MALAWI: Pope Francis Appoints Malawi’s PMS Director, Auxiliary Bishop
State President's Congratulatory Message
Sam Kalimba
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Fredrick Mwakhwawa, as the Auxiliary Bishop of Lilongwe.
According to a statement released by the ECM Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr. Valeriano Mtseka the appointment was officially announced in Rome on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023 at 13:00 hours local time (12:00 noon in Rome) at Vatican City.
The country’s State President His Excellency Lazarus Chakwera through his Press Office has shared a congratulatory message of the Bishop-elect on social media
“The First Lady and I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Reverend Father Vincent Fredrick Mwakhwawa on becoming the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. His exceptional dedication demonstrated through his roles as Vicar General, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies, and Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Africa – Maula Cathedral, showcases his remarkable leadership. We are confident that his guidance will continue to significantly impact the spiritual growth of our nation. Our prayers are with the Bishop-elect, and may God’s grace continue to guide and inspire him in this significant chapter of his journey,” reads part of the statement from the Presidential Press Office.
Another congratulatory prayerful message came from the Office of the Secretary to the Archbishop of Lilongwe, Rev. Fr. Hodges Mzunga. The statement adds that the Archdiocese has set aside the 18th of November for a Thanksgiving celebration for the Bishop-elect.
According to the curriculum vitae (CV) released by the ECM, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Fredrick Mwakhwawa was born on 20th November 1975 in Salima District, east of Lilongwe and was ordained on 12th July 2003 for the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. He hails from St. Paul’s Nkhotakota Parish, north of Salima District.
After his ordination Monsignor Mwakhwawa served in three different parishes and other responsibilities in the Archdiocese such as Treasurer of Diocesan Mini Synod of the Diocese of Lilongwe from 2004 to 2006, Commissioner of Lilongwe Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Bishop’s Secretary at Bishop’s Administration Office from 2006 to 2007, and Pastoral Coordinator of the Diocese of Lilongwe from 2007 to 2010.
He was later sent for further studies in August 2010 at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology in 2012. He was appointed Formator and Lecturer at St. Anthony’s Kachebere Major Seminary in the Diocese from July 2012 to December 2013. He was then appointed National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies from 2013 to the present day of 2023.
He has also been serving as the National Chaplain and Coordinator of the Laity for the ECW from 2013 to the present day 2023.
Until his appointment, Msgr. Mwakhwawa was the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, the Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Africa- Maula Cathedral, and Chairman of the Archdiocesan Synodal Path and Archdiocesan Theological Commission.
The Archdiocese of Lilongwe is growing in both numbers of parishes and the faithful. Currently, the Archdiocese has 48 Parishes and is due to establish the 49th one end of November this year.
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