MALAWI – Year of Mercy – Politicians unite to help orphanage
The Mother Teresa Children’s House, an orphanage based in Kawale near the capital city of Lilongwe, has benefitted from the effects of the Year of Mercy. Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity who run the orphanage were given food donations by Malawi’s Catholic members of Parliament. These included maize, beans, cooking oil and milk. Apart from donating food, the politicians spent time in the orphanage singing songs with the children.
The politicians were inspired by the call from Pope Francis to carry out practical works of mercy during the Jubilee Year.
“You know this is the Year of Mercy as it has been declared by our Pope – Pope Francis – and as a Catholic Community at Parliament, we thought that we do something in order to support those that need our support,” said Hon. Francis Kasaila, the leader of the National Assembly and a Parliamentarian for Democratic Progressive Party.
“This is just a small donation, of course, and we know that these sisters need a lot of support from well wishers and people of goodwill. They really need quite a lot in order to care for these children,” Kasaila continued. Other members of Parliament who participated in the food donation initiative included Hon. Juliana Lunguzi, a Member of Parliament for Dedza East.
Although some of those who took part had opposing political views, they set aside their differences to help the orphans. “Catholicism comes before politics” said Kasaila. Fr Henry Chinkanda, the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Officer of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, praised the Catholic Parliamentarians who were involved in the food donation and encouraged them to show their charity by loving each other despite any political differences.
The Missionaries of Charity expressed their thanks for the donations, which will be used to feed the 52 children that they care for at the orphanage. “As a community, we would like to thank our Catholic members of Parliament for the love they have shown to these children,” said Sister Mira.
Sister Mira also took the opportunity to speak out against abortion, saying that their orphanage would readily house any unwanted children to save them from becoming victims of abortion. “We would want to discourage the tendency of aborting innocent children as well. Therefore, let those that feel they couldn’t manage to care for their children, bring them to this center rather than aborting or abandoning the innocent souls,” she said, adding “As you know, life is a gift from God. So too these children are a gift from God and who knows, these will be our future leaders.”
ACN Malta
