Catholic Women Organisation participated at the Min Synod launch

Representatives of groups received candles and salt at the launch

Synod Commission Chairperson, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa making his remarks at the launch of the Min Synod

Synod Commissioners

Fr. Louis Chikanya, 30 July, 2022

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe on 30th July, 2022 launched an Archdiocesan Min Synod which will run for one year. The Synod is themed, discerning with the Holy Spirit. The Archbishop calls all stakeholders to walk together, to work together and to discern together with the Holy Spirit.

The Archbishop has called for the Min Synod to make a consultation with all the groups in the Archdiocese to look at the Pastoral, Liturgical, Finance and Investment and Social Development issues.

SYNOD COMMISSIONERS AND COMMITTEES

1. 1. 1. Synod Chairperson:                                Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa
      2. Pastoral Coordinator:                            Fr. James Mkwezalamba
      3. Financial Administrator:                      Mr. Alfred Ngalande
      4. Diocesan Council of Priests:                Fr. Innocent Mtapaonga
      5. Association of Women Rel. in Mw:   Sr. Veronica Ng’omba
      6. Association of Men Rel. in Mw:          Br. Francis Jumbe
      7. Chairperson of Laity Council:             Mr. Gabriel Kamlomo
      8. Chairperson of C.W.O.:                          Mrs. Christine Lupiya
      9. Chairperson of C.M.O.:                                  Mr. Ignatius Chadwala
      10. Catholic Professionals:                                   Dr. Henry Chingaipe

Liturgical dancing girls at the Synod Launch

Deans of Deaneries at the launch of the Min Synod

Clergy at the launching Mass for the Min Synod

Catholic Men at the launching Mass for the Min Synod

His Grace lead the liturgy at the launch

Likuni Parish Choir lead the singing at the Min Synod launch

Rev. Sisters in attendance of the Min Synod launch

His Grace commissioning a representative of the Men Religious

His Grace commissioning the representative of the laity

His Grace invoking God’s blessings on the congregation at the launch of the Min Synod

Fr. Louis Chikanya, 9 July, 2022

St. Philip Church, which formerly belonged to Utatu Woyera Parish of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has been elevated to the status of the parish making the total number of parishes in the Archdiocese to 43.

Archdiocese of Lilongwe is divided into seven deaneries of Maula, Mtima Woyera, Mchinji, Likuni, Salima, Madisi and Dowa. The Archdiocese of Lilongwe has an area of over 24, 000 square kilometres.

His Grace, George Desmond Tambala, in his homily exhorted the faithful of the new parish to move together, to listen to the Word of God and to explain the Word of God to one another. Based on the work of St. Philip, the Apostle, he encouraged the parishioners to have zeal for evangelisation.

St. Philip the Apostle Parish becomes the second parish to be opened by Archbishop George Tambala, following the opening on 11 June, 2022 of St. Barnabas, Dwangwa Parish in Nkhotakota.

The parish has about about 1000 Christians and catechumens.

His Grace rededicating the Church – St. Philip Parish, area 44

Alter girls at the opening of the new parish of St. Philip

The new Parish Priest, Fr. Alberto Elifala enthroned as the Pastor for the new Parish

The new Parish Priest showing the books of registration of Christians

Fr. Alberto pledging obedience to the Local Ordinary as he takes up the responsibility of the new parish

HIs Grace, George Tambala enthroning the newly appointed Parish Priest

Archbishop Emeritus Remi Ste-Marie, born on 11 January, 1938 in Canada departed to the Father on 18 June, 2022.

Fr. Remi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie was ordained Bishop for Dedza diocese in 1998. He was appointed Bishop for Dedza in 2000. He was made coadjutor Bishop of Lilongwe on 18 February, 2006 and on 4 July, 2007 he was appointed Bishop for Lilongwe diocese until 9 February, 2011 when he was appointed Archbishop of Lilongwe when the diocese was raised to the status of the archdiocese.

Most Rev. Remi Ste-Marie retired on 13 July, 2013 as Archbishop Emeritus for Lilongwe Archdiocese. He chose to stay in Salima along the lake of Malawi.

May his soul rest in peace.

Bishops laying wreaths in memory of Archbishop Emeritus Remi Ste-Marie in Maula Cathedral

Papal Envoy to Malawi and Zambia, His Excellency Gianfranco Gallone making his eulogy.

Bishops on an entrance procession for the requiem Mass in Maula Cathedral

His Grace George D. Tambala on an exit procession. To his right is Fr. Augustine Kaliu, MC

Clergy on an entrance procession for the requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Emeritus Remi Ste-Marie

May his soul rest in peace

Installing the new parish priest for St. Barnabas parish, Fr. Kennedy Malemya

The new parish priest showing the letter of appointment

The new parish priest showing the key to the parish church

Radio Alinafe team at Chitowe stadium recording the event

Clergy at the procession at the opening of the new parish

His Grace handing the appointment letter to the new parish priest

His Grace, left and Fr. Augustine Kaliu at the unvailing site

His Grace, George D. Tambala

The decree with the protocol number, gdt/cal/pd/ba/2022/01 established the new parish in Matiki/Dwanga in Nkhotakota with the new Parish Priest, Fr. Kennedy Malemya, enthroned by His Grace, George Desmond Tambala.

The new parish has been partitioned from St. Paul, Nkhotakota Parish, established in 1978 by the Missionaries of Africa. With this new parish, the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has now 42 parishes, seven deaneries. The new parish is in Salima deanery.

Four other parishes: St. Philip – State of Utatu Woyera parish, St. Anthony of Kaggwa parish, St. Bernadetta – Chitula of Nambuma parish and Maria Gorretti – Manyani of Madisi parish will soon be launched.

The new parish has about four thousand christians.

His Grace unvailing the plague for the new parish at Matiki Centre

Catholic Women dancing for the new parish at the Chitowe stadium after the celebration of the launching Mass

His Grace cutting the ribbon at the opening of the new parish

This was designed for Maula.

Sam Kalimba

Archdiocese of Lilongwe will relocate the Cathedral from the Our Lady of Africa – Maula to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary – Likuni Parish.

His Grace Archbishop George Desmond Tambala announced this on the sidelines of the installation of Rev. Fr. Innocent Mtapaonga as Dean for Likuni Deanery on Friday, 20 May, 2022.

He said: “The Cathedral site has been changed from Maula to Likuni where the Archdiocese has a lot of land and where the project can be realized with enough space for development of other structures like offices, parking space, future shrine and other relevant additional infrastructure.”

The Archbishop read a letter from his Office to all the Catholic priests, religious and the laity. Part of the letter reads, “Sometime back, together with the late Archbishop Tarcizius Ziyaye, we as Archdiocese embarked on a very important project to build a cathedral that would offer us enough space for the much-needed Eucharistic celebrations and other liturgical rites. The project was paused after the passing away of the late Archbishop Ziyaye.”

The letter continues to inform the Church that after due consultation, and in the meeting of the College of Consultors held on the 11^th of May 2022, it was decided that the project should commence.

The Archbishop said that the initial project was quoted at over 7 billion Malawi Kwacha due to the many architectural aspects of the project and also considering the place on which the cathedral was to be built.

He said that the project budget has since been revised to allow for a cost that all parishes can afford to contribute. He said that the revised cost would be communicated to the Archdiocese soon.

His Grace said the Church is very grateful for the financial contribution that has been realized already with the help of all parishes in the Archdiocese. He also said that the Church is committed to providing regular financial reports on the project. He said that with the current funds available, the Church is confident of starting the project very soon. He further mentioned that there is going to be the Eucharist Celebration of the laying of a foundation stone and commencement of the project.

Likuni is the historical site of the first cathedral of the archdiocese of Lilongwe dating back to 1903.

Archbishop George Tambala exhorted his fellow priests in his Archdiocese to develop good habits. He expounded his reflection from the Gospel according to Luke 4: 16-20 where Jesus went into the synagogue of his own village, according to the custom. He was given the scroll to read.

Bishop Tambala emphasized on cultivating the good custom to bring the Good News of God to the people the clergy serve.

The clergy should be the liberators of the people. Many of the people of God are in different prisons, they need a priest to get them out of prison.

Bishop Tambala celebrated the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper on Holy  Tuesday with his priests and some of the faithful in the Archdiocese. In the Mass, priests recommitted to their promises at ordination. The Bishop blessed the Holy Oils that priests will be using for the sick, for Baptism and for the catechumens.

One of the priests carrying the oil to the alter

Bishop Tambala incensing the alter

Bishop Tambala mixing the oils to make Chrism

The oils for the sick, catechumens and for Baptism and for anointing the newly ordained

Archbishop Tambala At Kaggwa on 27 March

Sam Kalimba

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe engaged the youth in his speech to a multitude of Christians who gathered at St. Andrew Kaggwa Parish in his Archdiocese during a Confirmation Mass on Sunday 27 March, 2022.

He preached Jesus’ temptation in Mathew 4:1 ff where He was tempted to do something spectacular by throwing Himself off the temple and having His angels rescue Him, as what the youth are always undergoing.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This is why I understand our youths. Just looking at the second temptation we appreciate that our youths struggle to resist temptations of earthly life. I have a word for you dear youths, especially you who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Angels will not rescue you. You will through yourself down from the top and nobody will rescue you. You will remain with the pain, shame, scars, and mad. So, to avoid this predicament to befall you, stay focused, resist the temptations of smoking, drinking and drug abuse. I repeat, the Angels will not rescue you,” preached His Grace.

The Archbishop further referred to Mark 8:36, “For how is a man benefited if he should gain the whole world and he should lose his soul?”

On this he advised the newly confirmed 428 Christians to consider depriving their lives of material and what is called ‘good life’ in other circles so that they receive what God has for them.

“Your body is a temple of God. God lives in you and expects you to offer him his due respect by leaving only him to dwell in you,” he said.

St. Andrew Kaggwa Parish of Area 49 in Lilongwe organized the Confirmation Mass for ages 15 and above only after 2 years due to covid19 curfews.

On the 25th of March, the Year of the Lord, 2022 at 6 pm, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe with the clergy and the faithful joined the Holy Father, Pope Francis in the prayers to consecrate to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Russia and Ukraine who are at war. The prayers took place in Maula Cathedral.

The prayer session of consecration commenced with the prayers of the Rosary led by the Catholic Women Organisation, followed by the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the prayers of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the celebration of the Holy Mass followed. The Holy Mass was presided over by His Grace, George Desmond Tambala, the Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese.

The participation in the prayers was very positive. A good number of the faithful turned up to participate despite the short notice. His Grace sent information to all the clergy and the faithful in the Archdiocese to join him in his Cathedral as requested by Pope Francis to pray to God through the Blessed Virgin Mary for peace in the war-torn regions of Ukraine and Russia.

In his homily, during the Mass of the consecration of Russia and Ukraine, His Grace, George Tambala expressed deep concern about what is happening in Ukraine, thousands of men and women and children being displaced. This has caused misery and despair amongst many, especially in Ukraine. He said the tension between Russia and Ukraine has a great potential to escalate to other countries in the world, and Malawi could be greatly affected.

Prayers through our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary can work wonders. The Virgin Mary, with her Son, Jesus Christ never fails.

The Archbishop also expressed some joy at how the neighbouring countries are welcoming with love and open hands the displaced victims. He encouraged the participating congregation and everyone to learn lessons from the countries that are doing charitable work with regard to the thousands who are being displaced.

The prayer session for the consecration of Russia and Ukraine was broadcast on the Archdiocesan Radio Station, Radio Alinafe, and Luntha TV.

Fr. Louis Chikanya
(Communications Coordinator, Archdiocese of Lilongwe)

By Levi Chirwa

Archbishop George Tambala challenged Catholic graduates of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe to form a movement that will help influence the Church and society.

He said this on Saturday 19^th February 2022 during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Chancellor College Catholic Alumni Association – Lilongwe Chapter. The AGM which was preceded by the Eucharistic celebration that took place at Our Lady of Africa – Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe.

He challenged the association to add another mission to bring together Catholic graduates from other universities into a social movement to influence policy and society.

“Such a movement would be welcome to help the Episcopal Conference on social economic issues affecting our society in addition to being advisors to the bishops.”

“As the Archdiocese will be launching the Synod 2021-2023 entitled ‘For a Synodical Church: Communion, Participation and Mission’ sometime this year, we the clergy want to work with you as you have a role play so as to make the kind of church we want to see in future,” he added.

In his homily, Archbishop Tambala said that much as there are different avenues and forums where people express their opinions on different topics or disciplines, it is wise to be careful in what we say and how we say it.

“Don’t be like the teachers condemned in the first reading from St. James’ Epistle. We must tame and control our tongues by controlling what we say and how we say it, as a sign of our humility, maturity and how cultured we are because what we speak can either build or destroy” said the Archbishop.

He further said, “Just learning from Peter’s reaction during the Transfiguration of the Lord where he said a lot of things in awe, we should be prudent in speech so as not to distract others from the main issue or experience.”

The Archbishop also said, “I advise you that not every truth can be said at a time. Don’t be like Peter who wanted to say it all. Sometimes learn to keep quite as there are some professional secrets for our homes, our professions, our work places and our businesses that must be kept as such and not be uttered at all.”

He went on to give an example of the confidentiality of issues in confession box where he said that not even at gun point can the issues in confession to be revealed.

After the Eucharistic celebration, members of the association were joined by the Archbishop and Rev. Fr. Frank Phiri, Patron of the Association and Ms. Patricia Kunyumbu an animator from Pontifical Mission Societies as observers at the Annual General Meeting where one of the agenda items was election of new office bearers. At that point, Mr. Francis Matita, the outgoing Chairperson and Mr. Martin Chiotcha, the outgoing Treasurer presented the activity and financial performance reports for the association, respectively. They also went to make recommendations on how the association would move forward with the new leadership.

Speaking during the AGM, Archbishop George Tambala told the gathering that as Archbishop of Lilongwe, he needed the association to work with him and his office in various roles.

“Based on the recent statistics at the Vatican, the Church is growing in numbers mostly in Africa. Therefore the future of the church is in our hands. This therefore means that the laity’s role is important as we priests alone, cannot handle everything” he said.

He also assured the association that he follows the grouping from the various activities such as the Chancellor College Catholic Alumni Choir, to the evangelization and outreach activities at Chipoka.

“I am grateful that through your activities, it is a clear testimony that you have remained in the Church practicing what Simon Peter answered the Lord, ‘to whom shall we go?’ In John 6:68-69,” He said.

“Since your mission is immense and strong, I would like to invite you to aid the church in communicating our faith, for example through radio or TV programmes.” Archbishop said.

Talking of the music/songs by the choir, the Archbishop said that the doctrine is sound, and there has to be a way to document some of the songs for use by various choirs and groupings and indeed teaching church choirs’ Catholic music.

“Can we not get a music school where you can teach other choirs singing for the Lord and also allow people to learn the traditional Catholic music?” said the Archbishop.

Towards the end of the day’s program, the gathering sampled some songs to be released by the Chanco Catholic Alumni Choir and made pledged support towards the finalization of the project. A total of K2.7 million was pledged in support of the album project.

One of the participants at the AGM, Ms. Tione Chilambe expressed gratitude noting that the Archbishop was clear in his perception on the direction of the Church, the role of the laity in particular the role of the Catholic graduates in shaping society and the Church.

The Eucharistic celebration and the AGM were attended by over 65 members from the association. Mass readings were taken from James 3:1-10 and Mark 9:2-13.

Sam Kalimba

12th February, 2022: Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has called upon the clergy and the religious in the Archdiocese to work towards ending the challenges youth are facing. He said this on the occasion of celebrating the world day of the consecrated on 12 February, 2022 at the Our Lady of Africa – Maula Cathedral.

“Drug abuse is apparently becoming a common challenge for our youth mainly in Lilongwe. If we don’t deal with this now we are pitching a future without the Church. The future Church is being built on these youths and hence I urge all the congregations to take this issue as a matter of life and death. The Church needs the youth more than anything else,” said Archbishop Tambala.

Archbishop Tambala went further to ask for unity among the consecrated arguing that it is only in unity that all what he expects from them could be done.

“I don’t expect individuals but the whole congregation. I don’t expect a single congregation but the union of the Association for Men Religious Institutes in Malawi (AMRIM), that of the Association of Women in Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM), and indeed the union of the Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Lilongwe (ADCCOL) to work together to achieve our goal. I know that it is the contribution of individual members but let the results be focused on unity and not an individual,” said Archbishop.

For the first time in the history of the Archdiocese, the local ordinary also announced the establishment of the office of the Vicar for Religious. He said that the move is Canonical and it comes in the spirit of building the much needed unity among the Religious.

“I wish to announce a new office that will be a bridge between and among the associations that we have as well as between you and the Church through my Office. I thank Rev. Fr. Bill Turnbull, M Afr. for accepting to be the Archdiocesan Vicar for the Religious.  I also thank Rev. Fr. David Niwagaba, SMM for accepting to be the Vice Archdiocesan Vicar for the Religious. You will see them coming to your communities and associations. They will only be doing their prerequisite function of bringing us together,” Archbishop George Tambala told the parked Cathedral.

Similar sentiments on unity among the clergy and religious of different congregations in the Archdiocese were made during the 2021 Chrism Mass by the care taker Archbishop Thoma Luke Msusa of the Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre.

The Archdiocese has several lay youth groups including Parish Youth Movements, Young Christian Students/Workers, Community of Sant’Egidio and the Holy Childhood of the Pontifical Mission Society.