The Archdiocese of Lilongwe has officially launched preparations for next year’s Epiphany Sunday celebration, marking the beginning of a period of reflection, animation, and missionary activities that will involve children and the faithful across the Archdiocese.
Speaking on Sunday 8th November 2026 during the launch at St. John’s Msamba Parish, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala described the occasion as an opportunity for Christians to deepen their understanding of the meaning of Epiphany and reflect on their responsibility to nurture and pass on the Christian faith to younger generations.
“It gives us a lot of time for reflection. We need to reflect on the meaning of Epiphany in our lives. Today, as children led the Mass, it is also a time to reflect on our own role and how we pass on the faith to our children,” said Archbishop Tambala.
He noted that the launch comes with great expectations within the Church as parishioners begin a year-long spiritual journey towards the Epiphany celebration.
According to Archbishop, program will include various activities and animations within the archdiocese aimed at encouraging greater participation in missionary work, particularly among children.
During the event, Archbishop Tambala also expressed concern over the state of education in Malawi, highlighting low literacy levels and limited access to tertiary education among children and young people.
He described the situation as alarming and one that requires urgent attention.
“The statistics are there for us to see. Malawi has very low literacy levels compared to other countries in the region, and only a small percentage of young people reach tertiary education. This is a challenge that we cannot ignore,” he said.
The Archbishop said the archdiocese is studying the situation to identify ways of responding to the educational challenges facing communities within its jurisdiction.
He emphasized that addressing illiteracy and improving access to education requires collaboration among the Church, government, and local communities.
“We are not going to sit back and watch while our people remain illiterate. We need to work together to bridge the gap,” he said.
In his remarks, the Archdiocesan Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), Father Geoffrey Chikapa, said the launch of the Epiphany preparations also serves as a call for the faithful to support children’s missionary activities within the Church.
Father Chikapa stressed that the Church is inclusive and recognises children as an important part of its mission and identity.
“This celebration gives the Church an opportunity to reflect on how best we can support the missionary work of our children. The Church embraces everyone and excludes no one. Children are an important part of our faith community,” he said.
He has since called on all parishes in the Archdiocese to begin their preparations to ensure that every Holy Childhood child participates in next year’s celebration at St. John’s Msamba Parish.
This year’s preparations are guided by the theme released by Pope Leo XIV following the conclusion of Mission Month on 31 October: “Children, the Love of Christ Sends Us Forth.”
During the launch, more than 1,500 Holy Childhood children participated in the activities marking the beginning of the preparations for next year’s Epiphany Sunday celebration.
By Titus Jata Phiri