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.