MALAWI: Attend to the Sick in Footsteps of Your Founder: Bishop Nyirenda to Finally Professed Brothers of St John of God
File photo
Susan Moyo
Hundreds of Christians gathered at St Peters Cathedral Jubilee Square in Mzuzu on Saturday 18 November, 2023, to witness the Solemn Profession Vows of two Hospitaller Order of St John of God Brothers.
The two are Cornelius Banda OH from Holy Family Parish, Mzuzu Diocese, and Louis Slate Kuyokwa OH from Chiphyanya Parish, Diocese of Dedza. The auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda graced the occasion.
In his homily, Bishop Nyirenda asked the perpetually professed Brothers to follow the legacy of their founder St John of God who was dedicated in caring for the poor, the needy and the sick.
‘’We have so many needy and sick people around our communities, my advice to you is that do not pay blind eye to these people, help them, do not run away from them, comfort them so that they should not lose trust,’’ he said.
Bishop Nyirenda also thanked the parents and guardian for the support rendered to these Brothers during their formation.
On His part, Brother Donatus Forkan the Provincial of West European Province of St John of God concurred with Bishop’s statement.
‘’My advised is that they should show love and respect to the poor and marginalised, they should bring Good News to them so that they do not feel rejected by the communities because of their sickness or their status,’’ he said.
One of the consecrated Brothers, Bro. Cornelius Banda said he is ready to serve people.
‘’I am very grateful today that I have made ma final vows, I thank the almighty Lord and I pledged to support the needy and the sick, I will follow the paths of our founder St John of God’ ’he said.
Hospitaller Order of St John of God Brothers was established in Mzuzu in 1993 in response to an invitation from the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu to establish a Community Based Mental Health service as part of Church response to the unmet health care needs of the people of the Northern region.
In 2019, St John of God hospitaller services expanded to Lilongwe the Capital city of Malawi.
