Catholic Chiefs Association Commit to Transforming Their Communities Through Development and Mindset Change

Chiefs have urged to transform their communities in terms of development and the well-being of their people by adopting new ways of doing things and changing their mindset.

This was said on 13 February 2026 at Likuni Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, during training sessions organized for Catholic chiefs Association from the parishes of Likuni, Mlale, and St. Mathias on mindset change in development work.

Delivering the training, Father Joseph Kuppens of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) expressed confidence that what the chiefs had learned would be applied in their communities, with the goal of making them more developed.

Father Kuppens emphasized that the time has come for people to be self-reliant in their initiatives so they can develop their communities and families.

“We now hope that they will run their villages in such a way that it can be more sustainable, that people can sustain themselves for example in the area of environment,” he said.

Sister Teleza Mulenga of the Daughters of Maria Teresa said she was satisfied with how the training went, noting the chiefs’ eagerness to learn about environmental care and community development.

According to her, there will be follow-up monitoring to ensure the chiefs implement what they have learned.

“Seeing is believing and they have to be the first implementors. So if they do something from whatever they have learnt, then people will be able to follow their good example.”

Likuni Parish priest Damiano Chitha, who presented lessons on Catholic teaching, said he expects the chiefs to now serve as good role models in their communities based on what they have learned.

The Chairperson of the Catholic Chiefs’ Association at Likuni Parish Senior group Mtanga said the training will bring significant changes, especially in environmental care and in helping people embrace mindset change.

He urged fellow chiefs who attended the training to work together with neighboring chiefs to bring about greater transformation in their communities.

Through the Eco Project under the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, the chiefs were trained on the importance of caring for the environment, guided by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which stresses the responsibility of Christians to protect creation.

The 2 day training brought together over 78 chiefs from the three parishes, and was organized by the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) and Sisters of Daughters of Maria Teresa.

By Titus Jata Phiri