Blog Detail

Procession after the installation rite

His Grace George Tambala self sprinkling with holy water as he enters the Cathedral to be installed

The singing choir and part of the congregation at the installation rite in the Cathedral

Catholic Women during the Holy Mass at Civo Stadium

Bishops at the procession

Priests at the procession at Civo Stadium

Papal envoy to Malawi and Zambia, Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone reading the Papal Bull in Latin

Papal envoy with the Archbishop’s Secretary at a procession at Civo Stadium

The new Archbishop kneeling before the Tabernacle in the Cathedral

Archbishop Tambala taking possession of the Cathedra

Archbishop Tambala with other bishops in the Cathedral

The new Archbishop before taking possession of the Cathedra

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe on 27 November, 2021 received His Grace, Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala as the tenth Premier of the Archdiocese. His Grace George Tambala sat on the Cathedra after the See fell vacant following the demise of His Grace Tarcisius Ziyaye on 13 December, 2020 in Namibia.

HIS BIOGRAPHY

His Grace George Tambala was born on the 18th of November, 1968. He was born to Amos Tambala of Tambala Village, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba and Julita Yakobe of Semani Village in Chamanga Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba. He is the only surviving child in the family of six.

 EDUCATION AND SERVICE IN THE CHURCH

George Tambala did his primary school at Mpiri, Holy Cross Seminary, Ulongwe up to 1982.

He went to Child Jesus Minor Seminary in Nankhunda in Zomba where he did his secondary education up to 1987.

He joined the Discalced Carmelites in 1987; he studied Philosophy and went on to do postulancy at Inter-Congregation Seminary, now Inter-Congregation Institute in Balaka. In 1990 he did his noviciate at Enugu, Nigeria where he also had his first profession. In 1992 he went to Kapiri Parish in Mchinji in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe for community experience.

From 1992 up to 1996, he was in Tangaza College in Nairobi studying Theology. On 15 August 1995 he had his final profession in the Carmelite Congregation in Kasungu. On 11 November, 1995 he was ordained deacon in Tangaza College and on 13 April, 1996, His Grace, Tarcisius Ziyaye ordained him priest at Chiphaso Parish in Kasungu in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

His Grace, George Tambala served as Parish Priest at Kapiri Parish from 1996 to 1998.

He went to Spain for studies and was later appointed Postulant Master at Inter-Congregational Seminary in Balaka from 2000 to 2002. From 2003 to 2009 he was elected the Regional Superior of the Carmelites in Malawi. He was Director at St. John of the Cross in Nyungwe Retreat Centre in the Archdiocese of Blantyre from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2015 he was General Counsellor of the Carmelites for 18 African countries and Madagascar. In 2015 he was appointed Bishop elect of Zomba diocese. He was consecrated Bishop of Zomba on 30 January, 2016.

On 15 October, 2021 His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him to be the Archbishop of Lilongwe.

His motto is, Dives in Misericordia – God has the fullness of Mercy.

THE LIST OF BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE/ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE:

Rt. Rev. Joseph Dupont ………………………………. M. Afr. (1897-1911)

Rt. Rev. Mathurin Guilleme…………………………. M. Afr. (1911 -1935)

Rt. Rev. Oscar Julien ………………………………….. M. Afr. (1935 – 1951)

Rt. Rev. Joseph Fady ………………………………….. M. Afr. (1951 – 1972)

Rt. Rev. Patrick Kalilombe…………………………… M. Afr. (1972 -1979)

Rt. Rev. Matthias Chimole…………………………… DP        (1979 – 1994)

Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ziyaye……………………………… DP        (1994 – 2001)

Rt. Rev. Felix Mkhori………………………………….. DP         (2001 – 2007)

Most Rev. Remi Ste Marie ……………………………M. Afr.  (2007 – 2013)

Most Rev. Tarcisius Ziyaye……………………………DP         (2013 – 2020)

Most Rev. George Tambala…………………SMM     (2021 –       )