The Diocese of Dedza marked the World Mission Sunday Centenary with a Holy Mass held at Sharpevale Catholic Primary School, led by Mons. John Chithonje.
Children and youth from the parish took an active role throughout the liturgy. Members of the St. Charles and St. Bernadette groups, composed of older boys and girls transitioning from Holy Childhood into the parish Youth Ministry, led the congregation in the recitation of the Mission Rosary. Meanwhile, the altar servers from St. Kizito and St. Stephen, along with the altar girls from St. Maria Goretti and St. Teresa, carried out the release of the Centenary balloons. Dedza CMA Deanery Choir and the Sharpevale Joint Choir led in singing.
The faithful demonstrated strong support for the Universal Solidarity Fund for the Propagation of the Faith. Sharpevale Church alone contributed K1,500,000.00. The St. Bernadette and St. Charles groups contributed over K30,000.00, while the younger children in the Holy Childhood groups (Maria Goretti and Payomo) raised more than K20,000.00. These efforts helped meet the parish’s targets of K30,000.00 per Small Christian Community and K10,000.00 per group. The total sum is expected to grow as remaining collections from the outstations are remitted.
The Diocese expresses its gratitude to God for a successful Mission Sunday. Special appreciation also goes to the outgoing Parish Priest, Fr. Gift Selemani, and the parishioners of Sharpevale for their work in organising the event.
