MALAWI: Kachebere Major Seminary Celebrates Platinum Jubilee
Thousands of
Catholic Lay Faithful and people of goodwill from all walks of life including
the Vice President, Right Honourable Dr. Saulosi Chilima and Madam Mary Chilima,
Leader of Opposition in Malawi National Assembly, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his
wife, Speaker of Malawi National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, Members of
Parliament and Traditional Leaders on Saturday (10th October) last
week gathered at St Anthony’s Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji for a
Eucharistic Mass celebration marking the climax of the Seminary’s 75 years of
existence.
Catholic Lay Faithful and people of goodwill from all walks of life including
the Vice President, Right Honourable Dr. Saulosi Chilima and Madam Mary Chilima,
Leader of Opposition in Malawi National Assembly, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his
wife, Speaker of Malawi National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, Members of
Parliament and Traditional Leaders on Saturday (10th October) last
week gathered at St Anthony’s Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji for a
Eucharistic Mass celebration marking the climax of the Seminary’s 75 years of
existence.
His
Excellency, Archbishop Julio Murat, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, presided
over the Eucharistic celebration. Those also present at the event were: the
Bishop Chairman for Seminaries and Vice Chairman for the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi (ECM), Rt. Rev. Dr. Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, Most Rev. Tarcisius
Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Kanyama of Dedza Diocese, Rt.
Rev. Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese and Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima of Mangochi
Diocese.
Excellency, Archbishop Julio Murat, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, presided
over the Eucharistic celebration. Those also present at the event were: the
Bishop Chairman for Seminaries and Vice Chairman for the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi (ECM), Rt. Rev. Dr. Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, Most Rev. Tarcisius
Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Kanyama of Dedza Diocese, Rt.
Rev. Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese and Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima of Mangochi
Diocese.
In his
homily during the Mass, His Excellency, Archbishop Murat challenged Christians
and Seminarians to always strive for faith in God as the only tool towards
realizing the fruits hence adopt the spirit of perseverance.
homily during the Mass, His Excellency, Archbishop Murat challenged Christians
and Seminarians to always strive for faith in God as the only tool towards
realizing the fruits hence adopt the spirit of perseverance.
Speaking at
the same ceremony, National Laity Council Chairman, Wilfred Dodoli said
the same ceremony, National Laity Council Chairman, Wilfred Dodoli said
 |
His Excellency, Archbishop Julio Murat, the ApostolicNuncio to Malawi and Zambia shares the sign of peacewith the Vice President, Right HonourableDr. Saulosi Chilima |
Kachebere Major Seminary has been a source of inspiration not only to the
Catholic Church alone but to the country at large as it has managed to produce
Bishops, Priests and other people who matter in the country’s Public and
Private sectors.
He however,
challenged Christians and people of goodwill to bear ownership of the seminary
now looking at the fact that for the past 75 years it has been relying of
benefactors from abroad who have since stopped supporting Malawi.
challenged Christians and people of goodwill to bear ownership of the seminary
now looking at the fact that for the past 75 years it has been relying of
benefactors from abroad who have since stopped supporting Malawi.
“The
Seminary is now too old as we all know that even a person who is 75 years old
must be very old enough hence need to be supported by us the lay faithful. The
Seminary needs a lot of things and we can easily make sure that it is
financially independent so that it runs its activities well,” said Dodoli.
Seminary is now too old as we all know that even a person who is 75 years old
must be very old enough hence need to be supported by us the lay faithful. The
Seminary needs a lot of things and we can easily make sure that it is
financially independent so that it runs its activities well,” said Dodoli.
He also said
that there is a need for a strategic assessment aimed at making sure that the
Seminary runs on its own.
that there is a need for a strategic assessment aimed at making sure that the
Seminary runs on its own.
He said;
“Every Seminarian here needs about K500, 000. 00 per year and so far no any
outsider benefactors are helping them. Time has now come that families, Small
Christian Communities and Parishes should think of being local benefactors”.
“Every Seminarian here needs about K500, 000. 00 per year and so far no any
outsider benefactors are helping them. Time has now come that families, Small
Christian Communities and Parishes should think of being local benefactors”.
Fr. Raphael
Mbendera, Rector of the Seminary in his speech challenged the Seminarians to
strive to be good so that they realize their vocation.
Mbendera, Rector of the Seminary in his speech challenged the Seminarians to
strive to be good so that they realize their vocation.
Bishop
Mtumbuka said the Church needs more responsible priests and as such it is important
for Seminarians to understand their vocation.
Mtumbuka said the Church needs more responsible priests and as such it is important
for Seminarians to understand their vocation.
“You are
here to be formed into priests. Grow in the spirit of Christ. Be obedient to
Christ and to the Church. The Church needs priests and the Church suffers when
there are no priests hence the Church suffers when you are bad priests,” he
said.
here to be formed into priests. Grow in the spirit of Christ. Be obedient to
Christ and to the Church. The Church needs priests and the Church suffers when
there are no priests hence the Church suffers when you are bad priests,” he
said.
Vice
President of Malawi Dr. Chilima, a Catholic himself said government is
committed to promoting the freedom of worship for the Catholic Church and other
Churches in the country and called on the Catholic Church in Malawi to foster
development as a way of complementing government’s efforts.
President of Malawi Dr. Chilima, a Catholic himself said government is
committed to promoting the freedom of worship for the Catholic Church and other
Churches in the country and called on the Catholic Church in Malawi to foster
development as a way of complementing government’s efforts.
“Government
appreciates the role that the Catholic Church in Malawi plays and as government
we appeal for co-existence between government and the Church,” said Dr. Chilima.
appreciates the role that the Catholic Church in Malawi plays and as government
we appeal for co-existence between government and the Church,” said Dr. Chilima.
Dr. Chilima
also took time to caution religious leaders, politicians, traditional leaders
and the citizenry to fight over deforestation which he said is a threat to the
country’s socio-economic development.
also took time to caution religious leaders, politicians, traditional leaders
and the citizenry to fight over deforestation which he said is a threat to the
country’s socio-economic development.
Kachebere
Major Seminary, a Philosophical training college opened its doors on October
10, 1939.
Major Seminary, a Philosophical training college opened its doors on October
10, 1939.
By Prince Henderson, ECM
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
