I'm Father Cosmas Phiri OFMConv. I carry out my pastoral ministry among Christians who live in poverty at St Paul’s Parish in Mzimba, Malawi. The parish covers a very large rural area, and many of the faithful live in scattered villages far from the parish centre. These communities are rich in faith and devotion, yet they often face significant material challenges.

Serving them is both a great privilege and a demanding mission for my fellow pastoral workers and me. One of our greatest challenges is the long distances between the parish's outstations. Many Christian communities are located far away, and the roads are often difficult to travel, especially during the rainy season. Because of this, reaching the faithful regularly becomes a serious challenge.

As ministers of the Church, we are called to bring the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick, to all God’s people. However, without reliable transportation, we are sometimes unable to visit some communities as often as we would like. This means that many faithful who deeply long for the sacraments and pastoral presence must wait long periods before they can receive them.

For this reason, support for pastoral resources, especially transportation, would make a tremendous difference in our mission. With reliable transport, we would be able to travel more frequently to the remote communities, celebrate the sacraments regularly, accompany the sick and the elderly, and strengthen the faith of the people entrusted to our care.

Your support would not simply provide practical assistance; it would help bring the living presence of the Church to communities that hunger for spiritual nourishment. It would enable us to reach those who are distant, strengthen their faith, and ensure that no member of the Church in St Paul’s Parish feels forgotten.