Today, Priests from all corners of Nzekokere Diocese gathered together at the cathedral.  The Chrism Mass celebration was presided over by his Lordship Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima.  Many priests attended the Mass in large numbers and renewed their vows.  In his homily the Bishop encouraged priests to continue dedicating themselves in serving the Lord Jesus Christ.  he furthers said as priests we should always remember our priestly ordination mottos as our guide in the Lords Vineyard.  In addition to words of encouragement to priests he also said, The COVID 19 pandemic is still in our midst but this should not make us to be afraid but to continuing working hard and receive COVID-19 vaccine.

Compiled by: Christopher Millinyu – Programmes Officer

INTRODUCTION

Resource Rights Programme is a five years project which is being implemented in T/A Chikweo and Kawinga. The project is funded by Scottish government in partnership with Trocaire. The project is working with 2000 households (892 men 1108 women.)

The impact areas received heavy rains from 3^rd March to 6^th March 2021 which caused damages to houses, crops and livestock. The damages were caused due to water lodged condition due to prolonged heavy rainfall. T/A Kawinga is mostly hit especially Group Village Headman (GVH) Kawelama and Ntalika. GVH Kawelama have one evacuation centre at Kawelama full primary School and there are 2 camp sites in GVH Ntalika.

The table below shows data collected from the five GVH we are implementing Irish Aid programme;

There are 3 evacuation (Camp) sites which are in two GVHs. These are as follows:

REMARKS

The affected households, mostly Female headed households from all the GVHs are requesting for assistance from the well-wishers and organisation to support them to meet human basic needs and recover from the shocks. Immediately needs required; (Food items, Kitchen Utensils, Blankets, Mats, Mosquito nets, Masks, Soap) and other needs (Sweet potato vines, cassava cuttings, vegetable seeds for winter cropping, Nails and plastic sheets).

The figures of the affected households are expected to rise due to persistence of the rainfalls in the area. CADECOM will continue to conduct detailed assessment in the whole 3 T/As (Chikweo, Kawinga and Liwonde) in coordination with District disaster office.

Attached are pictures of some affected individuals and camps set-up in the communities.

Today 30^th September, Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima, bishop of Nzekokere diocese distributed masks at st. Augustine III catholic primary school on behalf of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) with financial assistance from UNDP- Malawi.  PAC decided to do so  as one way of ensuring that the covid-19 pandemic does not further spread to the youth.

The aim of mask distribution exercise in different schools is to complement PACs effort on its covid-19 messaging project in which the organization has been disseminating awareness messages emphasizing the fact that covid-19 is real and people need to mask up.  The initiative has been undertaken that way to make sure that apart from disseminating messages masks must be distributed as they are a lifeblood in the fight against the pandemic.

On Sunday 13^th September, 2020 the Sacramentine sisters celebrated the silver jubilee of Sr. Florence M’meta and a Golden Jubilee of Sr. Ornella Rota Sperti and Sr. Onella Sala.  The celebration took place at Namwera parish and was presided over by his Lordship bishop Montfort Stima and other co-celebrant bishops, Archbishop Thomas Msusa of Blantyre Archdiocese and Bishop George Tambala of Zomba diocese.

During her 25 years of service, Sr. Florence M’meta has served the following Sacramentine communities, Ntcheu, Rongo in Kenya, Italy, Tanzania and Namwera, Nzekokere. Currently Sr. Florence M’meta is the Headmistress of our lady of Lourdes Secondary School and the mother superior of the house.

During her 50 years of service Sr. Ornella Sala has served the Sacramentine communities in Italy, Ulongwe Malawi, Rongo in Kenya, Namwera in Malawi and Ntcheu. Currently Sr. Onella Sala is the Mother delegate of Africa.Sr. Ornella Rota Sperti in her 50 years of services, she has served in Italy, Ulongwe, Ntcheu, and Namwera for a long period of time Malawi.

On 12^th September, 2020 Archbishop Tarsizio G. Ziyaye ordained three deacons to become priests at St. Francis – kanengo parish in Lilongwe namely, Rev. Deacon Levison Goodwell from St. Augustine Cathedral Parish Nzekokere, Rev. Deacon Robert Mark Chiritsiro from St. Annes Guilime Parish Archdiocese of Lilongwe and Rev. Deacon Jean Kesse (Ivory Coast) from Chinsapo Parish Archidiocese of Lilongwe. In his homily Archbishop Ziyaye encouraged the newly ordained priest to love their work and serve Christians wholeheartedly and always to be humble following the example of Jesus Christ the high priest.

Father Jos Van Boxel, the Provincial Delegate announced the appointments to the newly ordained priests as follows; that Fr. Levison will serve in Congo [DRC], Fr. Robert will serve in Niger and fr. Jean will serve at Chinsapo parish in the archdiocese of Lilongwe. The provincial delegate encouraged the newly ordained priests to take prayer life seriously in their ministry as a weapon to any challenge to their ministry. The delegate said this as he offered a missionary rosary [that is the special rosary for the missionaries of Africa] because of the situation of the COVID – 19 of which he wished them to be using this rosary daily.

Today the Investment Comittee of Nzekokere Diocese had a meeting with Parish Priests, parish representatives and other office bearers on investments.  Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima present at the meeting welcomed the members and briefed them on what the meeting was all about that is venturing into Agro-Dealer business.  Mr. Polycarp Chigwenembe the chairperson for Investment Committee of the diocese explained on how agro-dealing business can help to boost the finances of parishes and the diocese atlarge. The diocese will venture into this Agri-business with the help of Chambo Agro-dealers  experts in this business.  Mr. Isaac Banda and Mr. Frank Mambala from Chambo Agro-Dealer business group Explained on how the setup of the business can be done by registering to approved bodies by the government of Malawi.

Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima yesterday 6th September 2020, 23rd Sunday in ordinary time opened the bible month with words of encouragement to the lay faithful urging them to cultivate a habit of reading the word of God daily.  in his homily, the bishop reminded the faithful and all Christians of the great treasure that is the holy bible.  it is in the words of sacred scripture that God reveals his love for us. The life of the church revolves around the holy bible.  The bible is an essential part of the eucharistic liturgy, and is part of every of  Sacramento celebration. All church teaching is illuminated and illustrated by its truths.

He further said in his homily that Christian faith is not a religion of the book, Christianity is the religion of the word of God which is not a written and mute word, but the word which is incarnate and living. The holy bible is untold treasure for coming face to face with God’s mercy.  He ended the homily by saying, let us resolve each day to spend some time encountering our God of mercy by contemplating his love in the pages of sacred scriptures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard many people around the global the rich and the poor alike.  The Diocese of Nzekokere took an initiative to apply aid from well wisher organizations around the global (Caritas Australia, CRS-Catholic Relief Services, SCIAF- Caritas Scotland and Trocaire) .  The well wishers donated equipment and money to buy basic necessities to help the people . Through the social arm of the diocese Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima distributed medical equipment, Non-Contact Electronic Forehead Infrared Thermometers, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and maize to the beneficiaries in different parishes on 19 & 20th August 2020 .

Ulongwe Parish beneficiaries receiving maize.

Utale II Parish beneficiaries receiving maize, oxygen concentrator and shields.

Sisters of Koche and Mulibwanji parish hospitals receiving oxygen concentrators(1&2 pictures from right)

Fr. S. kamanga parish priest of phalula parish receiving oxygen concentrator for Phalula health Centre(3rd picture from right )

Fr. P. Rappozzo parish priest of Koche- Maldeco receiving a non-contact electronic forehead infrared thermometer(4th picture from right)

Fr. R. Mbando  curate of St. Augustine parish receiving a non-contact electronic forehead infrared thermometer (5th picture from right )

Fr. T. Chigamba Director of social arm of the diocese receiving oxygen concentrator of Mpiri parish health Centre(6th picture from right)