26 CONFIRMED IN ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH
By Noel Chatepa
On Monday, August 11, 2025, there was joy at St. Francis De Sales Parish in Livingstonia, Rumphi, as the Bishop of the Diocese of Karonga, His Lordship Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, presided over the rite of confirmation mass of 26 confirmands. This ceremony followed a baptismal mass held the previous day on Sunday, August 10, where 16 faithful were baptized into the Catholic Church.
During his homily at the confirmation mass, Bishop Mtumbuka emphasized the vital role of the Holy Spirit in maintaining one’s sacraments. He reminded the confirmands that without this divine guidance and support from God through the Holy Spirit, it would be challenging to uphold their commitments to their faith.
“Let us keep our sacraments—be it baptismal, marriage or priesthood—and as Christians we need to accept that we can only do this through the help of God,” he stated. The Bishop encouraged them to remember that their sacramental journey is not just with fellow Christians but fundamentally with the Holy Spirit.
In an interview following the mass, Bishop Mtumbuka expressed his joy about witnessing confirmands from areas in Rumphi where there had previously been no Catholic presence. “This shows that the seed of hope planted years ago in this parish is growing,” he remarked proudly.
