Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi in Nigeria presided over an evening Mass at Maula Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese Lilongwe on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, as part of his visit to Malawi.

The Mass was co-celebrated by Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe and attended by members of the International Small Christian community and local parishioners.

Bishop Ogun sharing his homily at Maula Cathedral, Lilongwe, Malawi

In his homily, Bishop Ogun shared reflections on two parables: the workers in the vineyard and the parable of the trees. He emphasized that every person has a unique and vital role to play in God’s plan, and encouraged the congregation to discover their purpose and contribute their gifts to the world. Bishop Ogun also spoke on the importance of human dignity in an increasingly technological world, urging the faithful to look to Jesus for guidance.

Following the Mass, Bishop Ogun expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Tambala for his hospitality, noting that their shared experience at the recent Synod on Synodality had deepened their friendship and strengthened their brotherhood. He concluded by thanking the community for welcoming him and celebrating the Eucharist together.

Bishop Ogun celebrating Eucharistic Mass at Maula Cathedral, Lilongwe, Malawi

Archbishop George Tambala, in turn, expressed his joy at the gathering, sharing a personal story about how encounters with people from different nations led to his own spiritual conversion. He praised the diversity and unity of the Church in Malawi, describing it as a “Pentecost experience” where people from various backgrounds come together to encounter Christ. His Grace thanked Bishop Ogun for his “excellent” contributions to the Synod and encouraged the faithful to continue growing together in faith.

Archbishop Tambala sharing his experience

Chekwas Okoronkwo, representing the International Small Christian Community, also spoke, thanking Archbishop Tambala for his visionary leadership in establishing international communities within the archdiocese. He noted that this initiative has allowed the West African Catholic community to actively participate in church activities.

The International Small Christian Community of Maula Cathedral representative, Chekwas Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo also thanked Bishop Ogun and expressed interest in collaborating with Nigerian Catholic groups like the “Knights of Our Lady of Nigeria” to support the church in Malawi, citing the Malawian “miphakati” (Small Christian Communities) system as a positive example of sharing and interaction.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira