Catholic Church in Malawi Marks 125 Years of Evangelisation in Dedza

The Catholic Church in Malawi marked 125 years of evangelisation with a Eucharistic celebration at St Mary’s Nzama Parish in the Diocese of Dedza. The parish is the site where the Montfort Missionaries established the first permanent Catholic mission in Malawi in 1901.

The celebration, held on 19 September 2026, brought together bishops, priests, religious men and women, lay faithful, traditional leaders and representatives of the Malawi Government. It took as its theme “Rooted in Christ, Sent for Mission: Celebrating 125 Years of Evangelisation in Malawi.”

The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelisation and Special Delegate of Pope Leo XIV for the jubilee celebrations. During the celebration, Deacons Timothy Tendai Chimbiya and Peter Bengo were ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dedza.

In his homily, Archbishop Nwachukwu called on the Church in Malawi to remain rooted in Christ, in keeping with the jubilee theme, and to bring Christ to the people through its mission. Speaking to the two newly ordained priests, he reflected on the biblical figure of Melchizedek, associated with righteousness and peace. He encouraged them to rise above political and tribal divisions and to serve the people as priests of Christ and instruments of unity (Psalm 133:1).

The celebration also gave the Church an opportunity to remember the generations of missionaries, catechists, religious men and women, and lay faithful who have contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church in Malawi since the arrival of the Montfort Missionaries in 1901.

Over the past 125 years, the Church’s mission has extended beyond proclaiming the Gospel to responding to the spiritual and human needs of the people. Through its schools, health facilities and other social initiatives, the Catholic Church has contributed to the development of communities across Malawi. Its contribution to education remains visible in the performance of Catholic schools, with Catholic institutions featuring prominently among the schools with high distinction rates in the 2026 Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations.

The jubilee, according to the report, has been more than a commemoration of the past. It has offered the Church in Malawi an opportunity to give thanks for 125 years of evangelisation, recognise the contribution of the generations who built the local Church, and renew its commitment to proclaiming Christ and serving the people.

Source: Read the original report