MALAWI: Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa Reflects On One Year of Episcopate
His Lordship Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa.
Brenard Mwanza
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Right Reverend Vincent Mwakhwawa has described his first year of episcopate as a period of inspiration and divine blessing, recognizing both the joys and challenges he has faced.
Bishop Mwakhwawa celebrated his first anniversary in office in January, having been consecrated to the Order of Episcopate on January 20, 2024, after his appointment by Pope Francis in November 2023.
Speaking in an interview, bishop Mwakhwawa attributed his spiritual growth and understanding of faith to the mentorship of Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, the Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, and other bishops in Malawi.
He remarked; “They have been quite inspiring, giving me lessons about life and Episcopacy, on how to manage things. I’ve also learned many things from fellow priests, Sisters, Religious and especially the lay people because wherever I’ve gone, I have seen the faith of the people.”
The Auxiliary Bishop however described the office as challenging, highlighting a big responsibility on his shoulders for the local church in Malawi.
“Yes, as I was serving in various capacities in the past, I met people, but now I meet people at another level and, I visit people in their out-stations. So, I have learnt that this responsibility is very huge. People are looking for new parishes, they are looking for priests, they want them to be with the priests now and again, so it’s not easy,” added Mwakhwawa, the former National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Malawi.
He further noted the death of his mother late last year and one of his close friends Dr. Saulos Chilima who was Malawi’s Vice President, describing them as sad moments that disturbed his missionary work.
“But still they have given me another view of life that in order for us to have eternal life we need to pass through death but also those who go before us they become our intercessors,” he concluded.
Apart from serving as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Mwakhwawa is also the Bishop Chairman for the Catholic Secretariat, bishop Chairman of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Malawi and acts as a Substitute Delegate for the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
