Five Delegates from Karonga Diocese Attend the School of the Faith Launch in Zambia
By Phillip Chisi
The Diocese of Karonga sent 5 delegates to Zambia to attend the launch of the School of the Faith in Zambia. The School of the Faith offers a learning environment that connects the core message of Catholic faith with its significance for the whole of life. It has its international headquarters in Mexico and Nigeria is the headquarters for the African region. Its central aim is to give participants a chance to explore what it means to address contemporary issues through the lens of Catholic faith.
According to the African Coordinator of the School of the Faith, Father Robert Havens, we are living in a world full of incompatible and confusing social, cultural and political ideas that restrain Christians from practicing their esteemed Catholic faith.
“There is little coordination among the faith formators to check on and revamp the faith of both the Catechumen and Christians. As a result catechetical lessons, and its intended “faith building” that, learned in the church are not always practically consistent with the way people live their faith. An important way to strengthen their faith is therefore through consistent catechetical lessons for all at all the time,” said Father Havens.
The School of the Faith is intended to benefit both Catechumen and baptized Catholic Christians all through an open exchange of ideas, knowledge, coaching and sound doctrinal practices.
This trip to Zambia is one of the initiatives, of Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga, aimed at fostering deep faith formation in the diocese. The participants were introduced to catechetical formation and teaching (pedagogical) skills, which they will in turn impart on catechetical instructors to improve the quality of faith formation and its effectiveness among the parishioners in the Diocese of Karonga.
The school will provide a rigorous catechetical curriculum to prepare Catholics in Karonga Diocese to live in the 21st Century world. The School of the Faith will also depend on the participation of parents, as first educators and primary instructors of the Catholic faith and small Christian communities.
Delegates to the meeting were drawn from all dioceses of Zambia, Karonga Diocese and Zimbabwe. The Diocese of Karonga was represented by Fr. Edward Kamanga (President), Ignatius Mvula (Academic Director) Phillip Chisi (Promotions Director), Wallace Nyirongo (Outreach Ministry Director) and Agnes Mbale (Administrator).
Father Mwale Urges Young People to Make Right Vocational and Career Choices
Phillip H Chisi CMA
Father Joachim Mwale of St Mary’s Parish has urged young people to set right career and vocational goals and strive to achieve them if they are too lead a happy life in adulthood.
Father Joachim Mwale, who is also Vocations Director for the Diocese of Karonga, said this at St Mary’s Parish during a youth rally organized by the parish from 3rd to 6th September, 2018. Father Mwale, said settling in a wrong profession or vocation makes people live a life of regret for failing to lead a life they intended to live.
He urged the youth to seek vocational guidance if they are to make choices that are in line with their human potentialities. He further said right vocational guidance, from experienced and trained people, helps young people to achieve their goal and vocation.
“Every individual has to personally discern their vocation before actually making a definite choice. Set goals and objective and use all necessary measures to work hard towards achieving them,” Father Mwale added.
This year’s youth rally gathered over 90 youth from all the three zones of the parish. The youth rally and its binding activities centred on vocational discernment, reproductive health, career and vocational talks as well as motivational talks.
During the rally, Sister Ruth Ghambi gave a talk on the path to sisterhood under the Sisters of Holy Rosary congregation. Mr. Campion Mkolongo gave a talk on marriage as a vocation. Career talks were given by Grego Lusale from the Pastoral Commission, Grace Msukwa from Tuntufye Radio and Phillip Chisi, Catechetical Methodology Advisor for St Mary’s Parish. Father Joseph Sikwese made a presentation on Articles of Catholic Faith while Moses Mwakisalu of CCJP talked about youth participation in the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Bishop Mtumbuka Confirms 317 Christians at Kasantha: Calls for Peace
By Ignatius Mvula
On Friday, 10th August 2018, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka reiterated his call to Christians and people of goodwill to preserve peace in their areas.
The Bishop made this call, in his address to the gathering at St Steven’s Parish (Kasantha), after administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to 317 Christians. The area under St Steven’s Parish is usually affected by violent conflicts over land, witchcraft allegations and chieftaincy wrangles.
“As a Church and people of good will, we are all invited to proclaim peace in our societies. We cannot be indifferent, when people who are advanced in years are being beaten or driven out of their homes. This is uncalled for,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
He added that it is a contradiction to say that we are Christians and live a life which is contrary to the core values of Christianity.
“It is deception to come to Church in large numbers or administer sacraments to huge numbers of people yet there is no genuine love and reconciliation among us,” said the Bishop.
“In as far as we are concerned, we shall never keep silent when old people are being tortured, beaten, accused for no reason at all, all people are dignified regardless of their age or status, so we must treat them with that dignified status” Said Right Reverend Mtumbuka drawing applause from a cathedral that gathered at the parish.
The Bishop said in clear terms that terms that all Catholics involved in all kinds of violence will be excommunicated from sacramental life.
The Bishop encouraged the youth and Sunday school children to concentrate on school so as to grow into trustworthy adults.
“The Pastoral Commission must ensure that our youth and children are well prepared in the Catholic faith so that their life does not contradict what they say and do,” said the Bishop.
The Catechetical Methodology Advisor for Kasantha Parish, Mr Bernard Nyasulu attributed the large numbers of people joining the Catholic faith to the work of Tuntufye FM Radio and the new catechism of the Diocese.
“The radio has played a big role in drawing people to the Catholic Church. Secondly, the catechism has had a huge impact on the people,” said Mr Nyasulu.
The Parish Priest of Kasantha Father Laurent Dziko thanked God for this year’s harvest where 132 people were baptised and 317 were confirmed. Out of the confirmed 91 are Sunday school children while 58 were youth.
Monsignor Denis Chitete Confirms First Adult Christians from Chakaka, Livingstonia Parish
By Benjamin Msowoya
On 4th August 2018, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga, Monsignor Denis Chitete, confirmed 23 Christians of Livingstonia Parish at Chitimba Prayer Centre.
Of special interest were three adult Christians from Chakaka area, one of the recently evangelized areas in the Diocese of Karonga. These three Christians from Chakaka are Kumbukani Nyirenda, Innocent Harawa and Nancy Kapira.
In 2015, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga mandated some members of the Pastoral Commission to visit and evangelize selected un-evangelised areas including Chakaka. Chakaka is a very remote area to the west of the Livingstonia Escarpment in Rumphi District. It is one of the few areas that did not have any presence of the Catholic Church and have been recently evangelized in order to plant the Catholic Church there.
The three confirmed adults from Chakaka are the first fruits of such evangelisation efforts that started in 2015. They got committed from the start and have consistently followed the three year catechumenate program of adult Christian initiation until their baptism on 3rd August and confirmation of 4th August 2018.
The Vicar General, Mons. Denis Chitete, said that he was happy to see that the pastoral initiatives that started a few years ago have started bearing fruits as testified by the baptism and confirmation of adult Christians from Chakaka. He assured the three that, as native pioneers of the Catholic Church in Chakaka, the Diocese will continue to support them in all ways possible so that more people come to know and accept Christ through the Catholic faith.
The Diocese of Karonga intends to continue building a strong Christian and Catholic presence in Chakaka area through these few confirmed adult Christians.
Lay Movements Start Their Annual Retreats at St Francis Shrine- Kaseye
By Father Joseph Sikwese
The month of August is a very important month for Ecclesial Movements in the Diocese of Karonga. It is the month in which the Pastoral Commission, through the office of the Lay Apostolate organizes annual retreats for Ecclesial Movements at St. Francis Shrine at Kaseye in Chitipa.
“This is one of the very precious moments in my life; I reflect on my life as a Christian. It helps me to refresh and gain more strength for my spiritual life. At first I thought retreats are only for priests and religious.” Commented Catherine Muyaba, a member of Ŵamama ŵa Chitemwano.
The retreats started on 1st August with Ŵamama ŵa Chitemwano and each movement is allocated five days of retreat. The theme for this year is, “Deepening my faith in my Small Christian Community.” The retreats are officially opened or closed with Mass by the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka. During the opening Mass for the retreat of the Legion of Mary, the Bishop appealed to the Legionaries to pray for the Church, their priests and families.
The programme of retreats is as follows:
1St August to 5th August Ŵamama ŵa Chitemwano
6th August to 10th August Legion of Mary
10th August to 14th August Catholic Elderly Men of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
15th August to 19th August Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi
20th August to 24th August Lay Marianists.
St. Francis Shrine used to be the Parish Church of St. Michael’s from 1949 until 1999 when the mission centre was moved from Kaseye to Chitipa Boma. In 2015 Bishop Mtumbuka declared Kaseye Church to be Shrine were different groups in the Church can use for retreats or prayers. The Shrine is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
The Pastoral Commission Conducts a Review Meeting on Small Christian Communities
By Benjamin Msowoya
On 16th July 2018, the Pastoral Commission of the Diocese of Karonga conducted a review meeting on the initiatives, taken by the Diocese, towards strengthening Small Christian Communities.
The meeting took place at St Kizito Conference Centre of St Michael’s Parish in Chitipa. The meeting, which was led by the Pastoral Secretary Fr. Joseph Sikwese and the Diocesan Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mr. Deodatus Muriya, attracted all priests, Catechetical Methodology Advisors and members of staff working with the Pastoral Commission at Curia Offices.
This year’s diocesan liturgical theme is “Year of Our Small Christian Community”. Catholics in the Diocese are this year reflecting on the significance of Small Christian Community (SCC); and taking action to strengthen SCCs and encourage meaningful participation in their SCC.
According to the evidence from the participants, some of the visible fruits of the initiatives taken so far are: increased number of active SCCs; increased numbers of people attending SCC gatherings; more knowledge on a variety of ways in conducting SCC meetings and quality of SCC discussions.
However, the review meeting revealed some challenges such as low attendance of men during SCC meetings, some faithful still do not respect the geographic boundaries of their SCC. It was further noted that some still consider SCC more as fundraising gatherings rather than gatherings centred on the sharing of the Word of God or spiritual nourishment.
Members resolved, among other initiatives, to continue with faith formation to all the faithful in the Diocese on proper understanding and conduct of SCC.
This was a second review meeting since the Diocese started special initiatives on strengthening SCCs in this “Year of Our Small Christian Community”.
Monsignor Chitete Celebrates First Mass at Juma Community
By Benjamin Msowoya
10th June, 2018 will go into annals of Juma Catholic Community and the Diocese of Karonga as a day of historic significance. In keeping with the Diocesan motto “We Shall Go to Them”, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga, Monsignor Denis Chitete, celebrated first Mass at Juma on this day.
Juma Catholic community is one of the fruits of visiting un-evangelized areas that was done about two years ago (in 2016). The small Catholic community at Juma has continued to grow since its establishment during the first visit.
This encouraged the Pastoral Team of St Joseph the Worker Cathedral, headed by the Vicar General, who is also the Administrator of St Joseph the Worker Cathedral, to visit and celebrate first Mass at Juma.
Juma is located in the hilly forest that is to the south-east of Kayerekera Uranium Mine site. It is extremely difficult to reach the community by vehicle, since only special four-wheel drive vehicles can make it on the difficult terrain and undeveloped paths to Juma.
The Vicar General went to Juma accompanied by some Catholic Christians of Sere Kayuni Prayer Centre, to which Juma Catholic Community is attached as a small Christian community. Travelling to Juma was not all smooth as the 4×4 vehicle still got stuck in one of the running rivers that is full of sand. The rest of the journey, one hour walk, was done on foot using different shortcuts that cut through the hills and forest to Juma.
The Juma Community, led by their Group Village Headman, Mr Juma Kaira, warmly welcomed the Vicar General and all Christians that accompanied him. The Group Village Headman, though not a Catholic, assured the Vicar General that he was welcome to their community and shared with him the joys and sorrows of his community. Afterwards, the Vicar General and the traditional leaders, together with the community of Catholics and many non-Catholics celebrated Mass.
In his homily, the Vicar General cautioned the Christians of the cost of faithfully following Christ. He said that just as Christ their Master was called Beelzebul, they too will be called names but that should not weaken their stance on following the way of Christ. He also encouraged the Catholic community of Juma and Sere Kayuni to be more united, support each other, as they grow into strong prayer centres.
Juma Catholic Community still meets as a small Christian community and are closely accompanied with support from Sere Kayuni Prayer Centre that is about 10 kilometres away. They still do not have a proper Church building for their prayers. They have elected a simple grass thatched shelter for this purpose. They are a small Catholic community broken down as follows:
| Category | Receiving Communion | Not Receiving Communion | Male | Female | Total |
| Adults | 2 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Youth | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Sunday School Children | 0 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Adult Catechumens | 8 | 4 | 12 | ||
| Child-Catechumen | 11 | 4 | 15 |
Acknowledging the need to support the Juma Catholic community to grow, the Vicar General gave some gifts, mostly catechetical materials, after the Eucharistic Celebration. He gave a Tumbuka bible, Tumbuka hymn book, catechisms and liturgical calendars. He also gave footballs, netballs and rosaries to Sunday school children of Juma.
The Vicar General has promised the Juma Catholic community another visit before the end of this year. His next visit will be preceded with several visits by officers in the Pastoral Commission and the Christians of Sere Kayuni Prayer Centre as a way of continued support and monitoring of the growth of this young Catholic community.
JUMA TRIP IN PICTURES
St Mathias (Misuku) Parish Trains Sunday School Instructors
By Nyozomo Gondwe
St Mathias Parish, under the Diocese of Karonga, has trained seventy-six (76) Sunday school instructors for both Junior and Senior Sunday school in order to improve their teaching skills and quality of catechetical lessons.
Speaking during the training, Parish Priest for St Mathias Parish, Father Bernard Silungwe encouraged instructors to be dedicated in the work God has called them for.
“As instructors, you have been given the sacred responsibility to fulfil the purpose of Sunday school in our Parish. Let everyone learn their duty and perform the duties of the office they have been appointed to with all diligence.” Said Father Silungwe.
“You have been called by inspiration to lead. Because you are a representative of the Saviour, it is important to radiate the manner of His leadership in the way you lead Sunday school learners. Jesus’ leadership was not only correct but also constant. The church has invested a lot in your training. It becomes frustrating when people quit without even informing us,” he said.
The Parish Priest further said the solution to skin deep faith among parishioners is to invest much into Sunday school ministry.
“The Church has lost many young people as they entered college life simply because they were not given the opportunity to grow in a disciple-making journey during their childhood and teen years. They were not encouraged or given the chance to serve others and help others grow into the image of Christ. The only way to save this generation is to engage them in the disciple-making process, and accompany them in ministering within their communities,” Said Father Silungwe.
During the training, Methodology Adviser under St Mathias, Paul Sesa advised instructors to be cautious in handling their lessons, saying teaching Sunday school children is different from most teaching.
“How we engage and nurture our children on Sunday morning is vitally important. The space which we create for our children will shape how they experience and connect with faith as they grow,” said Paul Sesa.
“Children are active and curious, and so teaching them about God’s love needs to be done in a way that enables each one to understand and then live out the Christian values that we teach. As teachers, you need to be prepared. You must maintain adequate emphasis on both scripture and children involvement. You must set aims for lessons and plan your lessons to achieve those aims,” said Sesa.
Participants were drawn from the Parish’s two zones of Menge and Mughese, which have 8 and 14 substations respectively. In an interview, one participant Mathias Makondo Masebo from Mughese Zone expressed gratitude for having undergone the training. He pledged to be more committed in his role of teaching the children, leading their liturgy and record keeping for accurate data as well as monthly reporting.
The trainings were an initiative of the Pastoral Commission, under the Sunday School Project with support from the Coppel Family.
Chitipa Deanery Children Shine in Diocesan Final Quiz and Choir Competition
By Benjamin Msowoya
On 2nd June 2018, the Diocese of Karonga saw Sunday school children from Chitipa Deanery of the Diocese scooping both awards during the quiz and choir competitions that took place at St Joseph the Worker Cathedral.
The competition took place in two categories, quiz and choir. In the quiz category, the winning team of St Michael’s Centre represented Chitipa Deanery Sunday School children. The children from St Michael’s Parish faced children from St Joseph the Worker Centre (representing Karonga Deanery children).
St Michael’s Centre children scored 100% during the quiz by getting correctly all the possible 20 points for their team. St Joseph the Worker Centre children scored 85% during the quiz by getting 17 of the points 20 points for their team. It was very encouraging to see the children from both teams giving precise and correct answers as stipulated by the Tumbuka Catechism Kasambizgeni Mitundu Yose Book I of the Diocese.
In the choir category, children of St Matthias Mulumba Parish Centre (Mughese), who represented Chitipa Deanery, won position one for their quality singing. These competed against their counter parts from St Joseph the Worker (Vilaure), who represented Karonga Deanery. The competition in the choir category was also tight as Mughese children on position one got 10 of the 12 possible points while the runners-up (Vilaure) got 9 of the possible 12 points.
The winning teams got prizes and certificates of recognition from the Vicar General, who is also the Chairperson of the Pastoral Commission of the Diocese of Karonga. Also present during the event were Fr Matthwes Simwera (the PMS Director of the Diocese), Fr Bernard Silungwe (Parish Priest of St Matthias Mulumba) and Fr. Cosmas Mwanjabala.
Apart from the many people from St Joseph the Worker, who came to watch the event, the event brought together many Sunday school children from various parishes. Among other groups of children that participated in the event were children from the following places: Chuba Prayer Centre (St Mathias Mulumba Parish), Wovwe Prayer Centre (St Anne’s Parish), St Mary’s Parish Centre and St Peter’s Prayer Centre (St Joseph the Worker Parish).
The children had morning Mass together, ate together and interacted from Saturday evening up to Sunday morning. On Saturday afternoon, they visited several places within Karonga; Tuntufye Radio Station Premises, Bambo Zutu House (Bishop’s House), St Mary’s Karonga Girls Secondary School, and the lake (for the sake of children from Chitipa Deanery who saw the lake for the first time).
In his remarks, the Vicar General congratulated the winners from Chitipa Deanery and commended all the participants for their impressive effort. He thanked all the Instructors of Sunday School Children for their untiring efforts in sharing their faith with the Sunday school children in the Diocese.
He said that what people had witnessed during the final competition among the children from the two deaneries, that makeup Karonga Diocese, was just one of the indicators that the children have great capacity and potential; they can perform wonders if given a chance.
He pledged that the Bishop and his office will continue supporting all their efforts to ensure that they continue forming, in faith, the children in the Diocese. He also urged the children to continue actively participating in all planned programmes and activities for children.
The Pastoral Commission organises such events every year through the Sunday School Desk which oversees the Diocese’s ministry towards children and the youth. The competitions start at prayer centre level and go up to outstation, zone, parish, deanery and diocese levels. It is the prayer centre that wins from the lower level that goes up through all the higher levels. The children involved are Sunday school children who are between 5 and 13 years of age. With the completion of this year’s competition. Prayer centres will now start preparing for 2019 competitions beginning this coming July 2018.
St Michael’s Parish YCS Members Urged to be Agents of Change
By Paul Lonely Mwandira
It was a youth weekend for St Michael’s Parish on 04th-06th May, 2018 when youth from 10 different schools within St Michael’s and St John Paul II’s parishes gathered at St Michael’s Parish.
The youth weekend was celebrated under the theme, “youth as agents of change”. Different talks were presented to initiate the youth into their roles in the Catholic Church and to foster mindset change as far as governance is concerned.
In discussing the recent pastoral letter entitled “A Call to a New Era in Malawi”, the Catechetical Methodology Advisor of St Michael’s Parish advised members to heed the Bishops’ call to change their ways of thinking if lasting change is to be achieved.
“The pastoral letter is challenging us Catholic youths, who are often used by politicians as agents of violence, to change our perception of democracy and ensure that democracy is entrenched at all levels,” said Mwandira.
Facilitating to 324 students who gathered at the function, students were urged not to be idle in the Church.
Chipalamoto Nyirenda, who took the students through life skills lessons, advised them to cultivate positive behavior at school and at home.
“As students you need to show signs that you are growing up both physically, intellectually and spiritually. These changes need to be accompanied playing critical roles in the Church. As youth we should be mindful that we participate in leading activities in the Church,” said Chipalamoto.
Students were mentored on career guidance and reading skills by George Silungwe from Kaseye Girls Secondary School. Mr Silungwe rebuffed the opinion that many students fail to be selected to university due to quota system. He indicated that students lack proper career guidance when selecting programmes to pursue at the university.
The youth weekend was closed by a Eucharistic Celebration, during which Young Christian Students group donated assorted kitchen items to support visitors who camp at the parish for different activities.