MALAWI: Zomba Diocese Celebrates First Vocation to Holy Rosary Congregation
Fr. Steve Likhucha
There was joy as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyo Chaima welcomed Sr. Felistas Kaliwo, a pioneer of the Holy Rosary Congregation from the Zomba Diocese, at St. Anthony Catholic Parish in Thondwe, Zomba.
Speaking during the function, the Bishop called upon the congregation to actively participate in the Church to ensure significant progress and growth, citing the positive response to serve in the Clergy, Religious, Catechists, or other roles in the Church. He also urged young people to learn more from those who have lived among them but are now special pastoral agents, Clergy or Religious.
“In the Kingdom of Christ which all of us are called upon to participate, we need to be actively involved by also responding positively to God’s call as Priests or Sisters or Brothers including other roles within the Church as displayed today in our celebration of the Pioneer Sister of the Holy Rosary Congregation not only here at this Parish but entire Catholic Diocese of Zomba.” Bishop Chaima said.
“I am therefore appealing to the youth here in the Parish to emulate the example set by our Sister, who was once learning in our own schools, that it is possible to defeat all odds and realise your dreams of life if you are determined and make some sacrifices in life.”
The Bishop called upon the Sister to continue learning from others and to keep the treasures of the Religious Formation, so that she becomes a faithful servant of God and an excellent ambassador of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, wherever she serves or carries out her apostolates.
The Local Ordinary also expressed gratitude to the parents of the Sister, whose mother is of Islamic faith, for nurturing their child in the proper manner to the extent of safeguarding herself and later responding positively to God’s call to serve Him as a Religious. He also appealed to the entire congregation, especially the parents, to be exemplary in everything they do so that their children would learn a lot more good things from them. He repeatedly emphasized that good leaders of the Church and nation come from good, peaceful families.
The Mother General of the Holy Rosary Congregation, Sr. Bernadette Munyenyembe, speaking from the Generalate in Mzuzu, said the Congregation was very excited to have ordained the first pioneer from the Diocese of Zomba after half a decade of service. She hoped many more girls from other dioceses would join them if their personnel permitted them to extend their services to areas where they are not present.
“As a Congregation, we are very much excited to have the first Sister from Zomba Diocese. We see God’s blessings and thank Him for this special gift. We are confident that the pioneer Sister will inspire more girls to join us.” Said Sr. Munyenyembe.
The Holy Rosary Congregation arrived in Zomba Diocese on 14th March 2020. After serving temporarily at Thondwe Parish, they opened a convent at Katamba Parish, located in the eastern part of Zomba, near Lake Chilwa. Sr. Kaliwo, who has been appointed to Rumphi, made her temporary vows at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Mzuzu Diocese on Friday before the celebration in Zomba Diocese last Sunday.
