Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the archdiocese said after Vocation Sunday service in the archdiocese that his wish is to see the youth realizing their purpose for life and making meaningful contributions to the church and society in general.

“We don’t want this (Vocation Sunday) to be a once off thing. The youth need guidance, accompaniment and awareness on various vocations to serve God and His creation better,” said Archbishop Tambala.

The Lilongwe Archdiocese Youth Animation team comprising representatives of priests, reverend sisters and lay faithful with skills and expertise such as former Malawi national football team coach Young Chimodzi, former player Francis Songo and musician Ben Michael.

Archbishop Tambala said “the team that we have established is a continuation of the chaplaincy in the church, this time we have realized that the youth are a very big part of the church and that the current chaplains that we have are not sufficient enough to carter for the needs of the youth.”

The main tool the team will be using in reaching out to the youth according Archbishop Tambala will be the archdiocese youth strategy.

“If you look at the mind of the church, the day (Vocation Sunday) is like a catalyst, a way of speeding up the process of reaching out to the youth. Our youth are busy and active in various activities, that’s where we need to be the whole year,” said Archbishop Tambala.

In the meantime, Songo said the team plans to introduce sporting activities and tournaments at parish, deanery and diocese level.

Besides, the youth will also have access to sharpen their musical skills and studio time for recording hymns with a blending of local instruments.

Chairperson of the youth in the archdiocese Chisomo Nkhoma applauded the move which he hopes will also add the aspect of increasing knowledge and access to financial capital to sustain their dreams.

Auxiliary Bishop for the archdiocese Right Reverend Vincent Mwakhwawa emphasized in his homily during the Vocations Sunday Mass in the archdiocese on the need to intensify awareness on vocations among the youth noting that many take up wrong vocations because of lack of deeper discernment for right choices in their lives.

"Some are in families today because they did not know that their vocation is in priesthood or other religious life like Catholic nun. Likewise, those that chose the vocation of family life," Bishop Mwakhwawa said.

Pontifical Mission Societies director for the archdiocese Fr Thomas Msalala said often, people make choices on vocations using feelings not guidance from the Holy spirit after deeper discernment.

“You know that you made the right chose if you are happy in your calling as a priest, a nun or family,” hinted Fr. Nsalala.

He appealed to parents to take up their role of proving good parenting to children in the families which are regarded as primary centers of nurturing vocations in the church.