Lucy Joceylin Vokhiwa

WUCWO Board member Malawi

Family as a vocation, is a missionary journey that God has placed in the world for us to embrace, announce and live by. This journey requires listening to God who has called us as companions of the gospel. During the X World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis encouraged and called for families around the world to announce the joy of being family, for those that are further along to become companions of the other and guide them, announce to children and young people the grace of Christian marriage but also open ourselves to Christ, listen to Him in the silence of prayer, accompanying those who are most fragile, taking charge of those who are alone, refugees and abandoned. The theme of the meeting, ‘Family Love: a vocation and path to holiness’, opened up an obligation for the Church and her members to actively take part in family evangelization. WUCWO, an umbrella body for Catholic Women Organisations/Associations adopted the resolution during its 2023 General Assembly in Assisi, introducing the resolution ‘Let us take with renewed conviction the joyful journey of family love, motherhood and fatherhood’ to be implemented in the next four years.

The Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in Malawi has since actively implemented various activities in responding to this call. First and foremost, CWO Malawi domesticated the resolution during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December, 2023 as one of the key resolutions that women need to look into and endeavor in various activities surrounding family as a path to holiness. Catholic Women in Malawi committed to teach fellow women about the fundamental sacrament of marriage as tolerant, loving, enduring, companionship and caring for children.

CWO Malawi participated in a retreat program during the Annual General Meeting which focused on caring for families as a core pastoral role and responsibility for Catholic women. The retreat which was facilitated by Fr. Kondowe emphasized on marriage as a holy sacrament, a path to receiving blessings from God, intimate communion of life and love, a communion of hearts, nature of mankind, a unity that creates a bond. Catholic women were called to actively advocate against the breaking of marriages and the renewing of sacraments among married couples.

CWO Malawi also participated in the AMECEA one-week workshop program on protecting children and other vulnerable members of the family from violent conflicts. The workshop focused on understanding various challenges or violent conflicts that children experience in Malawi ranging from their families, communities and society at large, it then pointed out to the practical responsibility of women as soft resources to protect and care for these children. Catholic women leaders were further equipped with capacity building skills and knowledge in how they can engage with the Church, Government and various stakeholders in supporting advocacy work on child protection and safeguarding.

Joining other members of the Church, Catholic Women in Malawi participated in the solidarity walk against legalizing of same sex marriages in the country. The solidarity walk was organized by the coordinating body of religious bodies (Public Affairs Committee) and included members from different religious backgrounds. Catholic women actively took part in this exercise in all the 3 cities of the country, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.

Other activities include sharing knowledge and best practices on family during meetings, for instance how women can support their families, how they can care and protect members of their families and praying for their families. Catholic women in Malawi also participate in various lay groups on families such as Marriage Encounter and Christian Family Movement (CFM).

The future of the world is dependent on the family. God created man and a woman with the vision of procreation. CWO is thus geared to care for, protect and promote Christian life and values.