Press Review – November 2013
Category: Malawi Sector Page 4 of 6
News and events of Malawi Sector of SAP
GETTING TO ZERO: Let there be zero new HIV Infections-zero HIV/AIDS related deaths-zero stigma and discrimination
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, receive our greetings as the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a journey of faith that, on one hand prepares us of for Christmas and, on the other hand, directs our minds and hearts to Christ’s Second Coming. Today we also join the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day, which is observed on annually on 1st December. The World AIDS Day is an important occasion when governments, national AIDS programs, faith and community organizations, and individuals around the world bring their attention to the global AIDS pandemic. This message aims at inviting all the Catholic faithful to join hands in emphasizing the critical need for a committed, meaningful and sustained response to the pandemic.
FULL TEXT IN ENGLISH
FULL TEXT IN CHICHEWA
We, Catholic Bishops of Malawi have followed with great concern events surrounding the revelations of what appears to be massive looting of public resources dubbed as “Capital Hill Cash gate”. We have taken time to understand what is happening, to ponder and pray over these revelations and we are still shocked that such things could happen in this God fearing country. This scandal is an embarrassment to the country and an indication of serious moral decadence and dwindling levels of patriotism in our country. We are dismayed that materialism, corruption and get rich quick syndrome seem to be on the rise at the expense of truth, honesty and hard working. It is in this context, that we your pastors humbly but truthfully propose a critical reflection on the issues relating to this scandal, the impact of the looting , and call for appropriate, proportionate and timely actions .
We note in this scandal the following:
• Huge sums of public resources have been swindled for purely selfish gains at the expense of service delivery;
• A syndicate organized and cooperated to loot public resources pointing to a structural and entrenched way in which evil has taken root in our midst;
• The financial management structures and systems have been rendered powerless largely because of human machinations and lack of human integrity.
FULL TEXT IN ENGLISH
FULL TEXT IN CHICHEWA
Also:
Pastoral Letter of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi:
In English
In Chichewa
In Chitumbuka
The Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Malawi is pleased to announce that
Lilongwe, Malawi, CISA N0 092, October 15, 2013
Preparations to roll out Tuntufye FM Radio for the new Karonga Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church are at an advanced stage, the Research and Communications Department at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi has confirmed.
According to Nyasa Times, Malawi’s local daily, the development was revealed barely after ECM’s Research and Communications Department visited the diocese to appreciate efforts made to enhance communication in all the church angles.
Karonga diocese successfully negotiated for a radio licence with the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and this was gazetted on July 26, 2013.
So far a lot has taken place to have the radio station hit the air waves by January next year.
“There is quite a lot that Karonga diocese has done to have this radio station in place. The diocese is trying to put things in place as regards opening a radio station and one of the achievements has been the negotiations with MACRA for a radio license which is finally in possession of the diocese.”
The diocese is currently holding sensitization sessions with Catholic Christians on different level s and various forums as a way of initiating and engaging them in the radio project so that they can own and support it.
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese is also working hard to have this radio station as evidenced from a number of written proposals that have been submitted to potential donors where the feedback has been positive and many have pledged funding.
“So far the diocese has receiving the first consignment of radio equipment from SIGNIS which is the World Catholic Association for Communication that brings together Catholic communications and media professionals from across the globe. Plans to renovate a building that will house radio studios are also there,” Research and Communications Officer at ECM, Prince Henderson said.
The Diocese of Karonga is a new one with 12 priests and over 65,000 Catholic.
The radio will primarily targeting Catholic Christians but still there will be an option for other denominations will be given a chance to interact and contribute to the radio station.
Apart from pastoral, the radio will also focus on development, economic, social and cultural issues that concern all groups of people.
Tuntufye FM Radio will add up to the already existing Catholic radio stations like Radio Maria in Mangochi, Radio Alinafe in Lilongwe and Radio Tigabane in Mzuzu.
Pictures sent from Malawi by Julio Feliu, M.Afr.
Many thanks to him and the wonderful work of dedication of the people of Chinsapo.
By Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times July 3, 2013
Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has appointed His Grace Tarcisius Gervasio Ziyaye as archbishop of Lilongwe Diocese in Malawi’s capital. According to the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican embassy) in Lilongwe, Ziyaye has since been transferred from Archiepiscopal See of Blantyre.
He succeeds Archbishop Remi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
Episcopal Conference of Malawi deputy secretary general Father Emmanuel Chimombo said yesterday that there was no immediate replacement for Ziyaye in Blantyre Archdiocese which will continue operating under Auxiliary Bishop Montfort Sitima.
Archbishop Ziyaye, aged 60, was named an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Dedza by the late Pope John Paul II on November 26, 1991. He was consecrated and installed as Auxiliary Bishop on May 23, 1992.
Ziyaye was named Coadjutor Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lilongwe, Malawi by Pope John Paul II on May 4, 1993. He succeeded as Bishop of Lilongwe on November 11, 1994.
In 2000, he became the President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. He was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Blantyre by Pope John Paul II on January 23, 2001.
Ziyaye became the President of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.) in July 2008. Catholic is an influential church in Malawi.
Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – The 18th AMECEA Plenary Assembly will take place in Malawi, Lilongwe from 16 to 26 July 2014. The theme of the Plenary Assembly is “New Evangelization through true conversion and witnessing to Christian faith”.
This means the 18th Plenary Assembly will this time will be hosted by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. Zambia hosted the 16th Plenary Assembly in 2008. Plenary Assemblies take place every three years and bring together over 250 Bishops of the AMECEA region.
AMECEA is the acronym for Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa It is a Catholic organization of Catholic Bishops of the eight countries in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, namely, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/08/2013)
