As Christians across the world continue their period of reflection during the season of Lent, St Patrick’s Choir One from St Patrick’s Parish Area 18 in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe organized a spiritual retreat on Saturday, 7 March 2026, aimed at deepening the faith and spiritual commitment of its members.

 

The retreat was held under the theme *“Strengthening our spiritual life through singing following the Cross, linking it to the humility of St Joseph.*”

 

The gathering provided choir members with an opportunity to pause from their regular activities and reflect on their vocation of serving God through music while growing spiritually during the Lenten period.

 

The retreat was facilitated by Monsignor Henry Chimkanda of the Dedza Diocese, who commended St Patrick’s Choir One for taking the initiative to organize a spiritual retreat. He described the gathering as an important step toward strengthening the choir’s spiritual life and deepening members’ understanding of their role in the Church.

In line with the retreat’s theme, Monsignor Chimkanda encouraged choir members to embrace the three pillars of the Lenten season: fasting, repentance, and compassion. He urged them to intensify their prayer life and remain committed to spiritual discipline, noting that their ministry of singing in the Church should be rooted in a strong relationship with God.

 

He also emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration within the Church, reminding the choir that the Church is currently in the period of the Synod on Synodality, which calls for greater participation, dialogue, and cooperation among all Church groups.

 

Drawing his homily from the Gospel of Luke 15:11–25, which recounts the parable of the prodigal son, Monsignor Chimkanda stressed that the foundations of the Church’s sacraments are rooted in the Bible. He particularly encouraged choir members to make frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance, describing it as an important path for renewing one’s spiritual life and restoring one’s relationship with God.

 

Speaking after the retreat, the choir’s Vice Chairperson, Mary Limbani expressed gratitude to Monsignor Chimkanda for accepting the invitation to facilitate the retreat. She also thanked choir members for their active participation, noting that their presence demonstrated commitment to spiritual growth.

 

Limbani explained that the retreat was deliberately organized as a moment of reflection during Lent and expressed satisfaction that its objectives had been achieved. According to her, members gained valuable spiritual insights that will help strengthen their faith and commitment to their ministry in the Church. She further revealed that the choir has scheduled several more retreats as part of its 2026 action plan, aimed at continuing the spiritual formation of its members.

 

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Liturgy Committee, Stella Nkhonya, who played a key role in organizing the retreat, said she participated in the gathering to deepen her understanding of how choir members can strengthen their spiritual lives collectively while the Lenten season continues.

 

She emphasized that the retreat served as a reminder of the importance of humility in Christian life, encouraging members to emulate the humility of Saint Joseph, whose example continues to inspire believers to serve God with dedication and humility.

Overall, the retreat provided St Patrick’s Choir One with a moment of spiritual renewal, reinforcing the belief that their ministry of singing is not only about music but also about living a life rooted in faith, prayer, humility, and service.

 

By Michael Jeke