MALAWI: Bishop Chaima Calls for Unity and Spiritual Renewal of Christians
Fr. Steve Likhucha
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, in his 2026 Lenten Message read on the first Sunday of Lent in all Catholic Churches of Zomba Diocese, has called for unity and spiritual renewal for the clergy, Religious and Laity of the Diocese as they journey together towards Paschal Celebrations.
“Apart from wishing you well in this Lenten Season, the Church asks us to return to God by avoiding all sinful elements through intensive prayers, fasting together with abstinence and finally practicing works of charity or almsgiving to the needy,” the Bishop writes and continues, “I want you to join me in reflecting further several issues which can add spiritual values to you all in this Lenten Season as we get prepared for Easter Celebrations.”
In the spirit of Synod on Synodality, the Diocesan Leader has called upon the Clergy, Religious and faithful to be active participants in the Church by rendering absolute service to the Church, being the light of others and listening attentively to the Holy Spirit so as to manifest the will of God among themselves.
The Prelate has stressed that Lenten Season should help us to reflect deeply such issues if at all we are kind and attentive enough to fellow members in the families, Small Christian Communities, church groups, parishes and entire Diocese. Are we attentive to one another and do we dialogue with one another with the guidance of the Holy Spirit? What is it that we need to do to improve in such areas?
The Diocesan Leader urges the Clergy, Religious and Laity that through the guidance of the Sacred Scriptures, Social Teaching of the Church and Diocesan Strategic Plan, which basically promotes self-reliance and ownership, the Diocese will be able to realise her dreams as we all fulfil the main themes of deepening spiritual lives, promoting pastoral services and enhancing wholesome human development and good governance. As a church we have the responsibility of looking after one another and giving special care to the environment.
In the Lenten letter, the Bishop calls for the Christians to sincerely return to God (cf. Joel 2:12). Guided by the temptations done to Jesus Christ (cf. Mt. 4:1-11), Christians should be aware of the temptations that regularly come to them from the devil. The Bishop cites several occasions which are indicators that the devil is sometimes at work in us; no regard to the sacraments, passive participation in liturgy and church services, regular absence to the church groups including Small Christian Communities, the will not to support the Church using our own resources, involvement in corrupt practices, laziness, no care for the gift of life including nursing the ideas of suicide, violence against one another and abuse of social media by promoting fake news which mostly assassinates innocent characters.
The Letter also appeals to the Clergy, Religious and Laity to utilise the Season of Grace as a period of renewal and conversion by doing the will of God always, receiving with deep reverence and faith the Sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist (cf. Sancrosanctum Concilium 109-110) and reading and reflecting on the Holy Scriptures. Christians should all promote unity in our families, Small Christian Communities and Parishes. The faithful should find joy in actively participating in church services by sacrificing their time and resources to God through the Church as guided by ecclesiastical guidelines. In everything all the faithful should remember that together we are just mere servants and we only do what we are supposed to do (cf. Lk. 17:10).
