MALAWI: Catholic Men’s Hearts on Fire and Their Feet On the Move
Across section of the Mytrys of Uganda Men's Choir of Lilongwe during the launch of their album.
By Sam Kalimba
It was not a sheer coincidence that on 1st October the very start day of Mission Month, the Archdiocese of, Malawi was launching the diocesan activities at one of the newest parishes on the southwest outskirts of the City, and that a Catholic Men’s Choir within the Lilongwe was launching their first choral music album. The men knew it was going to be on this day of the month whose theme is ‘Hearts on fire, feet on the move’.
According to the Chairperson of the Choir named after the Martyrs of Uganda, Mr. Davis Sado described the event as an organized crusade for Catholic men at their parish in particular and in the whole Archdiocese of Lilongwe in general to evangelize one another.
“It is common knowledge that today is the start of the month of Rosary as well as the start of the mission month of October. We set the day to launch our first album so that we bring together men to be able to discern on what they would offer to the Church in this month. We started with Rosary prayers just to make sure every participant was made aware of the period we are in. To our surprise, the prayers brought peace and the most sought success. The launch was surprisingly successful in all spheres; talking of performances, attendance of invited choirs, and patronage by families. It was indeed a family day,” said Mr. Sado.
The Chairman also thanked the choirs that honored their invitation to curtain raise the event.
During the event Fr. Matthews Potani, who is the Chaplain of Choirs at the Parish told the patrons and the participating choirs that the Martyrs of Uganda Choir started like the life of a mustard seed tale of the Bible and that by the time of the launch, the choir had made remarkable strides.
“They started like they would not last long. They started like they would not produce male golden voices. They started like they would not produce an album. To see them still meeting after work hours twice a week for practices in the past three years it is worth thanking God for. To hear them sing like male angels during Mass it is worthy of clapping hands for them. Now that they have produced the Catholic hymns in an album it is for them to rejoice as their day. I would like to thank you all for the support you have shown to these noble Catholics who have chosen among their busy schedules to respond to the call made by Jesus Christ that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. As Parish Team here at St. Andrew Kaggwa, we feel their presence positively,” remarked Fr. Potani.
Among other patrons that attended the album launch were Rev. Fr. Steven Likhutcha DP who is also the Malawi Police Services Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Raphael Piringu DP who is a resident priest at the Parsih, Rev. Frs. John Mangwere and Francis Chibotha (Society of Pallotines), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Zikabuma of the Society of St. Patrick, Principal Secretaries from various government ministries, Police Commissioners and business persons in the city of Lilongwe. Fr. Likhutcha performed songs that were done by a famous composer of gospel music with Catholicism touch, Paul Banda backed by little known Akumudzi Band.
Myrters of Uganda Catholic Choir started animating Mass in 2021. They produced a ten-track album entitled Nyimbo Zathu Zokoma, which simply means ‘Our Melodious Songs’. It is an all-men’s choir founded during the commemoration of St. Joseph the husband of Mary on 19th March, 2019.
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