PASTORAL DIRECTORATE
This office is headed by the Pastoral Secretary. He coordinates pastoral activities in the diocese and he is the adjunct secretary/member of most pastoral committees and gatherings. In this regard, he functions and acts as:
- The link between the diocese and the Pastoral Department of the Malawi Council of Catholic Bishops (MCCB);
- Facilitates the implementation of National Pastoral Guidelines within the diocese;
- Plan and organize diocesan pastoral events;
- Regularly update the Local Ordinary on the pastoral situation of the diocese;
- Liaise with the religious men and women directly involved in pastoral activities;
- Collaborates with other departmental heads and other pastoral agents in order to achieve effective and efficient pastoral objectives;
- Collaborates with Pastoral secretaries from other dioceses;
- Co-ordinate, moderate and animate all the ecclesial movements and associations in the diocese; and
- Fosters the ecumenical spirit in the diocese.
Under this office all the Pastoral activities are coordinated together with respective chaplains of associations such as CMA, CWA, Family life, Catechetical and Liturgical coordinators, Chaplain for catechists. The Church movements and devotional groups are also coordinated by this department ensuring that each follows the Church doctrines and right charisms. This is done through the guidance of the respective Chaplain.
The office also co-ordinates religious men and women working in the diocese especially those directly engaged. This is especially meant to promote mutual collaboration between the local clergy and the religious.
- Strategic Goal: To deepen the catholic faith, image and spiritual nurture among priests, religious and the laity in the Diocese of Mzuzu.
Strategic Objectives 1: To Increase understanding of the Catholic doctrines and values among priests, the religious and the laity including the youth.
Strategies
- Promote innovative and meaningful methods and approaches of preaching the gospel and imparting the Catholic teaching through liturgy and catechism
- Promote effective translation of pastoral materials
- Increase utilization of media within the diocese e.g., Radio Tigabane, as a way of imparting the gospel to the laity, clergy and religious Strengthen initiatives that promote effective delivery of biblical lessons
Strategic Objective 2: To promote beliefs and practice of Catholicism as the universal and apostolic church of Jesus Christ among the laity, clergy and religious
Strategies
- Promote and foster Catholic vocations to priesthood, consecrated and married life
- Promote administration of sacraments
- Strengthen Small Christian Communities practice as an important part of the local church
- Promote welfare of the clergy, religious including catechists
Strategic Objective 3: To enhance effective and efficient communication between and among all organs/institutions of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu
Strategies
- Enhance viability of the existing communication channels and their associated governance structures in the Diocese
- Establish new communication channels in the Diocese