking his turn, the chair couple briefed the bishop and the gathering the beginnings and rationale for the CFM in the church. Began in 1945 during World War II when women prayed for spouses who were married to serving soldiers. Having returned form war these women explained to their couples of the prayers they offered for their survival. This made these families to begin gathering and prayed together.

Among their duties are doing charity work, tackling gender based violence in families, upholding the integrity of families like teaching against homosexuality and forming young people as they journey towards marriage.

In his speech, Fr Valerian Mtseka who is the national chaplain for the Family Movement thanks the conference of Bishops for their spiritual guidance and support to Christian Family Movement. He stressed that families are the root of all the good and bad that we all face in this life.

Bishop Musikuwa who earlier on urged families to take part in the mission of the Church, urged all delegates to engage in meaningful dialogue seeking ways through which families can intervene in everyday situations that stand as challenges to family life and society. Families must always be ways to sanctify members of married life taking the example of the family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

Christian Family Movement is a catholic lay apostolate that began in 1945 in America by Patrick and Patricia. Slowly the apostolate spread all over the world and in Malawi the movement established in 1966 in Namitete parish.

Among the activities during this meeting are teachings and presentations.