The Catholic Women Association (CWA) in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe recently held a four-day Annual General Meeting from 21 to 24 August in the archdiocese. The meeting brought together over 200 member-leaders from the seven deaneries. Among other activities, the gathering discussed pressing issues affecting women and children including gender-based violence (GBV), parenting, spirituality and self-reliance.

During the meeting, Rev. Sr. Teresa Mulenga (Teresian Sister) facilitated a discussion on safeguarding policy and GBV. She emphasized the importance of Catholic women understanding the different forms of abuse and taking an active role in protecting children.

“Wards need not to be left unattended or solely in the hands of caretakers. Catholic women have a great role in protecting children from abuse and harassment,” she said.

Sr Mulenga as a facilitator at this year’s CWA AGM

She said that living holy lives and deepening faith and spiritual practices as parents promote positive relationships with children and consequently yields self-esteem among the children.

According to data Sr. Mulenga presented, Malawi faces significant challenges related to GBV with women and girl children disproportionately affected. She said that the Catholic Church, which covers about 30% of the Christian population is not immune to these challenges. She then recognized the important steps the CWA is taking to address these issues through awareness-raising and empowerment initiatives.

“The Council of Teresian Sisters has partnered with CWA to advance women’s spiritual and economic empowerment, as well as promote gender transformative awareness. This collaboration aims to support women in overcoming the challenges they face and promoting positive change in their communities,” she said.

The CWA annual general meeting demonstrated the commitment of Catholic women to addressing critical issues affecting their communities. By working together and supporting one another, they create positive change and promote a more just and equitable society.

By Sam Kalimba

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has made a strong call for parents to curb their children’s excessive use of social media and provide them with Bibles to nurture their spiritual development.

This appeal was a central theme of today’s confirmation Mass for 235 adolescents at St. Francis Parish in Kanengo, which has been presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa.

In his remarks, Bishop Mwakhwawa commissioned the newly confirmed youth as “missionaries.”

Bishop Mwakhwawa sharing his homily

His Lordship urged them to actively proclaim the Gospel and to remain dedicated to prayer, stating, “Prayer is a fundamental mission activity.”

He also issued a stark warning against the “evil” of modernization, specifically the “uncontrolled use of social media.”

The bishop stated that this can lead to addiction and “social psycho problems,” a trend he has witnessed in his pastoral work.

Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa confirms a new missionary for Christ

He also reminded the congregation of the holiness of the Eucharist, urging them to respect Jesus’ presence in the sacrament and to receive communion with reverence.

The new confirmed adolescent receives the Eucharist on tongue

Confirmands receive the sacrament of Eucharist

The Vice-chairperson of the St. Francis Parish Laity Council, Peter Chapola, has affirmed the council’s commitment to creating a supportive environment for the youth.

Mr Peter Chapola, Vice-chairperson of the St. Francis Parish Laity Council

He noted that the parish has various groups and has introduced Bible study classes to ensure young people “further their participation in church activities.”

Speaking on behalf of the newly confirmed, Xavierah Nthambi Likongwe shared her gratitude, stating that she and her peers are now “confirmed to go out and spread the Word of the Lord.”

Xavierah Likongwe, a representative of the confirmands, shares their journey to confirmation

She underscored the importance of Bibles and hymns as essential tools for their daily Christian lives.

In a symbolic act of promoting faith and knowledge, Bishop Mwakhwawa also blessed the parish’s new, not-yet-opened bookshop following the Mass.

The bishop concluded the day by interacting with members of the congregation.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

The persistent shortage of secondary schools in rural parts of Mchinji district continues to be a major challenge, contributing to high rates of early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

Speaking during a Confirmation Mass at St Joseph Parish (Ludzi), where 320 youths from Zulu and Ludzi zones received the Sacrament of Confirmation, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa expressed deep concern over the situation.

“Mchinji is one of the districts with a high number of children entering marriage at a young age, and as the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese, we find this very troubling.”

Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa

His Lordship emphasized the urgent need for the Church to take action to address the issue, noting that the future of the Church depends on nurturing responsible and educated leaders.

“I have visited both Guilleme and Ludzi Parishes in Mchinji, and I have observed that in rural areas, there are no secondary schools. Children are forced to walk long distances, about 10 kilometers, to access education, which is detrimental to their future,” said Bishop Mwakhwawa.

Bishop Mwakhwawa also commended the growth of the Church in Mchinji, highlighting the increasing number of Christians and adolescents receiving Confirmation.

Bishop Mwakhwawa administering the Sacrament of Confirmation at Ludzi Parish

He, however, warned that without addressing the educational challenges, poverty will increase, and this could hinder community holistic development.

Echoing his sentiments, Parish Chairperson Gibson Makoza, said the Ludzi Parish is actively exploring various strategies to support the youth and continue its development initiatives.

Makoza, Chairperson of St Joseph (Ludzi) Parish

He thanked Bishop Mwakhwawa for visiting Ludzi Parish, saying his presence was encouraging and brought attention to a critical issue that many parents have long lamented, the lack of secondary schools.

Meanwhile, Louis Lakiyoni, one of the Tilitonse mentors at St Joseph Parish, said they will continue teaching the adolescents various aspects of Catholic social teachings to deepen their faith.

A confirmand (in yellow and green) receives Holy Communion

The Confirmation of over 600 adolescents from St Joseph (Ludzi) and 1880 from St Anne’s (Guilleme) Parishes is a testament to the growth of the Catholic Church and the large youth population in Mchinji District.

St Joseph Parish (Ludzi) comprises four zones, 95 small Christian communities, and 26 outstations.

By Titus Jata Phiri

The Catholic Women Association (CWA) in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has begun its annual general meeting, with this year’s focus on the vital role of parenthood in shaping Christian families.

The four-day gathering, themed “Nurturing Parenthood: A Joyful Path to Happiness and Holiness,” is being held at the Children of the Nations in the Likuni Deanery, Lilongwe.

The event opened with a Eucharistic Mass led by Monsignor Patrick Thawale.

Monsignor Patrick Thawale opens the Annual General Meeting for Lilongwe CWA

In his homily, Monsignor Thawale challenged the women to live out the theme by fostering love, faith, and responsibility within their homes, emphasizing that strong families are the bedrock of a strong church and society.

CWA Chairperson, Mrs. Louisa Kamwaza shared her hope that the meeting will inspire women to deepen their sense of responsibility as mothers and caregivers.

Mrs. Kamwaza addresses the gathering

She added that the event is an opportunity to strengthen their unity as a faith-driven association.

The guest of honor, Dr. Agnes Chimbiri, commended the CWA for championing Christian family values.

Dr. Agnes Chimbiri, 2025 CWA AGM Guest of Honor

She encouraged members to extend their positive influence beyond their homes and contribute to broader social and community development.

Women from across the archdiocese are attending the meeting to share experiences and develop strategies to support parents in raising children grounded in Christian values.

By Monica Chinyama Lipiya

Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi in Nigeria presided over an evening Mass at Maula Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese Lilongwe on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, as part of his visit to Malawi.

The Mass was co-celebrated by Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe and attended by members of the International Small Christian community and local parishioners.

Bishop Ogun sharing his homily at Maula Cathedral, Lilongwe, Malawi

In his homily, Bishop Ogun shared reflections on two parables: the workers in the vineyard and the parable of the trees. He emphasized that every person has a unique and vital role to play in God’s plan, and encouraged the congregation to discover their purpose and contribute their gifts to the world. Bishop Ogun also spoke on the importance of human dignity in an increasingly technological world, urging the faithful to look to Jesus for guidance.

Following the Mass, Bishop Ogun expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Tambala for his hospitality, noting that their shared experience at the recent Synod on Synodality had deepened their friendship and strengthened their brotherhood. He concluded by thanking the community for welcoming him and celebrating the Eucharist together.

Bishop Ogun celebrating Eucharistic Mass at Maula Cathedral, Lilongwe, Malawi

Archbishop George Tambala, in turn, expressed his joy at the gathering, sharing a personal story about how encounters with people from different nations led to his own spiritual conversion. He praised the diversity and unity of the Church in Malawi, describing it as a “Pentecost experience” where people from various backgrounds come together to encounter Christ. His Grace thanked Bishop Ogun for his “excellent” contributions to the Synod and encouraged the faithful to continue growing together in faith.

Archbishop Tambala sharing his experience

Chekwas Okoronkwo, representing the International Small Christian Community, also spoke, thanking Archbishop Tambala for his visionary leadership in establishing international communities within the archdiocese. He noted that this initiative has allowed the West African Catholic community to actively participate in church activities.

The International Small Christian Community of Maula Cathedral representative, Chekwas Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo also thanked Bishop Ogun and expressed interest in collaborating with Nigerian Catholic groups like the “Knights of Our Lady of Nigeria” to support the church in Malawi, citing the Malawian “miphakati” (Small Christian Communities) system as a positive example of sharing and interaction.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe says it is committed in fostering good citizenship by investing in the lives of its young people in the Catholic Church.

This commitment has been reaffirmed by Archbishop George Desmond Tambala on 14th August 2025, during his pastoral visit and confirmation Mass at Kamwendo zone of Guillime Parish in Mchinji District.

Archbishop George Tambala on his first day at Pinda Zone, administering the Sacrament of Confirmation

Archbishop Tambala highlighted that the archdiocese has spent the past two years developing a comprehensive youth pastoral plan.

“In the past two years, we have been working on a master pastoral plan which clearly indicates that the archdiocese puts the youth at heart.”

Additionally, the Archbishop expressed his gratitude for the growth of the Catholic Church, saying the number of 682 of boys and girls who were confirmed at Kamwendo and Pinda Zones at the parish is a clear indication of the church’s growth.

On second day, the Archbishop Tambala administered the Sacrament of Commission to 525 adolescents at Kamwendo Zone

Following the conclusion of his pastoral visit to Msukwala, Kafulama, and Guilleme zones, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 1,198 adolescents and the Sacrament of the Eucharist to 553 children.

Echoing the words of Archbishop George Tambala, Auxiliary Bishop Mwakhwawa called on youths to embrace their roles as active missionaries and committed members of the Church.

His Lordship expressed his admiration for the growth of the Church and highlighted several challenges that need attention. He urged Christians at Guilleme Parish to serve the Church with zeal and to actively participate in all church activities.

On his first day, Bishop Mwakhwawa administered sacrament of confirmation and inspected the land with Zone church leaders

After confirmation, Bishop Mwakhwawa and Kafulama Zone church leaders inspect the land that the church occupiesBishop Mwakhwawa emphasized that the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has strategic plans to empower children and youths, spiritually and socially, recognizing them as the future leaders of the Church.

“This is a good sign for us as a Church, seeing an increasing number of children. However, we have noted the need for more formation. When the number of children is large but there are few teachers, the quality of formation can be compromised,” said Bishop Mwakhwawa.

Bishop Mwakhwawa giving Sacrament of Confirmation to the adolescents at Kafulama Zone

During his visit to Kafulama Zone, Bishop Mwakhwawa raised concern over the lack of a secondary school in the area, which forces youths to walk long distances to access education. He noted that Mchinji District has one of the highest rates of child marriages in the country and urged parents and traditional leaders to convene and discuss the possibility of establishing a secondary school.

“There is no secondary school in this community, which leads to school dropouts and early marriages, not out of choice, but due to lack of motivation. As a Church, we are concerned. I will report to the archbishop who sent me here, so we can plan together with the community and their Member of Parliament to construct a secondary school,” he said.

In her remarks, Mary Mandala, one of the adolescents confirmed at Kafulama Zone, applauded Bishop Mwakhwawa’s gesture, stating that having a secondary school in their area would significantly reduce cases of child marriage.

Mary Mandala

“Having a secondary school here would be a great motivation for us. We walk long distances to access education, and due to these challenges, many girls opt for marriage after completing Standard Eight,” she said.

Responding to the Bishop’s call, Group Village Head Kafulama, through a representative, pledged to engage fellow chiefs and the area’s Member of Parliament to explore ways of making the school a reality.

“We will sit down with my fellow chiefs to find ways to ensure that the secondary school is constructed in our area, as guided and requested by Bishop Mwakhwawa,” the representative said.

Cosmas Phiri, Vice Chairperson of Guilleme Parish, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Tambala and Bishop Mwakhwawa for their pastoral visit and for administering the Sacraments of Confirmation, Baptism, and Eucharist to the children. He noted that the visit had greatly motivated the children in their spiritual lives.

Phiri added that the Parish Council would convene to strategize on how to enhance participation in church activities and continue teaching Catholic social teachings, as requested by Bishop Mwakhwawa.

Kafulama Zone after the Sacrament of Confirmation and Eucharist

During the visit, Bishop Mwakhwawa also toured the church premises in Kafulama and Msukwala zones and held discussions with church leaders on how to safeguard and protect church land.

From this pastoral visit at Guilleme Parish by Archbishop George Tambala and Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa, a total of 1880 received the Sacrament of Confirmation, 553 received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and 102 received the Sacrament of Baptism.

Guilleme Parish comprises five zones and serves over 10,000 Christians.

By Titus Jata Phiri and Lester Mhone

As the global Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” the Catholic Church in Malawi, through the Episcopal body, the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), organized a National Eucharistic Congress as the climax of this celebration, themed “The Eucharist: Source and Summit of Pilgrims of Hope.”

This marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church in Malawi, as it was the first time bishops, priests, religious sisters, brothers, and lay faithful gathered to celebrate the Eucharist in such a unified and national manner.

Held at Maula Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe over five days, the Congress offered teachings aimed at helping Christians deepen their understanding and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist.

To demonstrate their faith in Jesus present in the Eucharist, and inspired by the teachings received during the Congress, the faithful participated in a Eucharistic procession from Maula Cathedral to St. Patrick’s Parish.

Many Christians took part, singing hymns and worshipping Jesus in the Eucharist along the way.

During the opening ceremony, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, Gian Luca Perici, emphasized that the Congress should help Christians better understand and deepen their love for Jesus in the Eucharist. He described the event as a unique opportunity for the Catholic Church in Malawi to reflect on the strength of its faith, spread the Word of God, and support those in need.

Apostolic Nuncio Gian Luca Perici, addressing Christians during the official opening of the National Eucharistic Congress

The Apostolic Nuncio also commended the bishops for bringing together Christians from across the country to celebrate Jesus in the Eucharist.

One of the sessions featured Father Enock Kanjira, a Lector from Kachebere Major Seminary, who taught on “Christ’s Presence in the Church, Especially in Liturgical Celebrations.” Father Kanjira stressed the importance of receiving Holy Communion as a way for Christians to connect with Jesus Christ.

Closing the Congress on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Maula Cathedral, the Episcopal body urged Christians to make good use of the teachings received during the congress.

MCCB president, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, encouraged Christians to take advantage of opportunities in their parishes to learn more about the Church teachings through their priests.

MCCB president Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese addressing the closing remarks of the Congress

Bishop Mtumbuka also called on Pastoral Secretaries in all dioceses in the country to ensure that similar congresses are held at diocesan levels within the next 12 months.

“Pastoral Secretaries, please take note of this, we want similar celebrations like this one to be done at all levels, in the dioceses, at least within the next 12 months.”

During the Congress, delegates made the following resolutions, which were presented by His Lordship Alfred Chaima of Zomba Diocese, who serves as Bishop President of the Pastoral Commission at MCCB.

Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyu Chaima of Zomba Diocese, Bishop President of the Pastoral Commission at MCCB, reading the resolutions

The resolutions were as follows, Promoting reverence to the Blessed Sacrament as the true and real presence of Christ, Priests as Ordinary Ministries of the Eucharist should promote reverence to the Eucharist, Having Adoration and Benediction in Parishes should be regarded as a private devotion for particular groups but an obligation for all Christians in every Parish, The format of Adoration as provided in the new Chichewa and Chitumbuka Hymn Books should be made known to all the faithful.

Liturgical celebrations should be properly prepared for, and choirs should aim at helping the congregation to actively participate in the liturgy by selecting songs that are well known to the worshipers, and receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is strongly commended.

The Congress was also inspired by Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, who also emphasized that the Centrality of the Eucharist in Christian’s life is not an option nor a personal choice, but a direct mandate from Jesus Christ himself.

Archbishop George Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe leading Adoration during the Eucharistic Congress

Speaking on behalf of the Christians, National Laity Chairperson expressed gratitude to the bishops for organizing the Congress, saying it has helped Christians strengthen their faith in various aspects of their lives.

National Laity Chairperson, Hastings Dowe

He also encouraged fellow Christians to actively participate in such gatherings to learn Church teachings and grow stronger in their Catholic faith.

The Congress featured various teachings, such as, Renewing and deepening our Eucharistic Faith, Centrality of the Eucharist in Family and Small Christian Communities, Centrality of the Eucharist in Consecrated Life, Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation as Preparation for the Eucharist.

During the Congress, Adoration, Benediction, and Eucharistic procession from Maula Cathedral to St. Patrick’s Parish in Area 18, also took a center stage of Congress.

The Congress was witnessed by Bishops, Priests, Religious Sisters, and lay faithful from all dioceses in Malawi, as well the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV , Secretary of State in Vatican, His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri and other international visitors.

Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri giving the Eucharist on the tongue

The Congress provided encouragement and strengthened the faith of Christians on their journey during this Jubilee Year, a true pilgrimage of hope.

By Titus Jata Phiri