St. Kizito Parish on Saturday celebrated its Patron feast day, an event highlighted by the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation to 23 children.
The Eucharistic celebration was led by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, His Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa.
During his homily, Bishop Mwakhwawa made an earnest call to parents to cultivate the habit of praying together in their homes, describing the family as the first school of faith. He urged parents to create time despite their busy schedules to pray as a family, noting that shared prayer helps families grow together, deepen their faith, strengthen their love, and resist evil as a united front.
“We need to embrace the spirit of family prayer to strengthen family bonds,” Bishop Mwakhwawa said. He pledged that the Archdiocese will work closely with parish priests and pastoral coordinators to encourage parents to embrace this practice.
The Auxiliary Bishop also reminded parents to continue supporting their newly confirmed children in Church activities. He noted that it is unfortunate when parents stop encouraging their children’s involvement in the Church after they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and urged them to ensure the children continue participating in Holy Childhood.
Echoing the Bishop’s sentiments, St. Kizito Parish Chairperson Clement Stambuli stated that Church leaders have long encouraged family prayer as an effective way to strengthen family life. Stambuli pledged that the parish would actively use Small Christian Communities (SCCs) to address the challenge and support families.
One of the 23 confirmands, Mphumi Kamzati, expressed her deep gratitude for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, describing it as an important milestone in her service to the Church. She also encouraged her fellow children to continue participating in Holy Childhood, saying the sacrament they received should strengthen them in serving God.
Beyond pastoral matters, Bishop Mwakhwawa highlighted the Archdiocese’s broader vision for sustainability, explaining that the Church is committed to strengthening its education and healthcare services through strategic investments.
Emphasising the spirit of synodality, the Bishop said the Archdiocese continuously listens to the views of the clergy, religious, and lay faithful to shape its priorities. He noted that the growing demand for social services requires the Church to expand its institutional presence.
“We need more schools, especially Catholic secondary schools and universities. We also need more hospitals to meet the needs of our people,” Bishop Mwakhwawa said, explaining that these investments are intended to generate resources that will sustain the Church’s evangelisation mission and social outreach programs.
Reporting and pictures by MCCB Communications and Radio Alinafe