AFRICA/MALAWI - In Malawi, 100,000 children celebrate Missionary Childhood Day on the Solemnity of the Epiphany

Tuesday, 6 January 2026 missionary childhood local churches youth pontifical mission societies

MALAWI

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Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – This year in Malawi, more than 100,000 children participated as protagonists in the celebration of Missionary Childhood Day.

Missionary Childhood Day coincides with the Solemnity of the Epiphany. At the local level, the particular Churches organize the celebrations in different ways and at different times. In Malawi, this year the Day was celebrated on Sunday, January 4, and saw broad and very active participation from dioceses and parishes. Specific celebrations were organized throughout the country, in which numerous bishops took part. The children actively participated as choir members, readers, altar boys, and leaders of the assemblies, and they also enlivened the moments of prayer with dances.

The theme of Missionary Childhood Day echoes that chosen for World Mission Day 2026: “One in Christ, united in mission.”

In all the celebrations, the celebrants reminded everyone that parents are called to set a good example for their children, accompanying them and helping them to find Jesus in their own lives. In each diocese, the bishops emphasized the Day’s central message in various ways, often drawing inspiration from the solemnity of the Epiphany.
In the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Archbishop George Tambala affirmed that all those who hold positions of responsibility in society and in the family should be like the “star” that guides children to God. In the Diocese of Karonga, Bishop Mtumbuka invited children to be “stars” for one another, like the star that led the Magi to the birthplace of the Child Jesus. In the Archdiocese of Blantyre, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa expressed his satisfaction with the way the children led the day's liturgy, demonstrating their conscious participation in the liturgical celebration.
In the Diocese of Zomba, Bishop Alfred Chaima emphasized that prayer education is an essential feature of a rich and grateful Christian life. Finally, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Dedza expressed his satisfaction that, during this year's celebration of World Missionary Childhood Day, the parishes of Kanyama made very generous contributions to the Universal Solidarity Fund. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 6/1/2026)