By Sam Kalimba

Youth in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe plan to raise an equivalent of USD4,000.00 on the Vocation Sunday that falls on 30 April, 2023. Revealing this was the Vicar General for the Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa on Thursday in an interview with this reporter.

The Vicar General who is also the national Pontifical Mission Society ( PMS) Director at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) said that the youth of Lilongwe were challenged by their counterparts from the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu who last year raised close to $3,000.00.

“The Vocation Sunday venue is on rotational basis. Last year it was hosted by the Diocese of Mzuzu youth and now it is the turn of the youth of Lilongwe to host. Much as the occasion is meant to train the youth how to discern and decide on their personal choices on the right path to serve God, the day also serves as a call for collections for the purposes of helping the universal Church fund the vocational institutes. I am happy to learn that the youth in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe have agreed to raise about $4,000.00 to be sent to Rome. It is so gratifying to see the participation of the youth in raising funds for the vocations,” he said.

Fr. Mwakhwawa said that the youth of Lilongwe will assemble on 30 April at one of the rural parishes in the Archdiocese to ensure everyone’s vocation is considered important. He said that among other activities, the prelate of Lilongwe Archbishop George Tambala will give a motivational talk to hundreds of youths that will gather at the parish.

“Our Archbishop has a soft spot in his heart for children and youths of the Archdiocese. He has special plans for them and he will speak to them from that perspective as he will be encouraging them listen carefully to God’s call to various vocations. We also have received confirmations from various religious institutes in the country to attend and provide talk sessions. We will also have lay professionals to provide career guidance to the participating youth,” he said.

The preparations for this year’s Vocation Sunday were launched on 25 February at the same parish that will host the event. Youths from the Diocese of Mzuzu presented a Candle to the youth of Lilongwe symbolizing the passing on of responsibility for the year 2023 to 2024. From 30 April, the youth from Lilongwe will among other activities engage in peer-to-peer animation on different types of vocations and how to get involved.

It is expected that youths will come from all the 46 parishes in the Archdiocese and some from other dioceses. Sunday collection for this fourth Sunday in Easter will go to the ECM Secretariat for the promotion of vocations. This year’s Vocation Sunday will be cerebrated under the theme ‘hearts on fire, feet on move’.

by Sam Kalimba

Handmaids of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Sisters of Zimbabwe say they feel great hope of fulfilling the Synodality theme of “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” as they open a new community in the AMECEA Region, Malawi.

Prioress General, Mother Madeleine Chapisa HLMC, came in person from Zimbabwe to officially announce their arrival in the Episcopal Conference of Malawi through the Archdiocese of Lilongwe on 15 April 2023 on the sidelines of the official launch of the Centenary Bank.

She said that their coming to Malawi is a fulfillment of the synodality objects as it puts the concept of synodality into practice.

“From the time our two sisters arrived on this land they are overwhelmed by love, faith and commitment of all the faithful here. During this Synod period the sisters already feel great hope of fulfilment in their communion with the local Church, participation in its life and mission. I see we have many things to learn but we are ready to learn on the journey,” she told congregants.

She said that in his sendoff homily to Sisters Evelyn Kadzere and Valentine Gudyanga who were coming for a mission to Malawi, Bishop Paul Horan of the Diocese of Mutare in Zimbabwe made it clear that this was not their own idea or project but they were coming in the name of the congregation and the Church.

She thanked His Grace, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala on behalf of her congregation, for the invitation to join the Church of Malawi to make their what she termed as small contribution to its great mission especially during the time when the country had experienced Cyclone Freddy and its effects.

“We could not come at a better time than this. Yes, we are making the synodal process a reality and at the same time the coming of our sisters has made us feel very close to you and all the people as you face this tragedy,” she said.

As a matter of introducing their congregation Sr. Madeleine Chapisa Said that the Handmaids of Our Lady of Monut Carmel was founded in 1959 in Mutare, Zimbabwe by an Irish Carmelite Bishop, the late Bishop Donal Raymond Lamont.

“Our founder gave us the title ‘Handmaids of Our Lady of Mt. Camel’ for, he wanted us to be close helpers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the servant of the Lord in the great work of salvation as seen in Luke 1 verse 38,” she said.

She said that as the first Carmelites on Mt. Carmel in Israel, they live the Carmelites Spirituality after the example of the prophet Elijah and Mary mother of Carmel. They believe that living in the presence of God, they strive to do ordinary things with their hearts and mind fixed on God’s will for themselves and His people. In the Carmelite family they are Contemplatives in Action.

According to Sr. Madeleine their participation in the work of salvation is not confined to any one ministry but rather they engage in every service that gives them the opportunity to help Mother Mary in bringing people to Jesus and also keeping in line with their way of life.

Rev. Sr. Valentine Gudyanga and Rev. Sr. Evelyn Kadzere HLMC, arrived in the country at a time when schools were on recess to work at St. John’s Boys Secondary School which belongs to the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

End.

by Eric Norman Mkwaira

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has launched the Centenary Bank Limited at the Archdiocesan level on Saturday 15^th April 2023 at Maula Podium in Lilongwe.

The launch started with the Eucharistic Celebration which was presided over by the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe His Grace George Desmond Tambala as main celebrant with the Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Chipata Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri and Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Dedza Right Rev. Peter Adrian Chifukwa as co-celebrants.

His Grace Archbishop George Tambala emphasized the launch as a chance to give Malawian citizenry better products and services as the bank will give the citizenry a chance to improve their livelihoods.

In his homily, His Grace George Tambala said the Catholic Church cannot invest in anything that can cause harm to the people but uplifting the lives of people and giving alternatives in terms of social participation.

“We as Catholics don’t just invest in any place… The Catholic church does not invest in anything that does harm to people and as an example, like if there is a factory that is making arms. We can’t invest in that kind of thing because at the end the people will lose their lives,’’ said His Grace.

The vice president of the republic of Malawi Dr Saulos Claus Chilima was the guest of honor.

Chairman of the board of directors at the Centenary Bank Limited Dr Francis Pelekamoyo added that they are aiming to go and reach all hard-to-reach areas in the country so that the citizenry can have full access of bank services.

Dr Pelekamoyo added that they want to start giving financial tips to the people so that they can manage well their finances.

“We want to undertake financial literacy. We don’t just talk about banking, but we also provide financial literacy to our customers so that they know what they should do with the money lent to them,” he added.

He said the bank will reach all the people by using parishes which the Catholic church has in the country thereby creating the wide network to the citizenry.

At the event many people managed to open their bank accounts as there were many workers from the bank who were helping in getting them open their accounts.

The Archdiocese of Lilongwe and the Centenary Rural Development Group Limited of Uganda bought MyBucks Bank and rebranded it to Centenary Bank Limited.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe His Grace George Desmond Tambala has emphasized the need for the laity to put orders whenever they do their tasks.

The emphasis came at the Eucharistic celebration of Easter Sunday which was held at Banja Loyera Chilinde Parish in Lilongwe on 09th April 2023.

His Grace led the Eucharistic Celebration where he among others asked the faithful to take a good example of what happened when Jesus rose from the dead.

His Grace Mentioned that there was order of doing things by then as he gave an example of Mary Magdalene who witnessed first that the tomb of Jesus was empty but did not enter but instead, she went back to tell the disciples about it.

His Grace asked the congregation to follow orders whether at the church or in their families.

Archbishop George Tambala delivering the homily to the congregation

However, His Grace George Tambala told the congregation that they should share the gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to other people rather than keeping it to themselves.

His Grace, further, invited the people of God to consider celebrating the resurrection together with their families and to not forget to keep the gospel amidst themselves.

The Parish Priest for Banja Loyera parish, Fr Augustine Katundu together with Fr Francis Bisayi co-celebrated the Mass while the Banja Loyera Joint Choir led the singing during the liturgy.

Fr. Augustine Katundu co-celebrating the 

Mass

Fr Francis Bisayi read the gospel of John 20 verse 1 to 19 while Ms. Anne Mandala read the first readings of Colossians 3 verse 1 to 4 and Mr. Elias Lazaro gave second readings of Acts of the Apostles 10 verse 34a to 37 and 43a.

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, His Grace George Desmond Tambala on 04th April 2023 presided over a Chrism Mass at Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe.

His Grace consecrated the holy oils used in the administration of some sacraments in the Church, including Holy Orders and Anointing of the sick.

At the same Mass all Priests who came for the function renewed their priestly vows.

In his homily, His Grace emphasized the need for the priests in the Archdiocese to remain united with Christ through prayer and he urged the faith to also remain united.

His Grace asked the priests not to fear telling themselves and the laity that the scriptures are meant for them today by citing the commandments of do not kill and do not steal from others.

His Grace further extended his exhortation to the national leadership especially those in high positions to compare what they are doing with what is expected of them.

Archbishop Tambala continued to ask everyone to pray for the sick and those who are affected by the cyclone Freddy in the Southern part of Malawi.

The Church commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist on Thursday of the Holy week, but the church of Lilongwe celebrates it on Tuesday.