On Divine Mercy Sunday, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa presided over Mass at St. Augustine (Chimudzi) Outstation under St. Mathias – Lumbadzi Parish.

After the celebration, he held an important meeting with the parish youth to hear about their progress in preparing for the upcoming World Day of Prayer for Vocations on May 11, which the parish is hosting on behalf of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

The youth shared their enthusiasm and dedication to making the event a success. In response, Bishop Mwakhwawa encouraged them to learn about all types of vocations—priesthood, religious life, marriage, and single consecrated life—so they can better support and guide their peers.

He emphasized the power of prayer, the value of education, and the dangers of early marriage, urging them to build lives rooted in faith, purpose, and responsibility.

The young people assured the bishop of their commitment to following his advice.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations, observed on Good Shepherd Sunday, invites reflection on vocations and the Church’s mission.

This year’s local theme is “Youth Are Missionaries of Hope.”

Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has taken a strong and vocal stance against the ongoing issue of child marriages in Malawi.

During his recent visits to several parishes within the Likuni Deanery—including Holy Rosary Likuni, Nathenje, Mlale, Namitete, and Chilinda—as part of Holy Week celebrations, Bishop Mwakhwawa called on parents, traditional leaders, and communities at large to actively combat the harmful practice.

“Child marriage not only disrupts the education of our young girls but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and health complications,” Bishop Mwakhwawa stated in an interview.
“We must challenge this harmful practice and encourage our children to pursue their education diligently.”

Holy Rosary Likuni Parish Priest, Father Damiano Chitha, highlighted the tragic consequences of early marriages, noting that they have led to the loss of many young lives.

He emphasized the role of the Catholic Chiefs Association in disseminating messages aimed at curbing this malpractice.

Senior Group Mtanga, chairperson of the Catholic Chiefs Association at Likuni Parish, expressed readiness to continue combating child marriages.

“We are committed to fighting this vice and encouraging both girls and boys to excel in their education,” he said.

Despite legislative efforts, including the 2017 amendment that raised the legal marriage age to 18, child marriage remains prevalent in Malawi.

The Catholic Church’s renewed advocacy aligns with national strategies aimed at reducing child marriage rates by 20%.

The Church strives to create a safer and more equitable future for Malawi’s youth.

By Brenard Mwanza

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has amplified calls by some citizens whose farm fields were affected by the dry spells, hailstorms and floods in some parts of the country.

This follows reports indicating that Malawi will continue to face significant food security challenges during the 2025/2026 lean season, especially in the southern and central regions, due to these adverse climatic conditions and ongoing economic pressures.

The Church’s development arm, CADECOM, has stated that “all districts in southern Malawi are currently facing Crisis-level outcomes (IPC Phase 3) due to below-average crop production, limited livelihood opportunities, and high food prices.”

Similar food security conditions “are also observed” in parts of the central region, particularly in Lilongwe, Mchinji, Nkhotakota, and Salima.

One of the affected fields in Lilongwe

During our visit to some fields in central and southern Malawi, affected farmers expressed despair, fearing they would be unable to provide food for their families, especially as even alternative crops like beans have also failed.

“The maize started well in our fields, but due to prolonged dry spells, it didn’t survive. The fertilizer we applied was lost, and we couldn’t afford to start all over again,” said Group Village M’bwinja of Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe.

A Blantyre-based farmer, Tereza Langton, told us that the failed maize production will increase challenges in her household, as she will not be able to provide for basic needs, including school fees for her children. “We need a hand from well-wishers,” she pleaded.

In a separate interview, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Right Reverend Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa, said the Church is concerned about the shortage of food in rural communities, where many already impoverished individuals will suffer.

“They will struggle because they do not have the income to buy food that is now expensive,’’ he lamented.

He further stated that the Church is linking with government departments and other stakeholders to identify such communities, and through “our church institutions like parishes, the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) and the Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, will also be used to support some communities with food relief.”

Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa- Auxiliary Bishop of Lilongwe

The Auxiliary Bishop, on behalf of the Archbishop of Lilongwe the Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala, however, calls for more support from well-wishers to aid these affected households.

As one way of empowering community members toward food security, Bishop Mwakhwawa said “the agricultural inputs would also be helpful for these households so that they can use their land in the winter cropping season to grow crops for use in their households.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s second-round Agricultural Production Estimates Survey (APES), released in March 2025, approximately 79,119 hectares of crops have reportedly been destroyed due to dry spells, hailstorms, and flooding affecting 141,994 households.

Other districts that have also been affected with these adverse climatic conditions include Dowa, Ntchisi and Kasungu in the central region; Karonga and Mzuzu in the northern region; and Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba and Phalombe in the southern region.

A report published last year by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) stated that approximately 5.7 million people were projected to experience food insecurity during the peak lean season from October 2024 to March 2025.

END.

By Brenard Mwanza

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Right Reverend Vincent Mwakhwawa has encouraged the faithful to understand that God is always ready to forgive, regardless of the severity of their sins.

Bishop Mwakhwawa referenced the biblical story of Christ forgiving an adulterous woman (John 8:1-11) as a key example of divine forgiveness, encouraging the faithful to pursue a righteous life instead of succumbing to sin.

Delivering his homily at St. Gabriel Outstation which is under Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish in Mtandire – Lilongwe on Sunday April 6, 2025, the Auxiliary Bishop further stressed that God’s forgiveness is not contingent on perfection but is available to all who seek it.

“Christ wants us to experience God’s forgiveness and mercy. Therefore, it is important for us as believers to know that in whatever state we are, especially a state of sinfulness, we should know that God is ready to forgive us,” his lordship stated.

Bishop Mwakhwawa sharing homily at St. Gabriel Outstation

Bishop Mwakhwawa further encouraged the faithful to pray for one another to collectively grow in strength against temptation and to support each other’s journey towards righteousness.

On Human Struggles, Bishop Mwakhwawa noted that many people harbor hatred and anger, which lead to violence and conflict, emphasizing the importance of addressing these feelings through Christ.

“There are wars in people’s hearts, and they may commit murder, causing significant human harm. We need Christ to renew our lives and forgive our sins but also help us gradually grow into a life of forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation,” he added.

The bishop concluded by calling the faithful to actively share the Gospel and Christ’s teachings with those who struggle with sin, promoting a united front against evil in the world.

End.

By Brenard Marko Mwanza