Bishop Mtumbuka Proclaims 2017-18 “Year of My Small Christian Community”
By Benjamin Msowoya
“Small Christian Community is a new way of participating in the Church’
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka has proclaimed 2017-18 liturgical year as “The Year of My Small Christian Community” for the Diocese of Karonga with a call on the faithful to seriously reflect on the significance of their Small Christian Community (SCC) as a new way of participating in their Church.
The Bishop made the proclamation at St Joseph the Worker Cathedral on 25th November 2017, when he presided over the annual Thanksgiving Mass. This is an annual event celebrated on the Solemnity of Christ the King during which the faithful bring their contributions to the Diocesan budget for the following year. For pastoral reasons the Thanksgiving Mass takes place on a Saturday before the Solemnity.
On this year’s occasion, the faithful contributed up to K7 million to the budget of the Diocese. There has been a steady increase in the donations from Christians to the Diocese from K3,195,000 in 2015, to K4,340,255.00 in 2016. This year’s contribution represents an increase of 161% from last year’s and surpasses the set target of K5 million.
In his response to the generous support of the faithful towards the running of the Diocese, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka said the generous donation from the faithful was a big and demanding call to be at their service.
“We see the outpouring generosity of the faithful as a confirmation of our efforts to be at their service,” said the Bishop.
The Thanksgiving Mass also marked the end of the themed liturgical year of “My Father’s House”. From 27th November 2016 to 25th November 2017, the faithful of the Diocese reflected on the sanctity of houses of prayer or church buildings and took deliberate steps to treat them with respect and dignity they deserve as houses of God on earth. The faithful also responded to the call to purify their hearts which are “Temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
As the Year of My Father’s House came to a close, the Bishop gave another theme to guide the Diocese of Karonga during the next liturgical year.
During the same ceremony, the Bishop officially received into the Diocese Marianist Sisters who are working at St Mary’s Karonga Girls Secondary School as missionaries.
Bishop Mtumbuka Presides Over Diamond Jubilee of Peramiho Major Seminary
By Ephraim Nyirenda, Songea
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka has urged seminarians to cultivate the spirit of prayer, saying priesthood is a life of prayer. He expressed strong belief that the missionaries, founders of their seminary, succeeded in sowing seeds of Christian faith because they were rooted in prayer.
Bishop Mtumbuka said this at St Augustine’s Peramiho Major Seminary in Tanzania when he presided over a solemn Mass which marked the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the seminary.
In his homily, he congratulated the Catholic Church in Tanzania, and the Benedictine Missionaries in particular, for sacrificing a lot to plant the faith in the area.
“I would like to commend you Catholic Bishops in this country for the good work you are doing. So many people (priests, religious brothers and sisters) have done their part for the seminary to reach this stage.” He said, “This is no mean achievement.”
In his remarks, Bishop Mtumbuka appreciated the role seminaries in Tanzania are playing in instilling the spirit of self-reliance in seminarians through the promotion of manual work.
“I am the Bishop Chairman of Seminaries in Malawi, I wish I could send all rectors, formators and seminarians to learn how you are preparing seminarians to be self-reliant,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
He finally thanked the Catholic Bishops in Tanzania for inviting him to be part of the celebration. This gesture, he said, demonstrated the universality of the Catholic Church.
On her part, The Tanzanian Minister of Policy, Parliament, Labor, Youth, Employment and Disabled Jenista Muhagama recognized the Church’s role in the formation of citizens.
“The Catholic Church and her leaders do not only preach the good news but also initiate projects for the development of people.” She said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Archbishop Damian Dallu of Songea thanked Bishop Mtumbuka for honouring the Bishops’ invitation to be the Guest of Honour at the function.
During his week-long stay, Bishop Mtumbuka and other officers from Karonga Diocese toured several income generating projects under the Catholic Church in Tanzania.
He also attended the requiem mass of Late Bishop Castor Msemwa of Tunduru-Masasi Diocese who died on the 19 October, 2017. He was laid to rest in his Cathedral on 25 October, 2017.
Official Opening of St Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School in Pictures
On 30th October, 2017, His Lordship Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of Karonga officially opened St Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School in Nthalire. The school has been constructed with financial support from Umckaloabo Foundation of Germany. The co-education boarding secondary school opened with about 100 Form One students. This presents the official opening in pictures. Pictures courtesy of Louisa Feiter.
DEO JUVANTE
Development Desk of Karonga Diocese Launches Rural Livelihood Project
By Elijah Banda
Climate change, as characterized by dry spell, flooding, short rainfall seasons with erratic patterns, is causing a decline in food production by smallholder farmers. Further, the ever increasing national population is exerting putting pressure on natural resources. To mitigate this, on 1st October, 2017, the Development Desk of Karonga Diocese launched a project aimed at building community resilience to the effects of Climate Change and population growth.
This multimillion Kwacha ‘Karonga and Chitipa Integrated Rural Development Project’ targets communities in the areas of Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga District and Mwabulambiya, Mwenemisuku and Mwenewenya in Chitipa District. The project is being implemented with financial assistance from MISEREOR Germany.
The project will engage 2400 households to improve natural resource management, annual food production, and household income. The project will also empower 160 young people economically through informal vocation training.
Speaking during the District Executive Committee (DEC) project briefing in Chitipa, the District Commissioner for Chitipa District, Grace Chirwa, appreciated the role Karonga Diocese is playing in complementing government’s efforts in improving people’s livelihoods. She further urged the Diocese to consider more interventions that would empower unemployed youths. These, she said, if not well managed end up engaging in promiscuous behavior.
During the meeting, DEC members reviewed and technically appraised the project. They pointed out some areas which needed further consideration and possible amendment.
Addressing DEC members after the approval of the project, Development Desk Project Officer-Elijah Banda expressed a word of gratitude to the District Commissioner for tirelessly supporting Karonga Diocese’s development initiatives and DEC members for their technical input.
“I thank you all for the technical advice towards the perfection of the project. Be assured these will be taken into consideration. Since the Development Desk will also work together with relevant government sectors, then most of the concerns raised will be addressed in the actual implementation of the project.” He said.
This is a three-year project and it runs from October 2017 to September 2020 using a community approach.
Catholic Pastoral Secretaries in Malawi Hail the Sunday School Project
By Ephraim Nyirenda – TFM Reporter
The National Director for Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) in Malawi has applauded the role Karonga Diocese is playing to ensure that Catholic children grow in the way the Church wants.
Speaking to Tuntufye FM after visiting Kangindwa Catholic Church on Thursday this week to appreciate how the Sunday School Project was fairing, Father Vincent Mwakhwawa, PMS National Director, said that all Pastoral Secretaries were impressed with what the Diocese was doing in helping Catholic children to understand Catholic doctrine from a tender age.
He added that with lessons learnt from the visit, other dioceses will select parishes in their dioceses where Sunday school activities such as quiz competitions, reciting poems and bible verses recitals will be piloted.
The PMS National Director also hailed His Lordship Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, the clergy and lay faithful for their collaboration and dedication in ensuring that God’s people were reached with the Gospel from the nursery.
Pastoral secretaries from six out of the eight dioceses under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, had a four day meeting at Bambo House in Karonga from 13th to 16th November, 2017. Among other things Pastoral secretaries deliberated on ways of enriching spiritual lives of Christians through the Bible, apostolates, catechesis and liturgical celebrations. They also shared reports and updates from the dioceses and explored ways of strengthening coordination among them.
Delegates to the meeting included Father Regis Kamela, National Pastoral Secretary, Father Elard Butao of Dedza Diocese, Father Steven Pio of Zomba Diocese, Father Innocent Ntapaonga of Lilongwe Archdiocese, Father Steven Kamanga of Mangochi Diocese, Father Peter Kantembe of Blantyre Archdiocese, and the host Father Joseph Sikwese.
“We are one,” Bishop Martin Mtumbuka Welcomes a Delegation from Mzuzu Diocese
By Maureen Soko
“No need for an appointment to come…”
His Lordship Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese has said the bond that exists between Mzuzu and Karonga dioceses is more significant for the growth of both Dioceses.
The Bishop made these remarks when he opened a two-day learning visit to Karonga of a delegation from Mzuzu Diocese on 9th November, 2017. Leading the nine member team from Mzuzu was Father Edmond Nyoka, head of Pastoral Department. The team comprised of heads of sections and departments under Social Development, Finance and Administration and Pastoral sections.
According to Bishop Mtumbuka, the separation of the two Dioceses was not only to help smoothen the running of the diocese’s affairs. It was also meant to allow the growth of Christianity, humanity and togetherness.
“The interaction between the two Dioceses has been cordial and we always do things together. After all the two have historical connection. As you all know that, this Diocese came from Mzuzu Diocese, just to make the management of the Diocese easier.” He said.
Further, he emphasized that no one has the monopoly of the best way of doing things. “We all learn from one another. No one should claim that they have discovered all the wisdom in the world and they have put a lid on it. That only they know what is in it. No, it is wrong.”
Bishop Mtumbuka also highlighted the importance of consolidating the work of different departments under the Diocese as this portrays the true image of the Catholic Church.
In his remarks, the Head of Social Development for Mzuzu Diocese, Mr Isaac Cheke Ziba said the visit would assist them to implement their Strategic Plan. The main purpose of the visit was to learn how the consolidated system works as Mzuzu Diocese has embraced the same.
The two teams have created a solid relationship in which they have promised to learn from each other from time to time.
Digital Libraries for Malawi Project Expected to Transform Learning and Teaching Experiences in Schools
By Mwawi Shaba
The Digital Libraries for Malawi Project is expected to transform the learning and teaching experiences in resource short schools in Karonga Diocese.
This realisation was revealed by Mr Remmie Kamanga, the Desk Officer for Education in Karonga Diocese on Monday, 13th November, 2017 during an inception and planning meeting for the two week activities which Niels David Kunz and Frederik Bachmann will be undertaking as part of the project in Karonga Diocese.
Niels David Kunz and Frederik Bachmann are implementing a Digital Libraries for Malawi Project which seeks to close the resource gap in terms of books and teaching materials by establishing online libraries that are also energy efficient and affordable. This would enhance learning and teaching as information technology will be used to supply and disseminate ebooks covering relevant topics in reference to Malawian secondary school syllabus .
The two also expressed their excitement regarding rolling out the project in Karonga Diocese and that they looked forward for a successful work in the two school
Niels David Kunz and Frederik Bachmann are in Karonga Diocese working with Chaminade and St Mary’s Karonga Girls Secondary schools in a pilot phase of the project.
Head teachers and other teachers at the schools are very excited by the project. Accordingly to Mrs Martha Nyondo; the Head teacher at St Mary’s Secondary, they are very grateful that Niels and Frederik chose the two schools for the project.