The Archbishop of the Lilongwe archdiocese of Lilongwe George Desmond Tambala has called on the catholic men organisation to be active with the aim of developing the archdiocese.

His Grace expressed a concern of poor participation on church activities among men which he cited that needs to be improved.

On this, His Grace has set a committee which will lead a two months research aimed at finding factors leading to men not to be active in church activities.

Among others the Archbishop cited the need for CMO membership to grow in their spiritual life.

On the other hand, Archbishop noted that among the men there are many skills and expertise that the church can tap from for example, financial knowledge.

On his part CMO chairperson in the Archdiocese Gibson Mkanda assured His Grace that the research will be done within the stipulated period of time.

Participants came from all the seven deaneries in the Archdiocese.

CMO chairperson Gibson Mkanda at the podium

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi on 03 February 2023 launched a child and vulnerable adults Safeguarding Policy at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi headquarters in Lilongwe.

The event was graced by all the bishops of Malawi and other stakeholders in the church.

In a keynote address, the chairperson of the conference His Grace George Tambala said the church is serious and committed in protecting the children and vulnerable adults from any kind of abuse in the country.

“Our children are the roots and seeds of future generation; we must continue to build in the youth.”

Abuses of children and vulnerable adults include beating, bullying, accusations of witchcraft etc.

Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa, bishop chair for Safeguarding Policy distributed the policy documents to all the bishops and other stakeholders from different dioceses in the country.

The policy in line with United Nations defines a child as one who is below 18 years of age.

His Grace George Tambala handing over the Safeguarding Policy document to Bishop chair for ECM Safeguarding Policy, Rt. Rev. Peter Chifukwa

Bishops and students from catholic schools around Lilongwe

By Sam Kalimba:

The outgoing Papal envoy to Malawi and Zambia His Excellence Archbishop Giafranco Gallone expressed satisfaction with the unity that the College of Bishops in the Episcopal Conference of Malawi showed during his tenure of office. Nuncio Gallone said this on Saturday 28 January in Lilongwe on the occasion of installing a Sacred Pallium on the Metropolitan See of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lilongwe, His Grace Archbishop George Desmond Tambala.

“When I account for my nunciature visits in this Conference, I come up with a general observation that the Conference is united. The speeches here in the Cathedral, reminds me of my first day to arrive in this country. I was welcomed by dances from the airport all the way to the Catholic Secretariat. All the bishops were there and seemingly indicating to me of their unity. I have been to almost all the 8 dioceses except on of Chikwawa in the ecclesiastical province of Blantyre. Specifically, I was here to consecrate Right Rev. Peter Chikuwa of the Diocese of Dedza, I came to the funeral ceremony of late Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye and again to install Archbishop George Tambala in Lilongwe. I was also in the Catholic Diocese of Karonga last year and in the Archdiocese of Blantyre when I presented my letters of credence to the then President of the Conference Archbishop Thomas Msusa. In these few occasions I learnt a lot about the unity of the Conference and as I leave, I implore that you maintain the standards,” said Gallone.

He also reminded the faithful in Malawi that when he arrived, he found the Catholic Diocese of Dedza without a Bishop and he assisted in filling the gap, when Archdiocese of Lilongwe lost a prelate, he worked hard for the replacement and that by the time he will be leaving this part of Africa he will have finalised the replacement of local ordinary for the Catholic Diocese of Zomba in the ecclesiastical province of Blantyre.

“I should say even the work to get a prelate for Zomba where the Archbishop Tambala left a gap is done. By the time I will be completing my work in this part of Africa, I shall have left all the dioceses with their shepherds in place,” said the Papal Envoy.

He also told the congregants in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe that he was surprised that his tenure started in 2019 with an investiture of a Sacred Pallium of the Archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia and that it is ending in 2023 with a similar function in Lilongwe, Malawi.

He also revealed that the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed him to take up the same diplomatic role in Uruguay.

“I tell you it is not my program. I met the Holy Father in December last year and I expressed my surprise on the new appointment. I thought I would remain here just as most of my predecessors stayed six, eight and others ten years. I thought I would stay longer but life of a nuncio is like that of our father in faith, Abraham. You leave your place and go where God shows you and count on His mercy.”

His Excellence Most Rev. Giafranco Gallone was working on having a Nunciature House in Malawi situated near the Catholic Secretariat in the capital Lilongwe.

In another development His Excellency Most Rev. Gianfranco Gallone bid farewell to the Republican President His Excellence Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera at his state residence in Lilongwe on Tuesday 31^st January, 2023. The State President was monitored to have said that the two agreed to consolidate cordial partnership between the Roman Catholic Church and government in order to improve lives of Malawians in all spheres of human development.

His final pastoral task in Malawi was to officially open the first 2023 Plenary of Bishops on Monday 30^th January, 2023 at the Catholic Secretariat. Among others, the Catholic Bishops are to discuss matters pertaining to resolutions passed at the 20^th AMECEA Plenary held in Dar es Salaam in July, 2022.

End.

📸📷: Eric Norman Mkwaira and Noel Billy

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

On Saturday 28th January 2023, the Archbishop of Lilongwe Archdiocese His Grace George Desmond Tambala was given the Sacred Pallium at Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe, Malawi as symbol of authority, service and communion with the Pope.

Archbishop Tambala professing the faith before reception of the Sacred Pallium

The Nuncio conferring Pallium to His Grace George Desmond Tambala

The Sacred Pallium was conferred by His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone who also bid farewell to the congregation that gathered in the cathedral as he will be serving in Uruguay.

The event was graced by all the bishops of Malawi including Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Archdiocese of Blantyre. In attendance was also the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima and his wife Madam Mary Chilima and other government dignitaries.

Archbishop Msusa delivering the homily at the conferral of the Pallium

In his homily, Archbishop Thomas Msusa said the leader should have the smell of the sheep that he shepherds because it is the meaning of the Pallium. And he continued to say that a leader, the Archbishop, should admonish the people that are involved in evils and should stick to the truth even if there may be fears of arrests. He lamented the suffering of the poor people in the villages that they fail to get farm inputs because of the failure of our political leaders to properly and fairly administer the Agricultural Input Programme AIP in the country.

In his remarks the Papal Nuncio encouraged Archbishop Tambala to depend on the care and support of God as he manifests the love of Christ. In his special address to the faithful, he acknowledged and felt with them the struggle that they go through in life. He however exhorted them to surrender to the care of the Holy Trinity.

“The life of the christians is the life of struggles, it is not easy. But the struggle is to maintain alive our faith not double life standards that during the day you go to church and at night you go to the diviners.”

In his conclusion, the Nuncio asked for prayers from the faithful and the clergy as he goes to work in another country.

The Pallium is made from the wool of the sheep, and the crosses on the Pallium means that the Archbishop should suffer with the people that he leads. Every Archbishop is given the Pallium on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul in the Vatican and it is conferred to him in his own Archdiocese by the Apostolic Nuncio in that region.

By Sam Kalimba:

Catholic Perspective, a radio program that airs on Radio Alinafe of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe on 11 January, 2023 Wednesday night vindicated a Malawi Government move to suspend opening of schools.

The Presidential Task Force on Covid19 and Cholera suspended on 2^nd January the opening of second term for all the schools in the major cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe until after ten working days.

In the program, a Mr. David Kanyerere an environmental health officer at a Catholic rural based Likuni Hospital in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe said that government did well in suspending the opening of the schools in the two districts.

“Actually, we are just winding up an exercise called preschool opening inspection sanctioned by the Lilongwe District Health Office. I still find more work to be done in most schools that I have inspected. Here is an example. Our government policy on use of public toilets stipulates that one public toilet should serve 60 people. This is not in our schools. Most schools I have visited have not more than 12 toilets against an enormous enrolment say of about 3,000 learners. This population requires 50 toilets if we are to be that compliant. I don’t think we have a good school that can erect the deficit 38 toilets within days. It is for this reason that I want to agree with the decision made by the Presidential Task Force not to open these schools at that time,” informed Kanyerere.

By this moment, David Kanyerere had presented a daily update of Cholera situation in the country as provided by the task force. He read out that in the previous 24 hours the country had registered 589 new Cholera cases with a total of 17 deaths. He said that in these figures Blantyre had 117 cases while Lilongwe had 106 cases. He indicated that the remainder was from all the remaining 27 districts with none above 27 cases. On the deaths’ figures, Kanyerere said that Lilongwe a lone had 7 deaths.

Concurring with Kanyerere were Catholic Priests, Rev. Frs. Louis Chikanya and Elias Chizule.

“I want to support the move government made. I have moved around some schools including those belonging to the Church. I find no joy in the conditions and ratio of toilet users to the facilities themselves. We should have experienced more deaths than what we have now if it were not for this move. There is too much congestion of learners in our schools,” said Fr. Louis.

“My first concern when I heard about the suspension was on the fairness of the Ministry of Education to allow other schools operate while others not. I feared for those writing national and international examinations this year. However, based on what we have heard based on health matters I want to agree that it was indeed a good decision. Health first and education can come later,” said Fr. Elias.

The program also highlighted on the need to have more water points in schools to allow all learners and teachers access clean water during the Cholera outbreak and beyond.

Some health specialists commented on the program that was recorded and rebroadcast on YouTube. One such specialist is a Mr. Kent Mphepo now studying public health at a college of medicine who wrote, “This is a very beautiful program indeed coming from the Catholic community. I watched and learnt many new things about cholera and how it can be rolled back. I particularly liked the emphasis on both prevention and enforcement.”

Meanwhile, the presidential task force released a statement calling for opening of all schools in the Blantyre and Lilongwe on Tuesday 17^th January, 2023.

“Having reviewed the steps taken to date, those planned for the short to medium and long term, the cooperation of the school authorities in the two districts and other districts across the country, and Malawians in general, I am pleased to advise that the Taskforce is satisfied to allow primary and secondary schools in the two districts to open as from Tuesday 17th January 2023,” authored Co-Chairperson of the task force Hon. Khumbize Chiponda.

The current spell of Cholera outbreak in Malawi started in February, 2022.

End.

ARCHBISHOP GEORGE TAMBALA OF LILONGWE OPENS THE 46^TH PARISH IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE

Parish priests of Nambuma and Namitete parishes handing over parish books to the new Parish priest of the new parish in the presence of the Archbishop

Archbishop Tambala on 19 November, 2022 led the congregation in the Solemn Mass of the opening of St. Bernadette, Chitula Catholic parish. The new parish has been created from the two other parishes of Christ, the King, Nambuma parish in Dowa deanery and St. Peter’s Namitete parish in Likuni deanery.

In his homily, based on the gospel according to Luke, chapter 23 from verses 35 to 43, the Bishop encouraged all the parishioners of the new parish to be united, not to segregate one another on the basis of the differences they have. Like on the cross of Christ, three languages were used; Greek, Latin and Hebrew, meaning; let all the differences benefit the Church. “The Romans spoke Latin, the Greeks in Jerusalem spoke Greek and the Jews spoke Hebrew. Jesus Christ on the cross unified all to himself. In Epiphany, we remember the manifestation of Jesus Christ to all the people. Therefore, let all of you be united,” he said. He continued to say that even at Pentecost, people from all sides of the earth, from Ponto, Phrygia, Egypt, Medes, Mesopotamia and other places who were in Jerusalem were able to understand the different languages because, with the Holy Spirit, we all become one.

Chiefs’ Committee with the Archbishop

At the same function, the Archbishop instituted the Catholic Chiefs’ Association. He already formed the Chiefs committee in an acting capacity. The committee comprises Senior Traditional Authority, Kalolo of Lilongwe, Senior Traditional Authority Khongoni of Lilongwe, Inkosi Zulu Jele of Mchinji, Traditional Authority Pinda, also of Mchinji and others. Monsignor Patrick Thawale is part of the committee, representing the Archdiocese. Fr. Deus Dedit Kanyambo, from the Archdiocesan tribunal and Fr. Steven Chikhasu has been appointed as Chaplain of the Catholic Chiefs’ Association. The Bishop encouraged the chiefs to promote tolerance among the people and allow everyone to freely display their talent in the communities.

Chiefs giving a gift of a goat to the Archbishop

His Grace gave hope to the people of Chitula of the developments that will come at the new parish. He promised that with the cooperation of other stakeholders a hospital and school are possible at the parish.

St. Bernadette, Chitula parish has five zones, 26 outstations and 95 small Christian communities. Of the 95 small Christian communities, 74 have come from Christ the King parish, Nambuma and 21 small Christian communities have come from St. Peter’s Namitete parish.

The new parish will be served by the St. Vincent de Paul priests, otherwise also known as the Vincentians, and Fr. Sojan John is the first Parish priest of the new parish, of Chitula.

Chitula new church building under construction

Communications Office:

On the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church in Malawi joined the rest of the Catholic faithful in the world to pray and support the poor. The national event this year took place at St. William, Mpale outstation of St. Francis Kanengo Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. His Grace George Tambala, the Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, led the Solemn Mass.

In his homily, the Archbishop said the Scriptures do not lack examples on the poor. He said that the Bible is full of examples about the poor people. He continued that even Jesus Christ himself was born from a poor village and poor family. He said that he was born in poor conditions.

The Archbishop exhorted the congregation not to despise the poor. He specifically asked the young girls and boys not to scorn their fellow pupils at school because of poverty.

“I ask you children not to despise your fellow pupils at school because of poverty. Respect them. They are also the children of God.” he said.

The Archbishop lamented the unbecoming behaviour of some people who employ house maids or guards but pay them miserably. He said by paying our workers little wages, we prolong their poverty and we are responsible for their sufferings.

Bishop Tambala, National Pastoral Coord. centre and National CADECOM lady handing over gift to the needy

His Grace also wondered that parishes are able to organise fundraisings for parish developments such as building parish fences, priests’ rectories and other developments, but never heard of parishes fundraising for the poor, yet at the same parish there are poor students who have been sent back home because they have not paid school fees. He also said that at the same parish there may be people who fail to receive proper medical care because they are too poor to afford drugs. The Bishop challenged the faithful to think seriously about the poor.

Archbishop Tambala with some of the needy at Mpale Church, Archdiocese of Lilongwe

The National Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Joseph Moloka Sikwese who was accompanied by Fr. Henry Chinkanda, also from the National office, graced the event.

                        Offertory time

Pope Francis, at the end of the Year of Mercy in 2016 declared the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time to be the day to consider, pray and support the poor in any way possible. He said throughout the world, Christian communities can become an ever-greater sign of Christ’s charity for the least and those most in need.

The theme for this year was from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, 8 verse 9, “For your sakes, Christ became poor.” At the end of the celebration of the Solemn Mass, the identified needy people from around the villages of St. William, Mpale Church received some food stuffs, soap and other items; a contribution from well-wishers. All the parishes are encouraged to continue helping the poor in different ways.

“AMECEA NEWS: MALAWI: Archbishop of Lilongwe tells Clergy to Free the Departed” http://amecea.blogspot.com/2022/11/malawi-archbishop-of-lilongwe-tells.html?m=1

Every second Tuesday of November is the Archdiocesan day for prayers  dedicated to the departed clergy and the Religious and this year the day fell on 8th November.

This year, His Grace, George Desmond Tambala encouraged us all that are alive to pray for our departed fellow servants of God.

Commenting from the gospel passage of John 11 about the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the Bishop said, “Like Jesus said about the raised Lazarus, let us allow our brothers and sisters to go. Let us forgive them their sins and let them go.”