MALAWI: The Church in Malawi Hosts First Ever National Eucharistic Congress
Exposed Blessed Sacrament being taken back after Adoration
Sam Kalimba
The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) is hosting a week-long National Eucharistic Congress, bringing together bishops, clergy, religious, and lay faithful from all eight dioceses in Malawi and beyond from 5 to 9 August 2025.
The event, themed “Eucharist: Source and Summit of Pilgrims of Hope,” aligns with the 2025 Jubilee Year theme and aims to deepen the faithful’s understanding of the Eucharist. The event is taking place at Our Lady of Africa Maula Cathedral, Lilongwe Archdiocese. According to the statement released by the Pastoral Commission of the MCCB, this is the climax of the Jubilee Year celebrations in the country.
During the opening ceremony, the Church received a message of goodwill from Pope Leo XIV through the President of the MCCB, Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka signed by the Pope’s Secretary Fr. Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga.
The Pope’s envoy to Zambia and Malawi, His Excellency Archbishop Gian Luca Perici made a solemn declaration as he officially opened the Congress on 5 August 2025, soon before he presided over the inaugural Mass.
“Standing here today, in the heart of the Church in Malawi, I bring you the paternal greetings and apostolic blessings of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father is spiritually united with us at this sacred hour and prays that this Congress may be a moment of profound grace for the entire Church in this land,” he said as part of his declaration message.
He wished the congress to be a true moment of renewal, evangelization, and unity.
“May it deepen our love for the Most Holy Eucharist, strengthen the bonds of communion among the People of God, and inspire a renewed missionary zeal in every diocese, parish and family,” he said.
The hosting prelate, Archbishop George Tambala, gave a homily based on the readings of the day. He reminded the congregation that in the first place, Jesus commanded those willing to follow Him to carry His cross and follow Him before He commanded them to eat His body and drink his blood. He said that a true Catholic is the one who receives the Holy Eucharist. He insisted on the need to give reverence to the Holy Eucharist among the faithful.
Subsequently, each day had sessions on various topics including Christ’s presence in the Church, especially in liturgical celebrations; Renewing and deepening our Eucharistic faith; Centrality of the Eucharist in families and Small Christian Communities; Centrality of the Eucharist in Consecrated Life; and Sacrament of penance and reconciliation as preparation for the Eucharist, Mass, and Adoration.
All these were aimed at having renewed faith, ecclesial communion, and a deeper understanding of the Eucharist’s significance in the Church’s life and mission among all the Bishops, Clergy, religious, and the lay faithful in the country.
The MCCB Chair for Pastoral Commission, Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateo Chaima expects the Congress to lead to personal and communal transformation, deeper spiritual nourishment, and a strengthened missionary spirit in the Church. He also urged Catholics to use the Congress to pray for peace in the country, especially ahead of the September 16 elections.
The Congress had representatives from the Sister Conferences of Catholic Bishops from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Congress culminated in a Eucharistic procession from the Our Lady of Africa Maula Cathedral to St. Patrick’s Parish in Area 18, Lilongwe on Friday, August 8, 2025, which will be followed by a closing Mass at Our Lady of Africa Maula Cathedral on Saturday, August 9, after presentation of highlights and resolutions of the Congress.
