German Bishop Praises Church’s Impact in Malawi, Urges Vocations

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn in Germany, Bishop Matthias König, and his delegation, including Monsignor Gregor Karl-Heinz Tuszynski, are visiting Malawi for the blessing of a new Formation House at Nanthomba on January 12th.

When facing the media today at the archbishop’s house in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Bishop König has strongly encouraged Catholic Youths in the country to consider religious vocations, highlighting the vibrant and impactful role of the Catholic Church in the country.

Bishop König expressed admiration for the flourishing of religious life in Malawi, contrasting it with the decline of vocations in Germany.

“In Africa and in other parts of the world, vocations grow,” Bishop König stated. ” This is one of the reasons why the sisters, after a long process of consultation, prayer and thinking, they have decided to open a formation house in Dowa (District) because so many African girls got inspired by the works the sisters do.”

The Bishop emphasized the wide-ranging contributions of the Catholic Church in Malawi, including its significant involvement in education and healthcare.

His Lordship noted that “the Catholic Church is one of the major promoters of progress here in the country, by education, by health care, and also by inspiring people to really take their own fate in their own hands and to do what they can to improve the situation of the country and of the people. ”

Recognizing the diverse avenues for service within the Church, Bishop König encouraged young Malawians to prayerfully consider their vocations.

“There are so many varieties in the church where you can help the people by either becoming a priest, a religious, or a catechist, or a teacher, or whatever,” the bishop urged.

Bishop König’s visit serves as a timely reminder of the vital role of the Church in Malawi and a call to action for young people to consider answering God’s call to service.

The blessing of the new Formation House for the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary at Nanthomba will be a significant event, further strengthening the commitment of the Church to nurturing future generations of religious leaders in Malawi.