Archbishop Banda urges men to embrace humility, faithfulness and selfless service as CMO raises K5 million Pastoral Fund
Archbishop Alick Banda has called on Catholic men to go beyond financial contributions and demonstrate their commitment to the Church through prayer, integrity, faithfulness and selfless service.
The Archdiocese of Lusaka Catholic Men’s Organisation (CMO) made a significant contribution of K5 million towards the 2026 Pastoral Fund, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the pastoral mission and activities of the Archdiocese
In his homily during the Pastoral Fund Presentation Mass at the Cathedral the Child Jesus, Archbishop Banda acknowledged the generosity and sacrifices made by Catholic men in raising funds for the Church, describing their contribution as an expression of commitment to Christ and His Church.
“Every contribution you made represents your commitment to our Lord, Jesus Christ and His Church; and every sacrifice you made from your earnings, or time spent to raise these funds, represents your generosity,” Archbishop Banda said.
He, however, emphasised that supporting the Church must not be limited to financial giving, noting that the Church equally needs men who uphold Christian values and translate their faith into practical action in their daily lives.
“The Church today, more than ever, needs men who are prayerful; men who are genuine; men who are faithful, men who uphold truth, and men who are ready to serve even when no one is watching,” he said.
Reflecting on the readings of the day, particularly St Paul's declaration, “For me, living is Christ” (Philippians 1:21), Archbishop Banda challenged Catholic men to make Christ the centre of their lives, ensuring that their conduct, relationships and use of the gifts entrusted to them reflect their Christian faith.
He further drew lessons from the Gospel according to Luke, where Jesus teaches about humility, reminding the faithful that true dignity does not come from positions, titles or material wealth, but from living as children of God.
The Archbishop urged men to embrace humility and understand leadership as an opportunity to serve rather than seek recognition or prominence.
He explained that Christian service begins in the family through love, protection, guidance and listening, extends to the Church through cooperation with priests and fellow parishioners, and finds expression in society through reliability, love and truth.
He also reminded the faithful that everything human beings possess comes from God, drawing on King David's words in 1 Chronicles 29:14:
“Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
Archbishop Banda said the Pastoral Fund initiative was therefore an opportunity for the faithful to give back to God from the blessings and opportunities entrusted to them, while strengthening unity among Catholic men across the Archdiocese.
“May this initiative consolidate our unity and encourage us to remain committed to the life of the Church not only today, but all year round,” he said.
Archbishop Banda thanked the Catholic men for their generosity, sacrifice, and commitment, and acknowledged priests in various parishes for supporting the fundraising initiative.
He expressed hope that the funds raised would contribute towards advancing the pastoral objectives of the Archdiocese, whose mission is captured in the theme, “To Renew All Things in Christ.”
The K5 million contribution by the Catholic Men’s Organisation underscores the important role of the laity in supporting the Church's pastoral mission and ensuring the continued implementation of its evangelisation and pastoral programmes.
