AFRICA/MALAWI – The dioceses of Malawi celebrate the Pontifical Missionary Union and Consecrated Life with a call for unity in Christ

Lilongwe – More than 600 diocesan and religious priests, nearly 1,500 nuns, and over 200 brothers serving in various parts of Malawi participated in celebrations held on February 7 in dioceses throughout the country under the theme: “Priests and religious, be one in Christ, united in mission.”
Every year, the Catholic Church in Malawi commemorates the Day of Consecrated Life and the Pontifical Missionary Union in a special way. This year, the activities began in the Diocese of Karonga on February 2, while in the other dioceses, the celebrations took place on Saturday, February 7, with the national celebration which took place in the Diocese of Dedza, at the parish of St. Martin de Porres, where Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa invited consecrated persons to become a visible sign of Christ, especially among the most vulnerable. The bishop exhorted them to walk closely with the poor, the elderly, and the abandoned, so that God’s closeness to his people may be experienced in a concrete way. He also encouraged them not to focus solely on the challenges of ministry, but to recognize the blessings God bestows upon them in their service to the Church.
In the Diocese of Mangochi, at the parish of St. Louis Marie de Montfort in Balaka, Bishop Montfort Stima affirmed that priests, nuns, and brothers can live unity in Christ by revealing the face of Jesus in their daily ministry, since the work they do ultimately constitutes the very mission of Christ.
In the Diocese of Mzuzu, at St. Augustine Parish, Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda emphasized that unity between priests and religious is essential for effective evangelization.
At the Cathedral in Zomba, Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima exhorted God’s servants to ground their mission in a profound union with Christ. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, at St. Francis Parish, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala invited priests and religious to live their vocation authentically. He also thanked them for their generous service, describing them as a precious treasure for the Church, and encouraged them to remain steadfast and confident in their mission. The celebrations also took place in the Diocese of Chikwawa, where Bishop Peter Musikuwa joined in prayer with consecrated men and women, thanking them for their dedication and urging them to persevere in bearing witness to Christ.

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