Pontifical Mission Society in Malawi Calls for the Awakening of Children’s Hunger for Christ in the Eucharist

Acknowledging the Eucharist’s ability to deepen and strengthen the relationship with Jesus, the PMS officials further said, “Let us encourage our children to love receiving the Eucharist. Let us teach our children to have the Lord Jesus in their hearts when they receive the Eucharist.”

The officials likened a child who does not receive the Eucharist to branches that are broken off from the tree and wither as recorded in the Gospel of St. John.

PMS officials in Malawi note that without the Eucharist, children tend to seek happiness in the wrong places. They added that such children struggle to serve their peers properly, and their spiritual and physical well-being may decline, often resulting in restlessness and self-centered behavior.

“Our children should be taught to prepare well to receive the Eucharist by repenting of their sins through the sacrament of Penance,” they said.

The officials said that children should also be helped to observe the ritual during the Eucharistic sacrifice, such as arriving promptly at church, not wandering around during mass, responding to prayers, and not making noise during mass.

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“Children should be taught to understand and worship the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist so that they may be in complete union with Him,” they said.

They further said that children “ should go before the Lord Jesus often so that they may truly be in union with Jesus and that He may bless, enlighten, and fill them with many blessings for their service to their fellow children.”

The officials urged teachers, parents, and Church leaders to provide children with opportunities on designated days to worship the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. They further encouraged children living near the parish to dedicate a day each week to spend time with the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist.

For the children who are far from the Parish, the officials urged teachers, parents, and leaders to help them find an opportunity, at least once a month or during the school term, to go to the Parish to worship the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist.

“Teachers, parents, and leaders should strive to ensure that throughout the year 2026 and beyond, children are taught and accustomed to spending time with the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist as one way to fulfill their ministry of prayer for their fellow children and the entire world,” they said.

The officials said that children should not be left behind in the teachings and programs that encourage Christians to love and grow in a life of loving and worshiping the Eucharist.

In the message, the PMS officials in Malawi said that children should also be taught to love reading and listening attentively to the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures, helping them develop their relationship with Jesus Christ and fostering unity with Him.

The officials emphasized the importance of helping children to read and listen to the Word of God frequently, stating that “Jesus Christ Himself comes to us spiritually through the Word of God.”

“The Word of God also has the power to transform a child/person who has prayed and meditated deeply on what God is saying in the Holy Scriptures,” they said.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.