Bishop Mtumbuka Places Hope in Investiment for Self Reliance of the Church;Leads a Learning Tour to Tanzania
By Ephraim Nyirenda Diocesan Staff Reporter
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has assured Priests, Diocesan Staff and the entire Catholic Community of Karonga Diocese that the Church will do everything possible in making sure that it invests in short and long term projects so that it can be able to generate more income for the smooth running of the Diocese.
The Bishop was speaking to the delegation which accompanied him to appreciate what the Church is doing in terms of investments in Njombe and Songea Dioceses, after touring several projects such as Coffee and tea plantations in Tanzania.
The Bishop was accompiened by Curia Staff, Priests, Chairperson of Kakikhomele Foundation, Finance Council Members, the director and staff of Lusubilo Orphan Care in this trip.
The Bishop urged the Diocesan staff, the clergy, catechists and all church leaders to be dedicated and sacrifice themselves in all the activities that are being carried by the Diocese to achieve the vision of having a Diocese that can be self-reliant. He encouraged all to share in his vision.
His Lordship added that as a Diocese, it has a mandate to care for priests; to train seminarians in to different seminaries like Peramiho in Tanzania and Malawi which he finds it very difficult to pay for the tuition fees in all these training institutions hence the need to have long term investments.
He this acknowledged the work done by the legendary forefathers such as, Monsignor St Denis, Father Dupuis, Bishop Jobidon, Fr Zutumerk, Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza and others for the sacrifice they made to the Diocese of Mzuzu and part of which now is Karonga for the tireless work they did in among others putting up structures that people now use.
“We have to build the future of the Diocese of Karonga on solid foundation because I don’t want my successors to suffer because we didn’t do anything. I am not doing this for the sake of people to appraise me, but for the good of the church. All what we have planned as long as I am alive we will fulfill them with God’s help”. The Bishop emphasized.
Francis Gondwe; one of the finance council members of the Diocese who was amongst the visiting team appraised the Diocesan leader for the good vision and passion he has for his Diocese. Gondwe mentioned that the trip to Njombe and Songea Dioceses in Tanzania has been an eye opener where they have learned a lot of things that if implemented, the Catholic Diocese of Karonga will be independent soon.
Father Charles Peter Chinula and Father Joachim Mwale also asked fellow priests, the religious;men and women and the lay faithful to work with the Diocesan leadership to achieve the desired vision.
Among others, the team visited AVIV a private coffee farm which has 1200 hectares of coffee while Njombe Diocese has 600 hectares of Tea farm where according to Father Fortnatus, the Diocese harvests 9,000 kilograms of tea per year which is sold at 250 Tanzanian Shillings per kilogram.
Represantavives from Caritas Commision, Lusubilo Orphan Care, Vocation Director, chairperson of Kajikhomere Trust and one from Tuntufye Radio were among the 16 delegates who went to Tanzania on a six day visit.