Staff Writer

Radio Alinafe this year has clocked 20 since it began broadcasting. The Radio was established to respond to the invitation of the Bishops during the Special Assembly of the Bishops of Africa in 1994 to make use of the instruments of communications to spread the Good News.

Radio Alinafe started from the very humble ‘studio’, the Bishop’s garage. It was on 14 March, 2002, on Thursday, at 19:00 during Lenten season. Gradually, with support from well wishers, under the leadership of late Fr. Gabriel Jana, who led the taskforce help started to flow and the old building, which used to house the studios changed shape.

During the 20 years it has been broadcasting programmes, the Radio has changed the lives of many people with its educative, informative and inspirational programmes of Catholic Catechism, health, agriculture, environment, etc.

In his homily, during the thanksgiving Mass, Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima, of the Diocese of Mangochi, who is also Chair for the Communications and Research department in the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) urged the media, especially Radio Alinafe to bring impact in the society to change the mind set, and to convert listeners.

Bishop Montfort Sitima, presided over the thanksgiving Mass

In his speech, the Director of the Radio, Fr. Louis Chikanya unveiled the vision and plans of the Radio. The Radio has the vision to establish the new national commercial radio station to widen the broadcasting area to reach many listeners.

Some of the Station’s objectives include:

(i) evangelisation,

(ii) fostering justice and peace,

(iii) offering a forum for the audience to debate on issues that affect their lives

(iv) promoting Catholic choirs.

(V) we also train students of journalism in practical experience.

Currently, the Station is served by few permanent staff and 35 volunteers; it broadcasts 24/7.

Bishop Sitima and Radio Alinafe Director with the awardees in different categories

St. Andrea Chilota Choir of St. Kizito Parish led the singing at the thanksgiving Mass

Mtima Woyera deanery choir entertained the audience

Radio Alinafe studios

Where the studio started in 2002

The 45th parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has been opened. Archbishop George Tambala opened the 45th parish of Maula deanery on 17th September, 2022. St. Anthony of Padua parish was created from St. Andrea Kaggwa parish of area 49.

In his homily, the Bishop urged all the parishioners to belong to this new parish. He advised against the habit of going out from one’s domicile parish to serve in another parish. He spoke against calling other Christians visitors and therefore, not deserving any leadership position. He called this, paganism.

Fr. Regis Kamela was installed as the new parish priest for the new parish of St. Anthony of Padua parish in area 25. The parish has about three thousand Christians and about 200 catechumens.

The new parish priest, Fr. Regis Kamela enthroned

Fr. Regis Kamela

Catholic Men bringing gifts to the Archbishop

The Archbishop at the function

Catholic Men at the parish taking part in the celebration

Catholic Women happy to receive the new parish of St. Anthony of Padua

Mass for the opening of the new parish at St. Anthony in area 25

His Grace George Tambala blessing the church at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 17 September, 2022

St. Anthony Church, area 25

The parish church

The Archbishop at the opening of the new parish of St. Anthony of Padua, area 25

By Sam Kalimba

Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa the National Director for the Pontifical Missionary Society in the country preached against hypocrisy among some leaders in the country during the launch of the 2022 Bible Month at St. Patrick’s Area 18 Parish on 4 September.

Present at the Mass was the country’s State Vice President Dr. Saulos Claus Chilima who usually congregates at the Parish.

“It is surprising that most leaders in the country are Christians but less Christianity is being practiced. It is common sense that if one reads the Bible it is expected of them to be transformed but to the contrary, our leaders who portray being Christians are not being transformed and are failing to transform the nation. Is it that they do not read the Bible? Then, let the Bible month be an advantage for all of us including our leaders to read the word of God and be transformed before transforming the society,” said Mwakhwawa.

He however said that despite having no general transformation observed, it is encouraging to note that more and more Catholics are getting into the practice of reading the Bible as observed in the number of lay groups that engage in Bible studies at small christian communities.

He said that the Church in Malawi has chosen the book of Amos to be read in the month of September because it resonates well with the current situation in the country where social injustices are rampant.

Fr. Henry Chinkanda, Pastoral Coordinator for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi commented after Mass on the reason of the choice of the book of Amos.

“At every level there are social injustices taking place in this country. Our society is full of people that are grabbing land for the voiceless, grabbing property from widows and orphans and people who have no mercy to human dignity and life. These and those we do not see because they do them in the dark form the basis for this year’s theme of ‘Listening and discerning the word of God together’ in the spirit of the Synodal process by Pope Francis and 100 years of the translation of Chichewa Bible in Malawi. The book of Amos will help us look back at the 100 years of having a vernacular Bible and see if our society is changing for the better,” said Chinkanda.

Fr. Chinkanda also said that it is important for the faithful and all people to participate in the activities of the Bible month because the word of God is the center of their lives and that of the Church.

“The centrality of the word of God in our Christian life is very crucial. All the sacraments the Church confers are based on the scripture and therefore we are challenged to lead our lives based on the scripture. We cannot do that if we do not read the Bible. The Bible is inseparable from our faith. It is high time Catholics begun owning bibles in their homes and offices. They must carry a Bible with them where ever they go. Psalms 119: 105 is very clear as it says the word of God is the light of my life,” said Chinkanda.

He said that if the world was being governed by the word of God it could have transformed in the manner that it reflected the will of God.

Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka Laity Council Chairperson for the Parish that hosted the national launch of the Bible Month urged his fellow Catholics to exercise a duty of owning the Bible, read the word of God and discern it with the help of others in their families, small Christian communities and consulting priests and the religious where it is not clear to them.

The Church in Malawi started observing the Bible month after the African Synod some decades ago but it was in 2009 when the continuous count of the events rejuvenated.