Archbishop Banda comends Catholic Women for raising K8.1m for Seminarian Fund
Archbishop Alick Banda has commended the Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO) of the Archdiocese of Lusaka for raising an impressive K8.1 million towards the 2026 Seminarian Fund.
The 2026 Seminarian Fund Presentation was also an opportunity to strengthen bonds of faith and solidarity among Catholics, as the Catholic Women Association (CWA) from the Diocese of Mzuzu, Malawi, joined their counterparts in the Archdiocese of Lusaka for the event, witnessing firsthand the commitment and generosity of women in supporting the formation of future priests.
In his homily, Archbishop Banda encouraged women to remain steadfast in their quest to support and sustain priestly vocations.He said the annual initiative, held under the theme “Building Vocations through Love and Sacrifice,” reflected the importance of giving selflessly to enable others to fulfil God’s plan.
“Life becomes profoundly meaningful not because of what we accumulate for ourselves, but rather what we share in love, so that the other may fulfil God’s plan,” Archbishop Banda said.
He noted that while society often measures success through wealth, education, positions and prestige, the true meaning of life is also found in acts of generosity and service to others.
The Archbishop said priestly vocations should not be regarded as a private matter between an individual and God, but as a gift to the family, the community and the entire Church.
“Every vocation is a gift to the one called; and at the same time, it is a gift to his family, the community and the entire Church,” he said.
Archbishop Banda added that the Seminarian Fund was an important way of nurturing, protecting and sustaining vocations through the collective support of the faithful.
“You are nurturing, protecting and sustaining the vocations with love. And we thank you most sincerely,” he said, commending the women for putting their faith into action through their financial contribution.
Reflecting on the day’s Scripture readings, the Archbishop encouraged the faithful to demonstrate their Christian faith not only through words and participation in Church activities, but also through their conduct in everyday life.
He said acknowledging Christ required Christians to remain faithful to the Gospel at home, in the workplace, in public spaces and in their personal dealings with others.
“It is easy to speak about love when everybody agrees with us. But it is a different ballgame when we are hurting. It is easy to speak about honesty when the truth costs us nothing. But it becomes a challenge to remain honest when dishonesty becomes advantageous to us,” he said.
He urged Christians to avoid hypocrisy and to ensure that their faith was reflected in their actions, particularly when faced with difficulties that demand patience, courage, forgiveness and sacrifice.
“The world needs Christians who are not ashamed of their faith; Christians who do not compromise their beliefs; and Christians who understand that the love of God should be expressed in our lifestyle,” Archbishop Banda said.
The Archbishop also expressed gratitude to the women of Lusaka and their families for the sacrifices they make in support of the Church, while calling on God to strengthen them in their responsibilities.
He further prayed for seminarians, asking God to guide those responsible for their education and formation and to grant them wisdom, humility and courage to serve the people of God faithfully.
Archbishop Banda also acknowledged the contribution of parish priests across the Archdiocese for their continued support of the women’s fundraising efforts.He urged the CWO to ensure that its generosity remained rooted in prayer and genuine love for the Church.
“My dear mothers, may your generosity never be separated from prayer; may your sacrifice never be separated from love; and may your faith never be separated from your lifestyle,” he said.
The annual contributions help sustain the Church’s responsibility to prepare future priests for pastoral service and the spiritual needs of the faithful.
This year’s contribution is K1million more than last year’s.
