MALAWI: Parishioners build a New Multi-million Dollar Parish Church

The New Church Building
After eleven years of
intensive fundraising for the construction of the new parish church, the
parishioners breathed a sigh of relief on 31 August, when a multi-million
dollar Parish Church structure was officially inaugurated by His Grace, Archbishop Tarsicio Ziyaye,
who was recently transferred to Lilongwe Archdiocese as Archbishop.
The inauguration
ceremony coincided with the centenary anniversary celebration of the Parish of
St. Louis Montfort, also known as Catholic Institute (C.I), of Blantyre
Archdiocese whereby Archbishop Ziyaye congratulated the Priests and Parishioners
for the good work which was largely from their own contributions.
The superior
delegate of the Montfort Missionaries, Father Nkukumira said C.I parish is indeed
a model to other churches in Malawi on self-reliance. He reminded them of three
Montfort missionaries who plant the seed of Catholicism at CI in 2013. These
three missionaries and twenty-seven local workers constructed the old parish
church in 1913.
The old Church Building
“Today, on behalf
of all Montfort Missionaries and Daughters of Wisdom who did the first
evangelization, I want to thank you for the Catholics from C.I for what you have
done to come up with this marvelous church building. However, the missionaries
showed us how to use our financial resources and talents for the benefit of the
church. Above all, may our hearts also be renewed and as beautiful as this
church,”he said.
Speaking during the
same function, the current parish priest of C.I, Fr. Kuziona, said late
Archbishop James Chiona inspired the development of building the church.“From
the very beginning, Christians worked together with Archbishop Chiona towards
the building of the new church. We thank God for giving us Archbishop Chiona
who inspired us to build this church, may his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Archbishop Ziyaye who
succeeded Archbishop Chionacontinued to work together with parishioners on the
project.
The ceremony was
also attended by Malawi President Mrs. Joyce Banda, the former head of State, MrBakiliMuluzi
and Pope’s envoy, Monsignor Hubertus Van Mergen.
Source:
Malawi Communications Office

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