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Newly Ordained Priest Grateful for Vocation, Calls for Prayers

The newly ordained priest in the Society of St. Patrick’s Missionaries, Rev. Fr. Kennedy Julius Mullande, has thanked God for the gift of vocation in his life and asked for prayers to serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

He shared these sentiments on Pentecost Sunday after celebrating his first Mass as a priest at his home parish, St. John Paul II Chitedze, in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

Fr. Kennedy Mullande

“I am very grateful to God for the precious gift of life and priesthood given to me. I also thank my parents, friends, and parishioners for their prayers and words of encouragement that helped me reach this far. It has been so amazing,” said the smiling Father Kennedy.

Father Kennedy urged all young people to discern their vocations with the help of the Holy Spirit, assisted by their parents and vocations directors, so they may serve the Lord as priests, brothers, and sisters in the Vineyard of the Lord.

Earlier, the Vocations Director for Central Africa (Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa) in the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Fr. Felix Mlauzi, urged the newly ordained priest to observe all priestly virtues as showered upon them by the Holy Spirit.

“You, Father Kennedy, and of course all of us priests, are supposed to be honest in our ministry. You have to be prayerful, available all the time, and not be segregative in your work. You also have to be simple and exemplary, observe chastity and celibate life. In addition, use social media to spread the Gospel of the Lord and not to discredit the priestly ministry,” said Father Mlauzi.

He also pleaded with parents, guardians, and friends to avoid exerting pressure on the newly ordained priest, especially concerning finances, as this could compromise their ministerial work.

The parishioners, priests, and friends of Father Kennedy Mullande gave him various gifts to assist him in his ministry as the first priest from the seven-year-old parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

parishioners presenting gifts to Fr. Mullande

Rev. Fr. Kennedy Julius Mullande, who comes from Samu village, Traditional Authority M’bwatalika in Lilongwe, has been appointed to serve the church in the West Africa region, specifically in Nigeria, under the Missionaries of St. Patrick’s.

By Alex Nason

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Archbishop Tambala Praises St. Kizito Parish’s Holistic Development on 50th Anniversary

St. Kizito Chigoneka Parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has been commended for its tremendous work in uplifting the lives of its parishioners, both spiritually and socially.

Celebrating the parish’s 50th anniversary today, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe mentioned that St. Kizito is among model parishes in the archdiocese, outstanding in both parish life and the spiritual well-being of the faithful, as well as in development aspects.

“It’s a very positive picture, I mentioned during Mass that it is one of those parishes that we are very proud of in all senses. I am talking about the parish life, the relationship between the priests and the faithful. We are talking about the groups that are here; they are very dynamic, and it’s a parish that has reached out to others,” Archbishop Tambala stated.

Archbishop Tambala addressing the gathering during the celebrations
Archbishop Tambala addressing the gathering during the celebrations

“We have a new parish that came out of here, [and there’s] such a very good bond with other parishes. It’s a parish that is forward-looking; it has ideas for development. The spiritual life is great here. I have witnessed sacraments and all that, so it’s a very good parish.” His grace added.

Among others, Archbishop Tambala commended the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society for their significant role in the evangelization and development of the parish.

“We are talking about a clinic that we have, and also we are talking about schools, infrastructures like churches and all that,” he explained. “St. Patrick’s Missionary has been very, let me use the word, holistic in their approach. So, we are very proud of their presence.”

The Parish Council Chairperson, Clement Stambuli, expressed joy over the significant advancements the parish has witnessed in the past 50 years.

“St. Kizito has advanced in the past 50 years, starting from having Mass under a tree to where we are now, having a good church, hall, and also offices and other properties,” Stambuli explained.

Mr Clement Stambuli, parish council chairperson
Mr Clement Stambuli, parish council chairperson during the event

Stambuli highlighted that the presence of both aged and youthful faithful provides the parish with an opportunity to find ways of sustaining itself.

“We don’t want a parish which will depend on tithes and offerings but rather make the parish self-sustainable by having business lines and opportunities to ensure we maintain the income of the church and also we ensure
we continue developing,” he emphasized.

St. Kizito Chigoneka Parish was established in 1975 and is currently run by the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society.

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MEC Champions Women’s Empowerment for 2025 Elections

Media Engagement on Reporting Women issues in Public and Political Spaces, organized by MISA Malawi in partnership with Concern Worldwide under the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence
Media Engagement on Reporting Women issues in Public and Political Spaces, organized by MISA Malawi in partnership with Concern Worldwide under the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it has placed a strong emphasis on fostering women’s empowerment throughout the electoral cycle as Malawi gears up for its general elections on September 16, 2025.

The commission’s comprehensive approach aims to give room for women’s participation as voters, candidates, and electoral staff, signaling a concerted effort to achieve a more equitable democratic landscape.

Media and Public Relations Director at the MEC, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, articulated the commission’s vision, highlighting the critical stages leading up to polling day, including nominations, the campaign period, and the polling and results management.

Mwafulirwa underscored that the MEC’s commitment extends to ensuring a truly inclusive environment where women can fully engage at every level, emphasizing the MEC’s dedication to providing a safe polling process where women are free from intimidation or obstruction when casting their votes.

He stressed that women should be able to “come from home and go back without somebody intimidating them.”

Sangwani Mwafulirwa outlining the MEC's efforts to empower women in the 2025 elections
Sangwani Mwafulirwa outlining the MEC’s efforts to empower women in the 2025 elections

Mwafulirwa also highlighted the commission’s internal pledge to achieve a 50-50 gender balance among temporary polling staff.

“If we are employing 10,000 or 15,000 temporary staff, how many of these are women? There is a commitment from the Malawi Electoral Commission that we should employ 50-50 of each gender,” he affirmed, noting that this commitment has already been implemented during voter registration, inspection, and verification processes.

Furthermore, he has pointed to the encouraging statistic that women already comprise over 50% of registered voters, saying MEC’s focus now shifts to encouraging a high turnout among these registered women on polling day.

On working to reduce financial barriers for women aspiring to hold political office, Mwafulirwa revealed that “the commission gazetted that women should pay 50 percent less of the nomination fees.”

Understanding the nomination fees for the 2025 elections. Note the reduced fees for women candidates, as one key step in encouraging broader participation.
Understanding the nomination fees for the 2025 elections. Note the reduced fees for women candidates, as one key step in encouraging broader participation

To ensure these empowerment efforts are transparent and effective, the MEC has enlisted the support of the media, urging them to serve as “the eyes or the vanguards or the watchdogs” of the electoral process and to scrutinize issues pertaining to women’s participation from various angles – as candidates, voters, and polling staff.

MEC has also called on journalists to hold other stakeholders, particularly political parties, accountable for their commitments to women’s empowerment.

“If parties have committed to women empowerment, providing an environment for equal participation of women, what is it that the parties are actually doing beyond their expression or their commitment to supporting women?”

Media Engagement on Reporting Women issues in Public and Political Spaces, organized by MISA Malawi in partnership with Concern Worldwide under the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence
Media Engagement on Reporting Women issues in Public and Political Spaces, organized by MISA Malawi in partnership with Concern Worldwide under the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

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Maula Deanery Makes History As All Parishes Unite for Our Lady of Africa Day

Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa joins the executive members and priests of Maula Deanery for a commemorative photo after the unprecedented Mass bringing all 11 parishes together.
Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa joins the executive members and priests of Maula Deanery for a commemorative photo after the unprecedented Mass bringing all 11 parishes together.

Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa of the Catholic Diocese of Dedza has called for greater collaboration among deaneries to meet the needs of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Chifukwa made the remarks today, 31 May 2025, while presiding over a special Mass celebrating Our Lady of Africa, the matron saint of Maula Deanery, held at the Maula podium in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa blesses the faithful of Maula Deanery during the procession, as they celebrate Our Lady of Africa in a historic show of unity
Bishop Chifukwa blesses the faithful of Maula Deanery during the procession, as they celebrate Our Lady of Africa in a historic show of unity

 His Lordship has since urged Christians in Maula Deanery to unite their efforts in continuing their evangelization work.

“When several views and decisions are put together, the church develops,” Bishop Chifukwa stated.

In his remarks, Chairperson for Maula Deanery, Clement Sitambuli, echoed the bishop’s sentiment, highlighting the joint celebration as a step towards developing the deanery and building stronger relationships among its parishes.

aula Deanery Chairperson Clement Sitambuli addresses the historic gathering from the podium, emphasizing unity and development within the deanery
Maula Deanery Chairperson, Clement Sitambuli addresses the historic gathering from the podium, emphasizing unity and development within the deanery

“This is a very good development as it will make Catholic faithful in the deanery to build a good relationship with the aim of serving the Church,” Sitambuli said.

Under Canon Law, a deanery serves as a local church family, grouping several parishes together to foster collective action.

This historic event marks the first time all eleven parishes of Maula Deanery have gathered to celebrate their matron saint together.

Children share their joy during the Maula Deanery’s historic celebration
Maula Deanery’s choir after their beautiful performance at the historic celebration of Our Lady of Africa
The Catholic Women Association (CWA) from across Maula Deanery stands together, showcasing the collective spirit of this momentous occasion

By Peter Dumayo

📸: Eric Norman Mkwaira

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Church News Radio Alinafe

319 Confirmed at Maria Mthandizi Parish’s First Confirmation

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE

In a momentous celebration of spiritual growth and community development, the Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish in Mtandire held its first-ever Sacrament of Confirmation on 25 May 2025, during the Celebrations for the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians.

Monsignor Patrick Thawale presided over the sacrament and has expressed his joy and gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a significant occasion as it was not only historic but also profoundly uplifting.

In his homily, Monsignor Thawale has since urged the newly confirmed to remain active in their faith and to continue their spiritual journey with commitment and courage.

Monsignor Patrick Thawale administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to a young Christian at Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish — marking a historic first for the newly established parish.
Monsignor Patrick Thawale administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to a young Christian at Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish

He has since Recognised the ever-changing nature of the world and encouraged the newly confirmed to adopt a broader perspective beyond their immediate environment.

“Our world has become one global village. They shouldn’t be interested only in their local situation,” he said. “I told them that they should think globally and act locally meaning they can learn from other people. Because the world, with the means of communication, has shrunk tremendously.”

Monsignor Thawale also stressed the importance of education and personal development and challenged the youth to be aggressive in their academic pursuits while also deepening their relationship with God.

“The bottom line is that they should be very interested in what is going on around them and prepare for the future accordingly,” he said.

Newly confirmed youths receive the Holy Eucharist from Monsignor Patrick Thawale during the parish’s first-ever Confirmation Mass at Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish
Newly confirmed youths receive the Holy Eucharist from Monsignor Patrick Thawale during the parish’s first-ever Confirmation Mass at Maria Mthandizi wa Akhristu Parish

Among those confirmed was Annabelle, a member of the Kasiyafumbi Outstation. Beaming with joy, she shared what the sacrament meant to her.

“I am glad because this means I am now moving from the class to join the youth association at the church, as I am now grown up—both spiritually and physically,” she said.

Annabelle pledged to remain on God’s path and encouraged her fellow confirmands to stay committed to their faith.

“This is just the beginning. I will continue to follow God’s path, and I ask my fellow confirmed individuals to do the same,” she said.

Newly confirmed youths aligned to receive Holy Communion from Monsignor Thawale
Newly confirmed youths receive Holy Communion from Monsignor Thawale

Established in November 2023, Maria Mthandizi Parish has shown remarkable progress in just a few months. The confirmation of over 300 young parishioners is a testament to the rapid growth and deepening faith of the community, as 319 young Christians received the sacrament in a vibrant and prayerful ceremony.

By Eric Mkwaira

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Church News News

Likuni Parish CCJP Urges Chiefs to Champion Political Tolerance Ahead of Malawi’s General Elections

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) at Likuni Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has urged local chiefs to promote political tolerance as Malawi prepares for its general elections on September 16.

This call was made during a meeting at the Parish, where CCJP and chiefs gathered to discuss how best they can foster peace and unity among different political parties in their respective areas during the campaign period.

Likuni Parish CCJP chairperson, Francisco Lead, emphasized the crucial role chiefs play in holding politicians accountable while also educating their communities on the importance of coexistence.

According to Lead, CCJP and chiefs have agreed to convene a debate among all political candidates contesting in Likuni, where the candidates will sign a social contract, committing to the promises they will make during campaign period regarding the constituency’s development.

Francisco Lead Likuni Parish CCJP chairperson

“We organized this meeting to engage chiefs on political tolerance and the promotion of peace. We have observed that some political parties exploit funerals in various areas to conduct campaigns, which is highly inappropriate, especially since the official campaign period has not yet begun,” Lead stated.

In his remarks, Group Village Head Malili commended Likuni Parish CCJP for facilitating the discussion, stating that it has empowered chiefs to take an active role in peacebuilding efforts within their communities.

GVH Malili emphasizing a point

Malili also urged fellow chiefs to take the lead in condemning political violence occurring in their areas.

The meeting brought together chiefs from different areas under Likuni to strategize on ways to uphold peace and ensure politicians remain accountable ahead of the general elections.

By Titus Jata Phiri