📸📷: 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.”

4 Nov. 2022
By Sam Kalimba

The Catholic Sisters from around Africa have been called on to sustain their identities and Charisms in order to bring the people closer to Christ. The African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) Alumni are in their 2022 annual meeting at an event taking place virtually attracting over 90 participants from countries like Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The meeting is running from 4^th to 6^th November.

The Executive Director of ASEC Sr Mary Cecilia Drau of the Congregation of Little Mary Immacualte of Gulu commended the participants for their commitment and the facilitators for their enlightenment that focused on the theme ‘Sustaining our identity and Charism in our Congregation to the people we work with and beyond.’

She went deeper to explain the meaning of identity and charism as light. She encouraged the participating Sisters to ensure remaining in the light of the Lord all the time.

“The children of darkness are smarter than the children of light. They have tricks to capture everyone while those of us who are children of light fail to capture everyone to light. Sometimes it is us the children of light who open windows of darkness to allow others sin,” she explained.

According to the co-facilitators, Rev. Fr. Israel Madziakaphwa, Dp and Rev. Sr Enelesi Chimbali from Malawi, the identities and different Charisms are there for the Sisters to work better than to confuse themselves and others.

“In Many Charisms that Institutes have, there is always a relationship to the people you are serving. One practical reason for that is that we want to bring people closer to Christ through what we do through our own identity,” one presentation reads.

The same presentation further says that there is richness in the differences in identities as formed by the different founders.

“The difference between congregations should not be based on the habit or they type of veil you put on, it should rather be based on the activities that you do in this world among the people of God,” reads part of the presentation slide by Fr. Madziakaphwa.

Fr. Israel further argued that it should be about the effects of their existence in a community and the impact that they make which cannot be made by others because it is only their field. He said that the only reason there are many congregations is that each of them answers to a different need of the Church and not the world.

ASEC is a non-profit organization from America operating in 10 African countries with the aim of Empowering Religious Sisters through Education. It offers scholarships for sisters to study in Institutions of higher learning like in Malawi at the Catholic University. Sisters going to college and secondary schools also benefit from ASEC scholarship programs. ASEC also provides skills development in Computer Basic Technology, Financial management and Administration. In Malawi, in the area of skills development sisters attend courses at AWRIM SECRETARIAT for a period of three years.

By: Grace Kapatuka, Association of Catholic Journalists (ACJ)

The Catholic Church in the country will on November 13, 2022 join the rest of the catholic faithful in the world in celebrating the World Day of the Poor with a national celebration taking place in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

In a press statement released on October 28, 2022 signed by the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Pastoral Coordinator Fr. James Mkwezalamba, the function will take place at Saint William (Mpale) outstation which is under St Francis parish in Kanengo.

The statement said the letter from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) released on October 26, 2022, remind the priests, sisters, seminarians, the laity and people of good will that Pope Francis on 20^th November 2016, in his Apostolic letter, Misericordia Et Misera (Mercy with misery) established the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time which is also the last Sunday before the Feast of Christ the King as the World Day for the Poor.

“We therefore appeal to all the parishes, lay groups and people of good will to have the representation on the day at the main function in solidarity with the Archdiocese and the entire Catholic Church and take part in the care for the poor by considering making various little contributions to support the activities of the day,” reads the statement.

Through the statement, Fr Mkwezalamba asked the laity and well- wishers to donate food items, clothes, laundry and sanitary items and other non-consumable items that can be donated to the poor on the day.

He said the day will start with a Eucharistic celebration that will be presided over by His Grace Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala, Archbishop of Lilongwe, followed by interaction and distribution of various items as a symbolic expression of works of charity to 150 needy people from Yepa, Tekateka and Chimpumbulu villages in Lilongwe.

He said the church will from the week exceeding November 13, 2022 engage itself in various sensitization activities and charity work to the poor arranged by all parishes, communities and catholic lay groups in the Archdiocese.

“We expect all parishes, churches, the laity and people of good will from across the country to continue taking care of all humanity especially those in the most vulnerable conditions of life,” he said.

This year, the day will be commemorated under the theme “For your sake Christ became poor.”

The World Day of the Poor is a Roman Catholic observance celebrated on 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time since 2017. The day was established by Pope Francis.

Staff Writer

Radio Alinafe this year has clocked 20 since it began broadcasting. The Radio was established to respond to the invitation of the Bishops during the Special Assembly of the Bishops of Africa in 1994 to make use of the instruments of communications to spread the Good News.

Radio Alinafe started from the very humble ‘studio’, the Bishop’s garage. It was on 14 March, 2002, on Thursday, at 19:00 during Lenten season. Gradually, with support from well wishers, under the leadership of late Fr. Gabriel Jana, who led the taskforce help started to flow and the old building, which used to house the studios changed shape.

During the 20 years it has been broadcasting programmes, the Radio has changed the lives of many people with its educative, informative and inspirational programmes of Catholic Catechism, health, agriculture, environment, etc.

In his homily, during the thanksgiving Mass, Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima, of the Diocese of Mangochi, who is also Chair for the Communications and Research department in the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) urged the media, especially Radio Alinafe to bring impact in the society to change the mind set, and to convert listeners.

Bishop Montfort Sitima, presided over the thanksgiving Mass

In his speech, the Director of the Radio, Fr. Louis Chikanya unveiled the vision and plans of the Radio. The Radio has the vision to establish the new national commercial radio station to widen the broadcasting area to reach many listeners.

Some of the Station’s objectives include:

(i) evangelisation,

(ii) fostering justice and peace,

(iii) offering a forum for the audience to debate on issues that affect their lives

(iv) promoting Catholic choirs.

(V) we also train students of journalism in practical experience.

Currently, the Station is served by few permanent staff and 35 volunteers; it broadcasts 24/7.

Bishop Sitima and Radio Alinafe Director with the awardees in different categories

St. Andrea Chilota Choir of St. Kizito Parish led the singing at the thanksgiving Mass

Mtima Woyera deanery choir entertained the audience

Radio Alinafe studios

Where the studio started in 2002