The Catholic Health Commission in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has reaffirmed its commitment to providing quality health services to the public as it celebrated its Jubilee year.

The celebration, held on Saturday, 15th February 2025 at Mtima Woyera parish, brought together healthcare workers and members of the Catholic Church in Malawi.

Secretary of the Lilongwe Archdiocese Catholic Health Commission, Sister Magret Lupia mentioned that the Jubilee has provided them an opportunity as healthcare workers to reflect on their service and spiritual well-being.

Secretary of the Lilongwe Archdiocese Catholic Health Commission, Sr. Magret Lupia interacting with the Media

Sr. Lupia emphasized the importance of self reflection for health workers, urging them to consider their past, present and the future service, as well as the impact of their work on their own lives and spiritual growth.

“It is time for us really to reflect, that is, we look back as to how we have been serving them now and how would we like to serve them. And also at the same time we look at our lives as health workers, how have we been. How have we been affected as we serving these people. And how has our spiritual life been affected,” she explained.

She among others mentioned that the sector is facing challenges including shortage of staff and resources however expressing the catholic health facilities dedication in providing quality services.

“Most of the Catholic health facilities, we are trying our best with the resources that we have that we give the best care possible,” she added.

Making her remarks, Sister Regina Kadifwala, a Clinician, encouraged the citizens to maintain hope despite facing numerous challenges.

“To all the people of Malawi, I am encouraging them that we are pilgrims of hope,” she said. ” Despite that we are meeting a lot of difficulties, but we should have hope that God is always with us, God is there for us.”

Sr. Kadifwala interacting with the Media

Sr Kadifwala affirmed that faith in God and access to medical treatment can empower people to manage their health and continue their daily lives.

She specifically highlighted the role of medical professionals in supporting patients and fostering their well-being.

In the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, the celebrations began with a demonstration of service. Healthcare workers gathered at the Game Complex, where they provided vital health services to the community, including blood pressure and sugar checks, as well as self-administered HIV test kits.

Catholic Health Workers providing free health services at Game Complex

Health Workers marching on their way to Mtima Woyera Parish

Health workers arriving at Mtima Woyera Parish from Game Complex

From the Game Complex, the healthcare workers marched to Mtima Woyera Parish, where they were welcomed by Bishop Yohane Nyirenda. The day’s program included a talk on the Jubilee of Health Workers and the Sick, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a celebratory Mass.

Bishop Yohane Nyirenda welcoming Health workers at Mtima Woyera Parish

The Jubilee celebration for healthcare workers and the sick was held under the theme “Hope that does not disappoint.” Jubilees in the Catholic tradition are a time for reflection, forgiveness, and renewal.

By Lester Mhone

Archbishop George Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe is championing a collaborative approach to financial management, emphasizing the importance of expert consultation.

Archbishop Tambala convened a meeting with stakeholders at Maula Parish in Lilongwe on Thursday, 13th February 2025 to discuss the Archdiocese’s finance and investment plan.

“We as Archdiocese, especially looking at our own, I call it moto, ‘Mpingo Ndife Tonse’ (we are all the church). I think one of the things that has been missing was to consult these people,” Archbishop Tambala explained. “Now what we have here, businesspeople, people who are into investments, is one critical area. So, we had to do this because it’s part of the church and it’s a very critical part of the church. It’s a major stakeholder in the church and they are partners with us in the church.”

Archbishop George Tambala during the consultation meeting at Maula Cathedral Hall

The Archbishop highlighted the mutual benefits of this collaboration. “If you talk of benefits, I think the first thing we have to learn from them. So, I insisted that we are here to listen. The wisdom that these people have, the expertise, the professionalism, this I think we can tap into that for the good of the church. So that’s a benefit. The other thing is that I think for them also, it’s a two-way system. They also, as they participate in the ideas of investment for the Archdiocese, we are also inviting them to join us in some of the investment ideas and businesses that we do. So that’s a benefit. It’s a two-way system kind of a thing.”

Mr. William Mwanza, chairperson of the Lilongwe Archdiocese Finance and Investment Council, underscored the meeting’s significance in developing a robust financial strategy.

“Yes, the Archbishop George Desmond Tambala actually commissioned the Finance and Investment Council of the Archdiocese to develop an investment strategy for the Archdiocese. This is really to try and assist the Archdiocese move away from some of the traditional sources of funding that it currently utilizes,” Mwanza said.

He further explained the need for this shift.

“You know very well that we’ve depended on missionary funds for the setup of a lot of parishes around. We also depend on contributions from the lay faithful through the parishes and also the industries and institutions which limit some funds to the diocese. But in a very difficult economic environment we’ve actually noted that they’re dwindling funds both internationally and also locally that the Archdiocese is able to access and so there’s now a strong drive to actually invest in strong businesses that will generate significant profits and those profits will be ploughed back into the church to take forward its pastoral, its social and its financial sustainability mission. So this was the intention to really invite Catholic professionals but also business people to come and advise the Finance and Investment Council as it embarks on developing this strategy. So we’ve actually got a lot of good ideas, things to look out for, things to consider as we’ll be getting on this process of developing this investment strategy.”

Limbani Nsapato, an education expert from St Padre Pio Parish who attended the meeting, called for active participation from the community.

“Yes, I think from this meeting it is important that as Catholics and as Christians we need to support the Archdiocese because the project, the program that has come up to enhance the investment is very critical for our spiritual and social well-being. We need to put all this work in prayer and ensure that we are available to support the Church through our skills, the talents that we have. Let us not bury them, let us come forward and provide support to the Church. In that way I think we’ll help the Church in its evangelization mission but also we’ll help our country to develop spiritually as well as socially,” Nsapato urged.

The consultation brought together business leaders and professionals from various fields to discuss how they can contribute to the Archdiocese’s pastoral, social, and financial goals.

Highlights of the event (By Edwin Sitima)

The Catholic Church has expressed its readiness to support its faithful working in security institutions in various aspects, including spiritual life.

This announcement was made during the Holy Mass celebration of the Jubilee Year for security institutions in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, held at the police headquarters in Area 30.

Archbishop George Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe emphasized the bishops’ commitment to supporting Catholic faithful in security institutions, especially in their spiritual lives.

“This year’s Jubilee brings hope, and I urge them to show this hope through their ministry. The bishops are also keen to support these faithful in their spiritual and physical needs,” His Grace Tambala stated.

Archbishop Tambala called on security institutions to perform their duties with respect for the law, ensuring protection and maintaining peace as the country prepares for the elections on September 16 this year.

“Around this time of the elections, many people may want to take the law into their own hands, but we are expecting these security institutions to help us remain united as a country. This is the message that you will be hearing from us, the bishops, from time to time. We are facing a divided country, and there are fears that come September, these divisions may not unite us as a country,” he added.

Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, Happy Mkandawire, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Tambala for his encouraging words regarding their work.

“I appreciate the words of encouragement from Archbishop Tambala today, urging us as security institutions to remain united. Through this Jubilee Year, let it be the beginning of our continuous connection, allowing us to visit and pray together,” Mkandawire said.

In his remarks, Captain Samson Mkandawire from Kamuzu Barracks, who was the vice-chairperson of the organizing committee, urged security personnel to bring hope to their colleagues and perform their duties with dedication and justice, as it is a calling from God to serve the nation.

The security institutions’ Jubilee is the second Jubilee celebration in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Religious missionaries in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe have been urged to interact and build strong relationships with the faithful by visiting them and encouraging them in their everyday lives.

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese said that as the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year priests, sisters, and brothers should play a significant role in bringing hope to people who are facing challenges in their lives.

His Grace made these remarks on Saturday 8th February 2025, at St. Patrick’s Parish in Lilongwe, during a mass, celebrating the World Day for Consecrated Life.

Archbishop Tambala urged that, as missionaries, they should dedicate themselves and enjoy being close to people in their communities, understanding the challenges they are facing.

“His Holiness Pope Francis has already indicated how this theme of hope can actually be put into practice. We must bring hope to situations like wars, poverty, hunger, and people who are sick. In all these areas, we need to practically show that we are missionaries of hope.”

In his remarks, director of Pontifical Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Father Geoffrey Chikapa, said that as PMS office they will encourage and promote unity with different congregations that are serving in the Archdiocese, so that they work together in spreading the word of God to the Christians.

“As people of God serving in the vineyard of the Lord, we have to be united despite that we are coming from different congregations, as blessed Paul Manna emphasized that as missionaries in the church, we have to be one”.

During this day of World Consecrated Life, Monsignor Henry Chimkanda also had a talk with Priests, Sisters, brothers, and the laity highlighting and giving them much insight on this year’s Jubilee, and what role the missionaries can take to give hope to the Christians.

This year’s World Day for Consecrated Life was celebrated under the theme, “Missionaries of Hope Among the People.”

By Titus Jata Phiri