St Pius Catholic Parish raises over K2.2m on Paper Sunday
St Pius Catholic Parish under the Blantyre Archdiocese on Sunday held a record breaking Paper Sunday when it realized about K2.27million.
The collection surpassed the church’s target of K1.8 million by 26 percent, according to Oswald Mumba, Chairperson of the Parish’s fundraising committee.
During the previous Paper Sunday (2013 first-quarter) held in April, the Parish collected over K1.8 million also surpassing its target of K1.5 million by 22 percent.
The Parish has been engaging various fundraising initiatives for the completion of its multi-purpose hall which is currently in its final stages and has been fully constructed through parishioners’ contributions.
According to Mumba, this was the first time the Parish has had such best results since Paper Sunday initiative was introduced a few years ago.
“I am actually speechless, this is the first time we have had such wonderful results since we started hosting Paper Sundays at the Parish,” explained Mumba.
“Our target was to collect K1.8 million but we have far beaten that target by collecting K2, 270, 556. This is wonderful and just shows how united we are as Christians of St Pius Parish.”
However, Mumba was the most keyed-up Christian on the day after his ward (Mphakati) of St Don Bosco, which he also chairs, scooped the first position in contributions.
St Don Bosco, which covers part of Manja, Kwacha, Soche Police and Soche Central Areas, outclassed 21 other wards- small Christian Communities or miphakati– that form St Pius Parish .
The ward was given a target contribution of K90 000 but instead the Catholic faithful from the said areas raised K321 050 beating their target by an amazing 257 percent.
During the first-quarter Paper Sunday, the ward also got first position after beating its collection target by 191 percent.
St Don Bosco members retained the trophy (a plaque of Mother Mary) which they have now won for the third-consecutive year.
For their feat, in addition to the trophy, St Pius Parish Council Executive Committee also presented to the ward a live goat as well as a certificate of recognition co-signed by Parish Priest, Father Benito Masuwa and Frank Ngagwe, Parish Council Chairman, as a way of encouraging St Don Bosco Christians.
“This is wonderful, St Don Bosco has very few houses but our friends are very united in whatever they carry out and contribute handsomely. Let us all emulate this good example,” said Ngangwe after announcing the winners.
St Maria Goretti also retained their second position after contributing K143 540 beating their K65 000 target by 121 percent.
Position number three went to St Padre Pio who beat their K80 000 collection target by 65 percent having contributed K132 275.
During the event, the Parish Council also honoured St Judith for being the most improved ward during the 2013 second quarter.
This time it finished seventh after coming last (out of 22 wards) during the first-quarter Paper Sunday when it failed to reach its K100 000 target by 73 percent.
From positions one to eight, all the wards surpassed their targets by contributing beyond what they were asked.
This Friday, continuing with its fundraising activities for the church hall project, St Pius Parish has invited Malawi’s music icon Lucius Banda and his Zembani Band for a phungwee dance show at St Pius Parish Hall. Charges are K1500 per head.
Two months ago, it invited the crowd-pullers, Black Missionaries, at the same venue for the same purpose.
