MALAWI: Zomba Prelate Urges Small Christian Community Participation

Luke Bisani

The Prelate of the Diocese of Zomba, Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyu Chaima, has urged Catholic Christians in Malawi to participate in activities of Small Christian Communities (SCC) as a way of strengthening their Catholic faith.

Speaking during the Eucharistic Celebration, at the closure of the Golden Jubilee year SCCs in the Shire Deanery for the diocese on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at Namitembo Parish, Bishop Chaima disclosed a need for members of SCCs to participate in activities.

“You cannot claim to belong to the parish community, and yet you do not identify with any SCC in the parish,” Bishop Chaima emphasized and continued, “You need to belong to a small Christian community because that is where Church life begins after the nucleus family.”

Bishop Chaima bemoaned the tendency of some Catholics to shun away from tasks and responsibilities in SCCs, arguing it affects unity among members.

The Prelate further encouraged the lay faithful to begin implementing the aspirations of the Diocese of Zomba as contained in the strategic plan.

During the Eucharistic celebration, one hundred new Catholics in the deanery received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) launched the Golden Jubilee Year of SCCs last year to evaluate the current state of the SCCs Church model in the region.

During the one-year Golden Jubilee Celebration Christians from AMECEA membership were urged to reflect on the goals that Catholic bishops in the region had when they founded SCCs 50 years ago.