The Archbishop of Lilongwe, Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala, OCD, has officially announced the appointment of members to the Finance and Investment Council, the Investment Office/Directorate, and the Investment Taskforce of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

In a circular addressed to priests, religious, and the lay faithful, Archbishop Tambala conveyed his Christmas and New Year greetings and thanked God for His love and mercy as the Archdiocese begins the new year. He then outlined the new appointments aimed at strengthening financial stewardship and promoting sustainable investment initiatives within the Archdiocese.

Finance and Investment Council

The following have been appointed to serve on the Finance and Investment Council:

Mr. William Mwanza – Chairperson

Mr. Hugo Mlewa – Vice Chairperson

Mrs. Innocentia Ottober

Mrs. Bridget Jumbe

Mrs. Alice Makhambira

Mr. Moses Yakobe

Mr. Godfrey Byekwaso

Fr. Maxwell Kubalasa

Mr. Mphatso Naveya

Ms. Tione Chilambe

Ms. Abigail Dzimadzi

Mr. Tambulani Chunga

Investment Office / Directorate

Appointments to the Investment Office/Directorate are as follows:

Dr. Golden Banda – Investment Manager

Fr. Samson Kumkumbira – Director, Existing Archdiocesan Industries

Mr. Allen Mukwenha – Investor Stakeholder and Partnerships Officer

Mr. James Tayali – Investment and Projects Officer

Investment Taskforce

The Archbishop also constituted an Investment Taskforce to provide strategic guidance and oversight. Members include:

Dr. Golden Banda – Investment Manager and Chairperson of the Taskforce

Fr. Samson Kumkumbira

Mr. James Tayali

Fr. Francis Bisai

Ambassador Joseph Mpinganjira

Mr. Stephen Mangwaya

Mrs. Maness Nkhata

Dr. Limbani Nsapata

Mr. John Chome

Mr. Harry Msosa

Mr. Mphatso Naveya

In his message, Archbishop Tambala called upon the faithful to pray for those appointed, that they may serve the Church faithfully in fulfilling its mission of evangelization while working towards financial sustainability in the Archdiocese.

The appointments take effect immediately.

Issued by the Archbishop’s Office
Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe

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Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, His Grace George Desmond Tambala has today, 4th January 2026, led the faithful of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in the closing ceremony of the Holy Door of the Jubilee Year (Pilgrims of Hope) at Maula Cathedral.

In his message, the Archbishop emphasized that it is now time to live out the fruits of the Jubilee in practical ways across all levels of the Church.

His Grace reminded the congregation of the three pillars of Christian life: faith, hope, and love. While the Jubilee has highlighted the importance of hope, he urged believers to also deepen their faith and to hope for love. He stressed that when Christians are firmly rooted in these three virtues, they will be better equipped to address the pressing challenges facing the nation, including hunger, conflict, and poverty.

The Archbishop’s call was for a renewed commitment to embodying faith, hope, and love in daily life as a way of transforming both the Church and society.

The ceremony was attended by MCCB Secretary General, Very Reverend Father Valeriano Mtseka, National Pastoral Coordinator Father Joseph Sikwese, Maula Cathedral Administrator Father Francis Lekaleka, Archdiocese of Lilongwe Laity Chairperson, Mr. Patrick Limphava and many Christians who gathered to witness the occasion.

Here is the pictorial focus of the closing ceremony.

By Titus Jata Phiri

𝘉𝘺 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘢

The Archbishop of Lilongwe, His Grace George Desmond Tambala, declared the nation’s children as the ultimate “message of hope” for both the Church and the country during the 75th National Epiphany Sunday celebration at Likuni Parish.

The celebrations, held under the theme “Children be one in Christ, united in mission,” served as more than just a liturgical anniversary; it became a platform for the Archbishop to demand a renewed national commitment to the protection and nurturing of the youngest members of society.

Presiding over the Eucharistic Celebration, Archbishop Tambala connected the ancient story of the Epiphany—the visitation of the Magi—to the modern-day mission of the Church in Malawi.

“The Epiphany is a feast where we celebrate the coming of the Magi, the wise men who came from the East to visit the baby Jesus,” the Archbishop explained. “The East represented all the world, the Gentile world. So, it’s a time where the Catholic Church is inviting the whole world to look at Jesus as a savior.”

He emphasized that this invitation to the world finds its most local and urgent expression in the lives of children. “It’s a message of hope to the world, but also to our country, Malawi. The hope is actually in the form of our children,” His Grace stated.

The Archbishop’s address was a direct response to the voices of children captured during last year’s National Children’s Congress. He acknowledged that the youth are no longer silent about their needs, specifically seeking protection from abuse and a closer “accompaniment” from their parents.

Archbishop Tambala was transparent about the Church’s duty to move beyond words and into structural reform:

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: The Church has established dedicated committees at the parish, diocesan, and conference levels.

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: Safeguarding measures are being strictly implemented within Catholic schools and other centers of education.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲: These instruments are designed specifically to respond to the children’s call for protection from all forms of violence and exploitation.

“We have a duty to safeguard and protect them,” the Archbishop urged. “My message is to call for the respect and for the love of our children, wherever they may be, and to see that they are growing well and having all the needs that they have.”

The Archbishop’s vision was reflected in the leadership present at Likuni. Very Rev. Fr. Valeriano Mtseka, Secretary General of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration alongside Fr. Peter Madeya (National PMS Director) and Fr. Geofrey Chikapa (Lilongwe PMS Director).

Fr. Madeya noted that the impeccable way the children managed the day’s liturgy was proof of a “strong church in the future,” while Mr. Patrick Liphava, the Lilongwe Archdiocesan Laity Chairperson, confirmed that the Laity are already drafting work plans to bring the Archbishop’s protection policies to life at the grassroots level.

The most touching moment came from Blandina Phiri, a member of the Holy Childhood, who spoke on behalf of her peers. She asked parents and guardians to not only protect them but to “work with them and accompany them” as they grow in faith.

As the Archdiocese of Lilongwe closes the Christmas season with this Epiphany feast, Archbishop Tambala has set a clear agenda for 2026: a Church that is not only “Living” through its children but one that is actively fighting to ensure their safety and holiness.

As the Archbishop concluded, “The children are asking for the parents to work with them… and that is one of the mechanisms we want to respond to.”

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.

“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.

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.

“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