The faithful at prayer at Likuni                       at the cemetery, Likuni                                               Mons Thawale

It has been the tradition of the Church to pray for the souls of the dead to receive God’s mercy and pardon. Traditionally, particularly, the month of November is separated for this purpose.

On the 9th of November, the Archdiocese of

Lilongwe, led by the Administrator, Monsignor Patrick Thawale, offered prayers for the repose of the souls of her servants, the priests, reverend sisters, brothers and other people who in a special way worked in the Archdiocese.

In his reflection during the Mass, Monsignor Thawale emphasised that our life does not end at the passing from this life.

“Our life does not end at the physical death. As people of faith, we believe after this life we shall be led to the place where there is life eternal. Therefore, praying for our brothers and sisters who have gone before us is a good thing to do.”

Recently, the Archdiocese of Lilongwe lost four priests in a row to covid-19. Fr. Martin Mthumba, Fr. Cyprian Chipala, Fr. Peter Jester Banda and Fr. Vincent Epulani.

Wreaths were laid on the tombs of the dead servants of God to demonstrate love and well wishes. This year the Mass for the dead attracted many faithful who filled up the Likuni Parish Church to capacity.

SISTER MARY KIZITA JALASI ANABADWA PA 27 JULY, 1944. IWO AMACHOKERA KU BALAKA.
SISTER MARY ANALOWA MNYUMBA YOBINDIKIRA YA POOR CLARES MCHAKA CHA 1963 NDIPO ANACHITA MALUMBIRO WOYAMBA PA 8 DECEMBER, 1966. MALUMBIRO OTSIRIZA ANACHITA MCHAKA CHA 1970.

SISTER MARY MMENE AMATISIYA PA 8 NOVEMBER, 2021 AKHALA MNYUMBA YOBINDIKIRA KWA ZAKA 58.

SISTER MARY AMAKHALA BWINO NDI AZIMAI ANZAWO.
AMAKONDA MAPEMPHERO KWAMBIRI
AMAPEKA NDI KUYIMBA NYIMBO
ANALI A MAI A CHIMWEMWE

MZIMU WAO UUSE NDI MTENDERE

Sam Kalimba:

Bishop Mtumbuka (c) with the new Seminarians.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has commended the administration of the St. Anthony (Kachebere) Major Seminary located in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe for the strides so far made after the reopening.

Speaking on the occasion of the 2021 Cassock’s day celebration on Saturday, 17 July 2021, ECM’s Bishop Chairman responsible for Seminaries and Education, Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka was thankful to the Sulpician priests who are providing administration services at the Seminary.

The ceremony of conferring cassocks to the seminarians marks the beginning of the first step of their journey towards priesthood as they also commence their philosophical studies.

“Thanks to the Rector Fr. Patrick Simutowe and your fellow Sulpician priests for transforming Kachebere Major Seminary. In 2018, the seminary had to close due to shortage of members of staff and formators. When you, Sulpicians from Zambia were contacted, you gladly accepted to come and assist. Your presence means a lot to the Church in Malawi and it was good that we had such challenges that we see what Kachebere is now,” said Bishop Mtumbuka who is the Ordinary for the Catholic Diocese of Karonga.

He however, emphasized that as the Sulpician priests are not there to stay for good, the local clergy in Malawi should appreciate their good work at Kachebere as a transitional process. He therefore thanked the local clergy under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi who are working in collaboration with the team of priests of the Society of St. Sulpice to run the seminary and give formation to the seminarians.

“To you my fellow Malawian clergy who are working with our brother priests the Sulpicians, I salute you. I also extend our episcopal blessings for your kind gesture that is defined in your spirit of humility and hard work. We urge you to keep up the spirit so that together we may achieve the objectives of the Seminary,” added Bishop Mtumbuka.

The Seminary welcomed 46 young men who received their cassocks. His Lordship Bishop Martin Mtumbuka applauded the first-year seminarians for having taken a step further on their journey towards priesthood. He encouraged them to respond to the Lord positively as Samuel did (1 Samuel 3:1-11).

In his homily, Bishop Mtumbuka drew from Jesus’ Gospel teachings and life that seminarians ought to have a spirit of detachment from worldly things if they are to become good and effective priests in future. Here he referred to material things and bad behaviors.

“Jesus died on the cross naked. He accepted to die such a humiliating death in order to save humanity. He did not cling to his glory as son of God. So, learn to be like him,” preached His Lordship.

He emphasized the point that the Church needs priests whose lives can have an impact on the people they are ministering.

Rt. Rev. Mtumbuka also pointed out that when seminarians encounter problems, they need to turn to Jesus himself the owner of priestly vocation.

Of the 46 seminarians, 8 are from the Diocese of Chikwawa; 10 are from the Archdiocese of Blantyre; 6 are from the Diocese of Dedza; 3 are from Diocese of Karonga; 8 are from the Archdiocese of Lilongwe; 3 are from the Diocese of Mangochi and 8 from the Diocese of Mzuzu with none from the Diocese of Zomba.

By Sam Kalimba

Saint Paul’s Minor Seminary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe received a donation of teaching and learning materials on Saturday 10 July, 2021. T

The donation was made by St. Paul’s (Mlale) Seminary Alumni Association which is composed of ex-seminarians and Priests who went through the seminary since its inception in 1963.

Speaking as he received the donation, the Rector of the Seminary Rev. Fr. Peter Kapiri expressed gladness to the association and the seminary’s duty boundedness to ensure that the materials are well taken care of.

“It is a great honor to receive the timely donation of books at a time that the Seminary needed them. With changes in syllabi, we tend to shed-off a good number of books without an immediate plan to replace them. Learners relied on few books but with this donation we feel relieved. On behalf of the pupils and members of staff, I thank the Alumni Association for fulfilling what they had pledged,” said Fr. Kapiri.

Chairperson for the Alumni Association of Saint Paul Seminary Mr. Joseph Diele thanked members of the association for making the donation possible from their personal contributions.

“Most members of the Alumni Association are married and for them to take part of their small earnings to contribute towards this cause is a sign of sacrifice from them and their spouses. I personally thank them all for their contribution.  I also thank priests who are members of the association for contributing as alumni as this is a sign of humility and a spirit of togetherness,” said Diele.

According to Diele, the Association donated books in science and literature subjects as per recommendation by the  Rector who made during the 2021 annual general meeting where  he was present as a guest. He said that individual members and cohorts are further mobilizing more resources for the same exercise.

In 2020, the Alumni Association assisted the Seminary with Covid19 response materials.

At present, the Seminary has a maximum capacity of 250 learners with a single stream for Forms 2 to 4 and double stream for Form 1.

Sam Kalimba

A 29-year-old Church building that was expanded 15 years ago can no longer host the 17, 000 Christians that Kaggwa Woyera Catholic Parish has grown to be as per 2013 census. “This is the very basic reason a new, magnificent and towering church building needs to be constructed across the Kaunda road,” says Mr. Emmanuel Mwase the incumbent Vice Chairperson of the Parish.

According to Mwase, in order to fulfil the dream, the Parish engaged some fundraising activities from the first half of the year 2021 that has seen the project acquiring start up 20 tonnes of quarry dust, 20 tonnes of river sand and 100 bags of cement raised from pledges. He also said that from the same resources raised the land that will host the new building was cleared in readiness for the start of the construction.

On 7^th June 2021, the Parish Priest for the Catholic Parish of Kaggwa Woyera Rev. Fr. Constantine Mgunda with one of his curates, Fr. Gerald Kubetcha launched a raffle draw fundraising activity that seeks to raise over MK25, 000,000.00 in the last half of the year 2021.

“We are giving away a 30 x 15-meter residential plot at Mthunzi Heritage near Lilongwe MDF Air base as first prize while unregistered Mitsubishi half toner truck is the second prize with a defy 4 coil-cooker is the third prize. We urge not only Catholics to participate in this raffle draw but even non-Catholics should join in not only for the purpose of winning the prizes but for the sole reason to help build the house of the Lord,” said Fr. Mgunda.

Dr. Elvis Salagi, the Church Council Chairperson who is also steering the raffle draw said that all the prize items had been procured procedurally and that it is only change of ownership that awaits the winners come December 2021.

“Let me assure the

Fr. Mgunda (C) with some of the Parishioners

prospective owners of these items that they will own virgin properties. They will have to register them under their own names. All what they have to do is to buy a ticket pegged at MK2,000.00 only for them to own the properties,” said Salagi during the official launch of the competition.

Kaggwa Woyera Parish is situated to the north of Bingu National Stadium and currently has 10 outstations with over 200 Small Christian Communities. It was founded by the Friars of Capuchin Missionary in 1992 and from 2015 it was handed over to the local ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

Participants to the orientation meeting of the marriage Encounter of 27 June at Mlale Parish.

Members of Mtima Oyera and Msamba Circles of the Marriage Encounter pose for a photo after Mass at Mlale Parish where they also led in Liturgy and offertory.

Sam Kalimba

27 June, 2021 – Mlale Parish:

The Marriage Encounter (ME), a grouping for married Christians in the Catholic Church has challenged that it is easy to fight Gender Based Violence using church structures. Clement and Thokozani Bisai are Chair couple for ME Central Region Chapter and spoke at a function that took place at Mlale Parish on 27^th June 2021 where Catholic families from the Parish requested for an orientation meeting.

“We have zero cases of gender-based violence cases in our members’ families and we doubt if any of our members can think of committing suicide because there are no chances. We preach, live and eat love. Our goal is to ensure that all families live in peace and harmony with each other. Our movement seeks to help deepen love in marriages then if love is so deep, how would one member deprive the other of the same by indulging in GBV? The movement equips its members with effective communication tools to help improve relationships between spouses,” said the pair leaders.

Mr. and Mrs. Bisai said that they were hopeful that if families from Mlale Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe formed and joined the Marriage Encounter group, not only the Church would manifest her powers of preaching love but that even the communities surrounding the Parish would benefit from good examples of renewed families.

Some families from the Catholic Parish of Mlale in Mitundu area requested Marriage Encounter groups of Mtima Oyera and Msamba Parishes to lead an outreach activity aimed at helping them understand what the movement is all about and what it does.

The couples at Mlare Parish had been organising themselves as a way of preparing to join the Marriage Encounter.

According to the Bisais, couples willing to join ME are supposed to attend a 3-day retreat that is called Original Weekend to start their Marriage Encounter journey. Such retreats are held once or twice a year at a designated retreat centre.

“Our immediate retreat for the central region is scheduled for three days from 30 July to 1 August in Lilongwe,” Said Mr. Bisai.

More than 15 couples at Mlare Parish expressed interest to join Marriage Encounter making it the 15^th Parish where Marriage Encounter exists in the central region.

The Catholic Church in Malawi has 3 specialised groups of family movements namely, the Christian Family Movement (CFM), Couples for Christ and the Marriage Encounter.

By Fr Louis Chikanya

Inculturation is a terminology that became commonly used during and after the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 1994. Looking at the strength and influence of cultures in Africa, the Synod Fathers saw the urgent need for inculturation.

Inculturation, in simple terms, in the words of St. John Paul II is “The process by which catechesis takes fresh in the various cultures.” “It is the insertion of the Gospel message into cultures,” (Catechesis Tradendae). In his Post-Synodal Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa, John Paul II explains the two dimensions of inculturation: first he talks of culture being integrated into Christianity and second, the insertion of Christianity in the various human cultures.

Africa has been blessed by a multiplicity of cultures which if made open to the Gospel, can provide a fertile ground for the growth of the Gospel. Most of the cultural values manifest in external expressions such as dance, postures, worship, reparation for damages, for example, a community settling a case between people peacefully by imposing a penalty on a culprit, preservation of nature in respect of the spiritual world, such as conservation of forests on the land of the dead, as well as respecting human life. Africans love and value life beyond death. Anything that threatens life is treated as an enemy. Africans love children as gifts from God. Africans love and value togetherness and family integration.

Liturgical Dance During Holy Mass, (Photo: LC MEDIA)

Liturgy, Faith and Cultural Dances

In Africa, liturgical actions are a pure expression of the cultures. At the liturgy, shaking and movements of the body are part of worship. But should liturgy be confined to dancing, shaking and moving body parts?

The liturgical dances that we see and watch and perhaps enjoy during worship, must be enlightened by faith. A dance during the liturgy should move the hearts to prayer and deeper reflection and not to entertain the praying congregation.

“A faith that does not become culture is not fully accepted, not entirely thought out, not faithfully lived,” (St. John Paul II). Similarly, a cultural value that resist to be transformed and integrated into the Christian life cannot be trusted. Faith and culture should come together. It is the work of the Gospel to cast light on any cultural value to assess whether it is helpful for a faith community.

For inculturation to truly take the name has to infiltrate the whole of a person’s life; family, education, economics, etc. Ecclesia in Africa of St. John Paul II emphasises on witness, “genuine witness by believers, and authentic proclamation of the faith”.

A liturgical dance without deep faith and knowledge of the Gospel can only turn into a theatrical performance. Inculturation is about living the life of the Gospel, letting the faith to transform the life of an individual and to allow Christianity and culture to dialogue. Faith brings out the good in the cultural values and this helps an individual to appreciate culture as a gift from God.

Relations between Culture and The Good News of Christ

“There are many links between the message of salvation and culture. In his self-revelation to his people culminating in the fullness of manifestation in his incarnate Son, God spoke according to the culture proper to each age. Similarly, the Church has existed through the centuries in varying circumstances and has utilized the resources of different cultures in its preaching to spread and explain the message of Christ, to examine and understand it more deeply and to express it more perfectly in the liturgy and in various aspects of the life of the faithful.” (Vat. Council II, Church in the Modern World, no. 58)

There is a belief that culture is a gift from God and that God respects every culture. God used a particular culture to bring his message of salvation to all the people in the world. His message has the power to renew and purify the cultures of people. His Word, (Jesus Christ) came down to dwell with people. While with the people, he transformed their lives, physical and spiritual. In the Gospel of John, he met a woman of Samaritan origin, “How can you, a Jew ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” Jesus replies to her, “If you knew the gift of God…” The Word of God is really a gift to all cultures, Jewish, Samaritan, Chewa, Yao, etc.

Cultures should be open to the work of the Gospel. The Good News of Christ, in the words of Vatican Council II Fathers, should be allowed to renew the life and culture of fallen humanity. It should be given space to purify and elevate the morality of the peoples. Let the Holy Liturgy not be confined to dancing and shaking of body parts. It should go beyond the carrying of the Holy Gospels in the basket. Inculturation should resonate in genuine reconciliation, love of life, and creation of which the Word of God came to save.

This article first appeared in the Christmas 2018 edition of Mpingo Ndife Tonse Magazine.

COMM SUNDAY 2021 edited

The four Sisters with Sr. Kapachika (C)

Sam Kalimba

Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the Carmelite Sisters have all the reasons to thank the Lord for a colourful event they held on 12^th June, 2021 at the St. Peter’s Parish-Namitete. The event was in three-fold; first profession, final profession and silver jubilee for some of the members of the congregation.

Novice Malania Kavina made her first profession to chastity, obedience and poverty for one year while Sisters Florence Sitima and Esther Banda made the same vows for life. Sister Bernadette Malomo, was during the same Mass celebrating her 25 years as a Carmelite nun.

The Sisters made their professions in respect to chastity, obedience and poverty.

According to the Sr. Clara Kapachika, Mother Superior for Malawi; Sr. Malania Kavina was born in a family of Mr. and Mrs. Kavina of Saidi Village in Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba under the St. Anthony-Thondwe Parish. Sr. Florence Sitima was born in a family of Mr. and Mrs. Sitima of Gochi 2 Village, in Traditional Authority Mpando in Ntcheu under Tsangano Parish in the Diocese of Dedza. Sr. Esther Banda was born in a family of Mr. and Mrs. Walawati Banda of Peter Mkola Village in Chradzulu under the St. Joseph-Nguludi Parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre.  Sr. Bernadette Malomo was born in a family of Mr. and Mrs. Malomo of Chimalambo Village in Traditional Authority Chitukula under Mtengowanthenga Parish.

The event was marked by a Mass that was celebrated by the Very Reverend Fr. Patrick Thawale in his capacity as the Archdiocesan Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe. In his homily, Fr. Thawale urged the Religious to live what he called the rule of life, which is love.

“Show to everyone and sell your God given product of being in Christ. This does not imply that you live as an Angel. You are still human but a special one for that matter. Love is key to your life. Be happy Sisters in order to share the same happiness with whosoever comes in contact with you. Radiate the joy of being a follower of Christ,” advised Fr. Thawale.

He further unpacked the meaning of faith as being knowing and believing without necessarily expecting a receiving. He said that faith comes with spiritual wisdom and knowledge. He told the people of God to cultivate the values of self-reliance and self-discipline if at all they are to move with their mission and faith.

Fr. Thawale did not miss words in mentioning the fact that to work for Christ will always have some challenges that only those with strong faith survive.

“You meet challenges, I urge you to face all trials and challenges head on for they will keep you stronger. Sorrows keep you human enough. Accept failure for it will keep you humble. Humility is key to success. Success keeps you glowing. However, let your success be beneficial to others. When others benefit from your success it pleases God. Only God keeps you going. When working for God don’t forget Him who sent you in His vineyard,” counselled Fr. Thawale.

People from all walks of life including priests from the parishes the Sisters originate from attended the event.

Anna Paula Bove from the Luxemburg Republic founded the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 28^th March, 1872.