The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has outlined five key priority areas for 2026, with more emphasis on spiritual growth.

Speaking after a planning meeting held on Monday December 22 at Msamba Catholic Conference Centre, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa stated that the primary vision of the archdiocese is to transform lives through Church teachings and social services.

Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa- Auxiliary Bishop of Lilongwe

“Everyone wants to do what they want, whether it is stealing or killing. A life without values is a dangerous life because, slowly, human beings are becoming like animals. This means we may create an animal kingdom instead of a human and Godly kingdom,”

“As a Church, we want to ensure transformation through prayer, preaching the Word of God, and spiritual practices such as adoration. Being in the presence of Jesus Christ and receiving Him in the Eucharist allows us to be one with Him. For Catholics, Eucharistic adoration is a vital means of transformation because it is God who changes and blesses us.”

Bishop Mwakhwawa also highlighted the promotion of integrity, professionalism, and transparency as essential for maintaining and promoting human values.

The Bishop explained that the archdiocese also plans to promote self-reliance, a culture of saving, and investment, in light of the country’s current economic situation.

The Bishop stressed the importance of planning for the future rather than daily consumption.

“What we get today, we often want to eat and finish today. Yes, we are poor, but we need to save. If you have a bag of maize, make sure you manage it properly so there is something for the next day. We want our institutions to embody this spirit of self-reliance and saving to keep things for the future.”

Another priority area is the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable community members, including children and the elderly, and upholding their rights.

The Bishop mentioned that in 2026, the archdiocese will launch its own safeguarding policy, building upon the existing framework of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB).

Finally, the Archdiocese reaffirmed its commitment to reaching out to the marginalized through charitable work.

The pastoral coordinator for the Archdiocese Reverend Father Frank Phiri has described the meeting as vital, saying it will help the departments and commissions to perform well in the coming year, saying failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Fr. Frank Phiri, planning is essential

By Lester Mhone

The workers and Curia of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe have been challenged to embrace hard work and total commitment to their duties.

Speaking during the Jubilee for Workers and the Curia today at Maula, Archbishop George Tambala emphasized the importance of collaboration.

His Grace Tambala urged the staff to avoid working in isolation and instead promote unity to achieve the Archdiocese’s goals.

Archbishop Tambala

“We must work together as pilgrims, pilgrims of hope. There is also the theme of the Synod; the Synod is also about working together.”the Archbishop noted.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocesan Human Resources Manager, Valentine Bandawe, mentioned that, the message of unity and dedication will be strictly implemented across all institutions.

Bandawe indicated that his office will develop mechanisms to ensure clear lines of communication with various commissions for easier follow-up and coordination.

Archdiocesan HR Manager, Bandawe

“We will keep in touch with them to gather feedback, If there are areas where we are falling short, we will ensure that corrective measures are taken.”Bandawe said.

Bandawe also proposed making an annual event for the workers to serve as a period of reflection and a reminder of the workers’ responsibilities.

The ceremony brought together representatives from various institutions, including the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) and the Catholic Health Commission (CHC), alongside other Archdiocesan staff.

The day featured spiritual sessions, including a talk on the Jubilee by Pastoral Coordinator Fr. Frank Phiri, a session on Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration led by Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa. The event concluded with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop George Tambala.

By Lester Mhone

The Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has announced its commitment to providing training for Holy Childhood formators across various parishes within the Archdiocese.

Father Geoffrey Chikapa, director of the PMS in the Archdiocese, made the announcement on Tuesday at St. Bernadette Parish, Chitula, during animation sessions conducted for Holy Childhood formators.

Fr Geoffrey Chikapa, Archdiocese of Lilongwe PMS director

The sessions were organized as a follow-up to weaknesses identified during Mission Month animations held in various outstations under Chitula Parish.

Father Chikapa emphasized the importance of these animations, noting that they will help Holy Childhood formators acquire the necessary skills for teaching children. He further explained that the PMS Office will continue offering similar programs in different parishes to ensure that Holy Childhood children are firmly grounded in the teachings of the Church and in their spiritual life.

Chitula Parish Priest Fr. Sojan John with PMS director Fr. Chikapa

“As the PMS Office, we have already identified other parishes in the Archdiocese where we will also go with our mission team responsible for the ministry of children, to animate the formators and encourage them in the work they are doing,” he said.

Mrs. Felistus Videde, chairperson responsible for children’s ministry in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, expressed optimism that the training will enable formators to provide quality lessons to children in their respective outstations.

Mrs Felistus Videde – We will make a follow-up

“Now it will be time for us to start making follow-ups to see the progress of children’s ministry in all the outstations under Chitula Parish, based on the animations we have provided to the formators,” she said.

In his remarks, Julius Chikanda, chairperson of Holy Childhood formators at Chitula Parish, said the training has motivated them to improve their methods of teaching children in order to strengthen their spiritual life.

The training was conducted in collaboration with the Archdiocesan mission team, with participation from formators representing 98 Small Christian Communities under Chitula Parish.

By Titus Jata Phiri

Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, the social arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has today distributed food relief assistance (maize) to 70 hunger-affected households in areas surrounding Christ the King Nambuma Parish in Dowa district.This initiative follows a five million Kwacha (K5,000,000) donation by Centenary Bank of Malawi. In the area, about 4,149 people are severely impacted by food shortages due to drought and other poor weather conditions experienced during the last farming season.

 

Tiwale Limodzi Foundation pose with Centenary Bank staff

Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, Brian Odhiambo, mentioned that the donation is part of the foundation’s response to the President’s declaration of a national hunger disaster and a fulfillment of the foundation’s goal to reach those in need.

“We look for long-lasting solutions. The problem bringing us here is a result of climate change. Climate change causes poor harvests, and this leads to hunger,” Odhiambo said.

Odiambo interacting with some of the beneficiaries

“Therefore, as part of our objectives, we carry out climate-resilient programs like afforestation, ecological cooking methods, and we also look into training and providing inputs to families so that they are empowered and can rely on themselves.” Odhiambo expressed appreciation to Centenary Bank for their partnership and appealed for further support from the corporate world. “We are very happy that Centenary Bank stepped in to support us with the additional funding, which we have used to distribute the food relief (maize) today.”

Centenary Bank Marketing and Customer Experience Manager, Linda Simwaka Nkosi, explained that the bank decided to donate to Tiwale Limodzi Foundation because they believe in transforming lives and making a societal impact in the areas where they operate.

“We are not just here to operate as a bank; at the end of the day, we also want to make an impact. So, whenever there are issues that people are facing out there, we reach out and touch lives because that’s one of the key areas that we, as a bank, strategically focus on,” Nkosi explained.

Simwaka Nkosi, we believe in transforming lives

Simwaka Nkosi pledged that the bank will continue working hand-in-hand with Tiwale Limodzi Foundation to reach out to those in need whenever possible.

Fr. Mangwere, Centenary Bank chaplain helps lift a bag of one of the beneficiaries

Nambuma Parish Priest, Father Maxwell Kubalasa, hailed Centenary Bank for the support, noting that it will significantly impact the families in dire need of food assistance.

“I’m equally happy to see Centenary Bank here helping at least 70 households. We won’t have enough for everybody, but at least we are having a little help from different groups to assist people. So we are grateful for whatever we can get from well-wishers,” Father Kubalasa commented.

Koleta Foster from Kabweramchombo village, a Christian from the Saint Anna Small Christian Community under Christ the King Parish, thanked Tiwale Limodzi Foundation and Centenary Bank for the support, saying the maize received today will go a long way in alleviating the hunger situation at her home.

By Lester Mhone