Lilongwe Archdiocese ordains new priests
The Archdiocese of Lilongwe of the Catholic Church on Saturday ordained six deacons to priesthood at a ceremony at Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe.
The six, Kennedy Malemia, Emmanuel Dilawo, Charles Chimutu, Cornelius Kanyambo, Constantine Mgunda and Samson Kumkumbira, have been ordained as Diocesan priests.
Presiding over the ordination ceremony, Archbishop of the diocese, His Lordship Joseph Gustav Remi Ste Marie, described the ordination of the six priests as a gift to the archdiocese since it was the first time they had ordained such a large number of priests at once since the diocese became an Archdiocese last year.
Milestone
“This is a milestone in our Archdiocese to ordinate such a big number of priests at once. This is indeed a gift to us as considering that it is first of its kind since Lilongwe diocese became an Archdiocese,” he said.
The Archbishop called upon the newly ordained priests to dedicate their lives to serving God and make sure that they always preach and follow what they believe.
Ste Marie also asked them to adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church and stick to their celibacy status.
Priests demand
He complained about the shortage of priests in the Archdiocese.
The Bishop said although the Archdiocese had made attempts to increase the number of priests, there were some parishes that lacked priests as some had one priest only.
The ordination of the six priests has increased the number of diocesan priests to 59 from 53 currently serving the archdiocese.
The Archbishop then urged young men of the Catholic Church who wish to join priesthood to follow their hearts and register with the Vocations Director of their Parishes.
He wished the newly ordained priests well as they started their new life of priesthood and urged them to be exemplary in their behaviour so that their followers should have trust in them.
Vows
During the ordination ceremony, the six priests took their vows as priests and promised to remain faithful and obedient to the Archbishop.
Catholic Bishops, priests, nuns, Brothers, parliamentarians, chiefs and a cross section of the catholic faithful from different parts of the archdiocese, among other people, attended the function.
Lilongwe Archdiocese covers Lilongwe, Mchinji, Ntchisi, Dowa, Nkhotakota, and Kasungu Districts and parts of Salima.
Diocesan priests new chair
Meanwhile, in another development Association of Diocesan Clergy of Malawi (Adcom) has new leadership in the name of Fr. Matthias Chiwanda of Chikwawa diocese.
Fr. Chiwanda takes over from Fr. Dominic Kazingatchire of Dedza diocese.
All diocesan Catholic priests had a meeting last week at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji where the elections took place. The meeting also discussed political events in the country.
Fr. Chiwanda is also diocesan coordinator for communications in his diocese.—(Additional reporting by Judith Moyo, Nyasa Times)
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