Pope Francis has honoured Reverend Father Patrick Thawale, a diocesan priest in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe and Reverend Father Henry Chinkanda, a diocesan priest of Dedza Diocese as Monsignor.

The announcement was made today, 26th March 2024 at Maula Cathedral by Episcopal Conference of Malawi president, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala during the Chrism Mass.

The Archbishop acknowledged and applauded monsignor Thawale for the tremendous work he is doing in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

Speaking to Radio Alinafe, Monsignor Thawale described the position as an honor, and he has vowed to continue serving God with zeal.

Monsignor Patrick Thawale is currently serving as parish priest at St Andrea Kaggwa parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

Below is a pictorial of the conferring of the regalia for the monsignor at Maula Cathedral in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

In the wake of the environmental degradation and low quality of education in the country, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe through its Education Development Commission has started training focal teachers from different educational zones to help improve teaching and learning on the same.

This week (from Tuesday, 12th March 2024 to Thursday, 14th March 2024), the commission through its project “Eco-Star” conducted a training for focal teachers in Active Teaching and Learning (ATL), Investigation, Vision, Action, and Change (IVAC) and Inclusive Education (IE) at Kabuthu zone in Lilongwe Central West Education Division.

Mrs. Chrissie Mithi, the Education Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe

The Education Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Mrs. Chrissie Mithi says the project will help to equip the focal teachers with extra knowledge which they will share with learners in their everyday lessons.

Mrs. Mithi is optimistic that if new learners in different primary schools are taught on how to conserve and care for the environment, the future generation can adopt good strategies which may again improve the environment without any interference.

“We want the teachers to use the environment in teaching and learning. The teacher should take a learner to a tree, so that they should relate what is happening outside and inside the classroom so that in the end, this learner should protect the environment and assist in planting more trees,” said Mrs. Mithi.

She also added that the training will help the teachers and their respective schools to have gardens and kraals which may help to meet their learning resource needs through selling the products.

Lessie Jim, one of the facilitators at the training

Speaking after lecturing, one of the facilitators at the training, Lessie Jim who is an Inclusive Education Coordinator for Lilongwe Rural West said that the training has assisted the focal teachers to gain more skills on how they can accommodate learners with different diverse needs.

Jim has encouraged teachers in the country to include learners with special needs to do different activities together with their fellow learners as everybody has a duty to help in developing the country.

The Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Kabuthu Zone, Elfrida Ndau

In her remarks, the Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Kabuthu Zone, Elfrida Ndau commended the move saying that it will motivate learners to attend classes thereby improving their results.

She says that the microprojects are capable of improving the quality of education in different schools including where there are no Eco-Star projects as the focal teachers will help to disseminate the information which they get from the training.

“Teachers will use these micro projects as teaching resource. For example, if they are rearing the animals at the school, they may use them to teach different subjects like Agriculture even Mathematics or Chichewa,” Ndawu concluded.

The training was organized to help teachers to have knowledge on new methodologies of handling classes while keeping learners on board. The second phase of ECO-STAR project is targeting 30 primary schools from 4 districts which include Lilongwe, Salima, Mangochi and Thyolo.

Below are the highlights of the training.

by Eric Norman Mkwaira

The Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Vincent Mwakhwawa, has urged Youths in the Archdiocese to be self-reliant and resourceful when running their organization.

The Auxiliary Bishop made this call on Saturday at Maula Cathedral, during an interface meeting with the youths, which was aimed at listening to some of the challenges the youths are facing and also to see their plans for the 2024.

Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa, the Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe

According to Bishop Mwakhwawa, youths should not just rely on parents, but instead use their skills and knowledge when mobilizing resources for their organization.

“Our meeting today with the youths, is aimed at advising them on how they can use their skills to benefit their organization and not always asking parents for support in terms of financial and other resources. The youths should be self-reliant and also to help church in areas of development”, said Auxiliary Bishop Mwakhwawa.

On her part, Sister Veronica Ng’omba who is one of the executive members responsible for the youths in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, said time has come for the youths to be self-reliant in everything.

“We have discussed and empowered these youths today, that they have to be skillful, and they have to use the skills wisely to run their Organization in the Archdiocese, without relying much on the help from parents or the church,” she said.

Making the remarks, one of the archdiocesan youth executive member, Saul Jere, described the meeting fruitful, as it has helped them to have a wider knowledge on how they can deal with challenges they are facing in their organization.

The Meeting was chaired by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe. Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa, Archdiocesan Youth Executive members and Executive Committee members responsible for the youths in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

By Peter Dumayo