CONGREGATION OF MISSIONARIES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES TO CONSTRUCT SPIRITUAL FORMATION CENTRE IN CHITIPA
By Noel Chatepa
On Thursday 23rd July 2026, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Fransalian Spiritual Formation Centre, which will be built at Ilema, St. Peter’s Parish, in Chitipa District. The Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga, Monsignor Lorent Dziko, presided over the function.
Also present were Fr. Patrick, Provincial Superior of the South East India Province of the Congregation of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Charles, the Councilor in charge of formation in the congregation, priests from the Congregation of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and the Parish Priest for St. Peter’s, Fr. Alick Sikwese.
In an interview, the Provincial Superior explained that one of the reasons behind the decision to build the spiritual formation centre is the Fransalians’ specific approach to evangelism, which involves getting close to the people, visiting them in their homes, teaching them to pray the rosary, and fostering a family atmosphere within the parish. Having been present in the Dioceses of Karonga and Mzuzu, and the Archdiocese of Lilongwe for eight years, they felt it was time to establish a formation house in Malawi.
“We have worked in the country for eight years, and we thought it was the right time to start recruiting seminarians from the three dioceses, and eventually from other dioceses as well. It is through local seminarians that we will be able to further spread the word of God,” said the Provincial Superior.
He added that the formation centre would start gradually, with an initial capacity of 20 seminarians, with hopes of increasing it to over 50 in the future. He also explained that after two years of formation at the spiritual formation centre, seminarians will undergo one year of novitiate before proceeding to study philosophy in Arusha, Tanzania.
Speaking separately, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga described the construction of the formation centre as a welcome development for the diocese, noting that it will be the diocese’s first spiritual formation centre and a sign of its growth. He encouraged parents and young men to see this as an opportunity to answer their calling to priesthood, now that a formation center is within reach.
“I would like to encourage young men who feel called to the priesthood, and their parents who support vocations within their families, to know that this seminary will be run by the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and they are free to join whichever congregation they feel called to,” said the Vicar General.
Addressing the community in Ilema, he encouraged residents to embrace the development as a benefit for the whole community, noting that the construction and eventual running of the formation centre create jobs and business opportunities. He also advised them to guard against outsiders attempting to steal project resources.
The Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), also known as the Fransalians, was founded under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales by the Servant of God, Fr. Peter Mary Mermier, in Annecy, France, in 1838.