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Some chiefs hail catholic church’s role in guiding the youth

Some chiefs in the country have commended the Catholic Church for its commitment to organizing youth gatherings aimed at assisting them to reflect on their lives and further the development of the church and the country.

Village headman Matswana, who is also the chairperson of the association of Catholic Chiefs in St. Matthias Lumbadzi Parish, said this during the vocation day celebration on May 10th at Lumbadzi Parish in Lilongwe.

Catholic Chiefs at St. Mathias Lumbadzi Parish during mass celebration 

 

Village headman Matswana stated that youths are very instrumental in development activities in their villages, the country, and the church, which calls for their responsible behavior.

“Because youths are energetic, they are supposed to widen their knowledge of important information about their lives. As such, they need to refrain from all sorts of bad behavior like drinking beer, smoking, and sexual activities, which can jeopardize their vocations,” said village headman Matswana.

The chief added that such church gatherings give youths a chance to reflect and discern deeply and honestly about their vocations to family life, as priests, in religious life, and in single life as they develop the church and the country.

The chiefs attending a mass celebration

In his remarks, the chairperson of the youths in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Chrispin Limbe, thanked Monsignor Thawale and village headman Matswana for encouraging and enlightening them to work hard in school, be prayerful, and be hardworking, saying this can help them grow both physically and spiritually.

“We thank our church, the Catholic Church, for organizing these gatherings every year for us to appreciate various vocations. We learn a lot. I ask my fellow youths wherever they are to use the internet wisely for education and not for evil things. Youths are supposed to live a prayerful life so that they are helped to choose the right vocation for them,” Chrispin said.

The function, which started with mass led by Monsignor Patrick Thawale, took place at St. Matthias Lumbadzi Parish in Lilongwe under the theme “Youths as Missionaries of Hope.”

By Alex Nasoni

 

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Church News

Youths urged to find their calling through faith and learning

Youths in the country have been called upon to use their daily life activities to reflect on their vocations, using education, prayer life, and conscience as driving forces.

 

Monsignor Patrick Thawale of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, made the appeal on Saturday, May 10th, at St. Matthias Lumbadzi Parish in Lilongwe during the celebration of Vocation Day.

Monsignor Patrick Thawale

 

“Youths have to use their diverse talents and strengths in serving God and fellow human beings in their communities. For the youths who are into technology, I urge them to use it for education’s sake, which can help develop their communities, and not use it for bad intentions which can ruin their lives,” said Monsignor Thawale.

 

Monsignor Thawale added that youths are pillars of development in the Church and the country by using their energies and intelligence.

 

“Youths are supposed to continue to reflect on all things happening in their lives to choose their vocations as priests, sisters, religious, and single life in serving God and fellow human beings. As such, I urge all the youths to be prayerful and read various Catholic encyclicals which help to know God. They need to use that to develop the Church and the country through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in choosing their vocations,” added Monsignor Thawale.

 

In her remarks, Grace Phiri, from Salima Parish thanked the Monsignor for encouraging them to work hard in all aspects so that they choose their vocations wisely for the benefit of the Church and the country.

 

“Today’s function (Vocation Day) has helped us know the importance of hard work, education, and a prayerful life. It is true that when we pray hard and read the Word of God frequently, we shall ably choose the right vocations,” said Grace.

 

The Vocation Day took place at St. Matthias Lumbadzi Parish in Lilongwe under the theme “Youths as Missionaries of Hope.”

By Alex Nasoni

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Church News News

Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe Faithful Rally Behind Retirement Home Project For Priests

Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, Zambia, His Grace Dr. Alick Banda has urged the faithful to support one another for the betterment of the church.

Speaking on Saturday, 05th April 2025, during a fundraising event which was organized by the Friends of the Association for Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Lilongwe (ADCCOL) at St. Ignatius Parish Area 30 in Lilongwe, His Grace emphasized the vital role of local believers, in sustaining the church’s future.

Archbishop Alick Banda during the opening mass

“The future of any local church lies in the hands of its people, especially the faithful. As a local church, we have no other choice but to take up the challenge ourselves. No one will develop our church if we do not take responsibility,” he stated.

 

Archbishop Desmond Tambala of the Lilongwe Archdiocese commended the faithful for the contributions and support they have made towards building a retirement home and infirmary for elderly and sick priests at Likuni parish.

 

In her remarks, Chairperson of the organizing committee, Edna Phiri expressed gratitude to well-wishers and the faithful for their generous contributions toward the initiative.

Chairperson of the organizing committee, Edina Phiri

 

“The support we have received from well-wishers and the faithful has been overwhelming, and we do not take it for granted,” she said.

 

Phiri assured that, under the guidance of Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, the committee would ensure that the funds collected are used effectively.

 

“We will report back to the faithful on how their contributions have been utilized,” she affirmed.

 

According to Phiri, this marks the first phase of the project, and the committee will continue seeking support from well-wishers to advance the initiative.

 

By Monica Chinyama

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Church News

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe Boosts Rural Outreach with Bicycle Distribution to Catechists

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has distributed bicycles to catechists from various parishes within the Archdiocese, aimed at strengthening faith dissemination in rural areas.
Monsignor Patrick Thawale, on behalf of the Archbishop of Lilongwe the Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala, presided over the distribution, emphasizing the vital role catechists play in spreading religious knowledge and supporting the Catholic faithful.
“For the catechists, I would wish to thank them for the good job they are doing in the parishes but also to encourage them to keep it up,” said Monsignor Thawale. “These bicycles will certainly assist them in disseminating the knowledge, but also the faith to the ordinary Catholic in the rural area.”
Monsignor Thawale hands over a bicycle to one of the catechists
He highlighted the challenges faced by catechists in reaching remote communities, where accessibility is often limited.
“There are a lot of areas which are so difficult to reach by car or even by motorbike, so these bicycles will be so handy for the catechists,” he explained. “And I encourage them to take good care of these bicycles because if they take good care of them, they will serve the purpose.”
The bicycles are expected to significantly improve the catechists’ mobility, enabling them to visit more parishioners and provide essential spiritual guidance in previously hard-to-reach areas.
The distributed bicycles
This initiative underscores the Archdiocese’s commitment to supporting its rural communities and ensuring that the faith remains accessible to all.
The Archdiocese expressed its gratitude to Miva Slovakia for their generous contribution, acknowledging the significant impact the donation will have on the lives of the catechists and the communities they serve.
By Eric Norman Mkwaira