JB, Muluzi join Malawi Catholics at new C.I church launch
President Joyce Banda and former president Bakili Muluzi Saturday morning joined St Montfort parishioners popularly known as Catholic Institute (C.I) in the opening of the K240 million new church whose construction started in 2002.
The opening of the church also includes the 100th anniversary of the parish and is celebrating the feast of St Louise Marie de Montfort the patron of the parish.
Outgoing Archbishop Tarcizio Ziyaye of Blantyre Archdiocese – now relcoated for Lilongwe archdiocese by the Pope – led the service helped by bishops Thomas Msusa of Zomba diocese, Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa diocese and Auxiliary Bishop Montfort Stima of Blantyre Archdiocese.
Before the mass started City Building Contractors official handed over the keys of the new church to His Grace Ziyaye.
Ziyaye then blessed the new altar and was then joined by fellow bishops in the blessing of the entire church by sprinkling holy water , a ceremony called asperges, inside and outside the church as the other bishops offered incense to the building.
The litany for all saints was recited and a special prayer making the church a holy building said.
Vatican charge de affaires for Malawi Monsignor Hurbetus Ven Megen and some cabinet ministers are also attending the ceremony.
