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Catholic Women Association members from St. Athanasios (Atanazio) Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Chipata in Zambia are in Malawi for a four-day Catholicism learning visit. The women arrived on April 25, 2024 in the evening and were welcomed by the Laity Council of and Catholic Women Association leadership of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe at some point about 7 kilometers away form the Our lady of Africa (Maula) Cathedral. They upon arrival made a courtesy call to the ‘co-episcopate’ of Archbishop George Tambala and Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa at the Archdiocese’s open theatre.

Mrs. Mary Mwale is the Chairlady for the Zambia Catholic Women Association of the St. Athanasios Parish and leader of delegation who anticipates a continued warm welcome by the Church in Malawi in general and their counterpart Malawi Catholic Women Association of Holy Trinity (Kawale) Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

“The warmth we have been accorded by the Church in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe is making us feel ashamed. We have been received like VVIPs despite just being women from a Parish on the outskirts of Chipata. It was a hero’s welcome, and we wonder how it’s going to be by the end of our visit on Sunday April 28,” said Mrs. Mwale.

She said that their visit is premised on experience sharing between the women from the two parishes. She said that their intention to visit Malawi was triggered by the interest the Episcopal Conferences of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have put forward to form a collaborating block as the people from these neighbouring countries share common challenges.

“Women from the three countries have a lot in common and the desire for our bishops to form a joint working block is realistic. It is on that basis that we started linking with our counterparts from Kawale Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe last year. As our bishops are finalising the process of formalising the formation of the block, we felt we could already start learning from each other,” she said.

The host Chairlady, Mrs. Martha Kaliyati said that women from her Parish are happy to receive women from Zambia invites Catholic Women from other parishes in the archdiocese to come and attend some of the activities in solidarity welcoming of the visiting Catholic women and also to learn together. She also pledges to ensure that next year they visit Chipata in return. She thanked the Archbishop of Lilongwe for taking time to welcome the Catholic women from Zambia.

In his remarks, His Grace Archbishop Tambala told the women that they are not at a wrong place for their bishops are already one.

“The Archdiocese of Lilongwe and Diocese of Chipata are one. I remember when we visited Chipata during the consecration of Auxiliary Bishop Msipu Phiri we were accorded a warm reception. We went as a big team of Catholic women and men but were well received. Feel at home in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

St. Atanazio Parish is on the outskirts, east of Chipata town along ‘Umodzi’ high way to the left-hand side as you come from Malawi. The Holy Trinity – Kawale Parish is within the City of Lilongwe under the deanery of Mtima Woyera.

 

by Sam Kalimba