Author: Titus Jata

The Holy Childhood Coordinator for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Office of the Archdiocese of Boston in the United States of America, Daria Braithwaite, has concluded her first mission experience visit to Salima Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

During her visit, Daria engaged with various stakeholders, including Christians, catechists, and school administrators, to understand the challenges and successes of the church’s mission in the area.

During the visit at St. Gabriel Outstation (Katelera Zone), which has over 3,672 Christians, Daria heard about the challenges faced by the community.

“The number of Christians is always growing here at St. Gabriel, and that is why we have a vision of having our own parish based on the number of Christians and outstations that we have here. The coming in of visitors here has really motivated us,” said Lawrent Mkungula, the catechist for the St. Gabriel Zone.

Daria also visited Kaphatenga Outstation (St. Teresa) and a mission hospital, where Gilbert Mwasiya, chairperson of the church council, highlighted plans to construct a new church and secondary school.

At Kalonga Full Primary School, a Catholic school under Salima Parish, Daria was impressed by the school’s outstanding performance.

“In terms of our performance as a school, we are doing very great. But we have challenges in terms of lack of school blocks, office administration, desks, teachers’ houses, toilets, and financial resources to finalize completing the construction of the school façade,” said Mr. Mayingiso Tembo, headteacher of the school.

The headteacher also appreciated the financial support provided by the Pontifical Mission Societies under the Holy Childhood project, which enabled the school to construct a fence.

After visiting these places, Daria expressed her gratitude and joy at seeing the church’s growth and mission in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

“I was so excited to see how happy Christians are here, especially children, and how they have welcomed me at an outstation even though it is not a parish, and also seeing different projects being undertaken here by the PMS,” she said.

Daria dancing with Servants of Charity members at Katelera zone, Archdiocese of Lilongwe

Daria with the youth at Katelera zone

Katelera zone give Daria a goat as a gift

Representing the Parish Priest for Salima Parish, Father John Kaliwamba described the visit as a motivation to the Christians.

“We are happy about the visit by the PMS from the Boston Archdiocese to see and hear some of our successful stories as far as evangelization is concerned and also to hear from us the gaps that are there in our different mission areas and schools.”

The visit is part of the mission experience program for the PMS office from the Boston Archdiocese, aimed at fostering collaboration and understanding between different Catholic communities.

Written By Titus Jata Phiri

Photo Credit: Eric Norman Mkwaira

In a remarkable display of solidarity and service, the Congregation of Teresian Sisters in Malawi have renewed their commitment to uplift Catholic women across the country by equipping them with transformative life skills through their ongoing Women Liberation Project, the sisters are fostering self-reliance, environmental stewardship, and community cohesion in all dioceses nationwide.

Project Coordinator Sister Teleza Mulenga voiced her satisfaction with the momentum of the initiative across dioceses and emphasized the importance of strategic evaluation.

“I am so impressed with the reports on what these women are doing in their dioceses. Regarding the challenges they’ve outlined, we are going to sit down and see how we can move forward,” she affirmed.

Speaking during a plenary meeting with representatives from the Catholic Women’s Association (CWA), Sister Colleta Bester, Superior Mother General of the Teresian Sisters, expressed her deep satisfaction with how women have embraced and applied their new skills in local communities.

“We are happy with how women are using the knowledge gained. We are now planning to work with more sister’s congregations to reach every corner of Malawi,” she said.

Over 4,000 women have now been trained face-to-face, while 230 women have been certified as trainers, enabling ripple effects throughout their communities.

Reports from Karonga, Mangochi dioceses, and Archdiocese of Lilongwe highlight training of women in various skills where Karonga diocese has managed to traing about 3200 women.

In Dedza Diocese, 1,500 trees have been planted with the help of Bishop Adrian Chifukwa who provided land to these women in also responding to late Pope Francis letter “Laudato Si,” in taking care of the environment.

Dioceses like Mzuzu, Zomba, Archdiocese of Blantyre and Chikwawa diocese are leading the way in inclusive training, involving men in efforts to combat gender-based violence and promote economic self-sufficiency.

During the certificate award presentations to the trainers, Donex Msowoya, Senior Quality Monitoring Officer from Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), assured continued support in guiding women to meet market requirements.

“We’ll continue providing knowledge and skills to ensure these women produce quality goods that can always compete at the market.”

CWA National Chairperson, Christina Lakiyoni, encouraged women nationwide to join such initiatives, stressing that training is the first step towards independence.

“We call on women to rise, take part, and transform their families and communities.”

The partnership between the Teresian Sisters and Catholic Women’s Association in all dioceses is more than a project. It’s a movement. One that’s empowering thousands of Malawian women to take charge of their future, uplift their communities, and nurture a more equitable society.

Through the project, the women are being trained in soap and body lotion making, fertilizer making from urine, charcoal briquettes crafting, Gender-based violence education, tree planting and environmental conservation.

By Titus Jata Phiri

Monsignor Henry Chinkanda has called on Christians at Mtima Woyera Parish to be instruments of peace both in their communities and across the country, drawing inspiration from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.

In his homily during a Mass celebration at the Parish, celebrating their Patron Sacred Heart of Jesus, Monsignor Chinkanda commended the faithful for choosing the Sacred Heart of Jesus as their patron.

He emphasized that every Christian should reflect inwardly and ask themselves whether their heart is pure and whether they contribute peace in their surroundings.

“Today, we must ask ourselves: is my heart pure? What are the things I need to let go of in my life in order to have a clean heart and become a bringer of peace in my life and also to the others.”

Monsignor Chimkanda also urged Christians to pray for peace as Malawi prepares for its upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, Parish Priest for Mtima Woyera, father Innocent Mtapaonga, encouraged unity among the faithful in all parish affairs.

“We have heard much from Monsignor Chinkanda’s homely. Let us take his teachings seriously and strive to bring peace wherever we are even within our Parish.”

In his remarks, deputy Vice Chairperson for the Parish Joseph Mwanoka also appealed to parishioners to be selfless and united in supporting the Parish’s growth and development activities.

“As a Parish, we have visions and development goals, such as buying a Parish bus and implementing other projects. For us to achieve these, we must work hand-in-hand and reflect on Monsignor Chinkanda’s message.”

The Parish community celebrated the feast day with joyful singing, traditional dances, sale of assorted goods, and shared meals, highlighting their unity as one spiritual family.

By Titus Jata Phiri

On May 3, 2025, the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu welcomed its new shepherd, Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda, in a ceremony marked by great jubilation and celebration.

The installation ceremony drew people from all walks of life, including political leaders, who gathered to witness the historic event.

The ceremony was witnessed by Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe and other priests who signed to approve and witness the installation of Bishop Nyirenda as the new bishop of the Mzuzu Diocese.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, urged the faithful of the Mzuzu Diocese to pray for their newly installed bishop.

“Always pray for the bishop for his role, not only a day, but each day,” he emphasized.

Archbishop Perici encouraged the faithful to continually pray for their new bishop, that he may be guided and strengthened in his ministry.

His Excellency Perici also extended his best wishes to the retiring Bishop of Mzuzu Diocese, Bishop John Ryan, for his future endeavors.

Bishop Ryan thanked the faithful of the diocese for their support during his tenure and encouraged them to work closely with Bishop Nyirenda to ensure the continued growth and development of the diocese.

His Lordship expressed his gratitude for the trust and cooperation he received from the clergy, religious, and lay faithful.

In his speech, President of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, praised the retiring Bishop Ryan for his dedication and service he rendered to the diocese.

“Bishop Ryan was a strong defender of the environment and always made decisions that considered the less privileged,” he said.

Bishop Mtumbuka also called upon priests to avoid participating in partisan politics.

In his remarks, the newly installed Bishop Yohane Nyirenda thanked Bishop Ryan for his dedication and zeal during his ministry as the bishop of the Mzuzu Diocese.

Bishop Nyirenda also called for collaboration with priests and emphasized the importance of working together in order to develop the diocese of Mzuzu.

His Lordship Nyirenda was ordained priest on July 19, 2008. He was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Mzuzu Diocese on May 5, 2023, and later appointed as the bishop of the diocese by Pope Francis on April 1, 2025.

By Titus Jata Phiri

Christians at Guilleme Parish in Mchinji came together for a profound journey of self-reflection, prayer, and commemoration of the suffering of Jesus Christ during the Way of the Cross.

The spiritual procession, which began at St. Robert Outstation in Tembwe and concluded at Guilleme Parish drew Christians from all Outstations under the Parish, who symbolically experienced Christ’s journey to the cross and his ultimate sacrifice.

The spiritual procession, which began at St. Robert Outstation in Tembwe and concluded at Guilleme Parish

The spiritual procession, which began at St. Robert Outstation in Tembwe and concluded at Guilleme Parish

The spiritual procession, which began at St. Robert Outstation in Tembwe and concluded at Guilleme Parish

As part of the celebration of the Passion of the Lord, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe urged the faithful to use Good Friday as a powerful tool for their spiritual growth and salvation.

The Archbishop, emphasized the significance of the day in Christian life, calling for deep reflection and commitment to faith.

“Today is an important day for Christians in their spiritual life. They should reflect on their faith, examine their conscience, repent for their sins, and engage in intense prayer as we remember that Jesus Christ died for us on the cross,” Archbishop Tambala stated.

Despite the challenges presented by the rainy weather, the faithful remained steadfast in their devotion.

The Archbishop praised the Christians for their unwavering commitment to their Catholic faith and dedication to spiritual renewal.

“I commend the Christians here at Guilleme Parish for their resilience in their faith. They gathered in large numbers, and despite the rain, no one showed any sign of turning away,” he added.

prostration: the abasement of “earthly man,” the grief and sorrow of the Church, and a solemn remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death

The veneration of the cross

The vice-chairperson of the parish committee, Cosmas Phiri, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Archbishop for gracing them with his presence, acknowledging that his visit strengthened their faith and encouraged the Christian community.

The Way of the Cross procession, a solemn reenactment of Jesus Christ’s journey to Calvary, provided an opportunity for reflection and prayer, reinforcing the essence of Good Friday, a day of sacrifice, redemption, and renewed faith.

By Titus Jata Phiri

The Association of Catholic Chiefs at Likuni Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has been called upon to play a key role in promoting environmental conservation in their communities.

The appeal was made at Parish during a tree-planting exercise organized by the Congregation of Teresian Sisters.

Sister Teresa Mulenga, Project Coordinator for environmental projects, emphasized the importance of involving chiefs in environmental conservation initiatives.

“Chiefs are well-positioned to drive environmental conservation efforts, given their close relationship with their subjects. By equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills, we hope to ensure continuity of the program and promote sustainable environmental practices in our communities.”

Likuni Parish Priest, Father Damiano Chitha, commended the Teresian Sisters for their initiative, saying it would have a significant impact on environmental conservation in the area.

“We appreciate the Teresian Sisters for organizing this initiative at our Parish. As a Parish, we are committed to working with the chiefs to ensure the trees planted are well taken care of,” said Fr. Chitha.

Chairperson of the Chiefs Association at Likuni Parish, Senior Group Mtanga, echoed Sister Mulenga’s sentiments and promised that the chiefs will take a leading role in educating their subjects on the importance of environmental conservation.

“We will use the knowledge shared with us to promote environmental conservation in our areas,” he said.

The initiative aims to empower chiefs to promote environmental conservation in their areas, ensuring a positive impact on the environment and promoting sustainable development.

By Titus Jata Phiri