The purpose of the National Eucharistic Congress was to study and prayerfully reflect on the centrality of the Blessed Sacrament in the lives of the Pilgrims of Hope in this Year of the Jubilee of Hope 2025.
1. During this Congress the following contributors inspired the proceedings:
a. The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV as he imparted his Papal Blessing through the Secretary of State in Vatican, His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, assured the Congress through the President of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, Rt. Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka that the Universal Church was united in spirit with the Catholic Church in Malawi during this momentous spiritual exercise.
b. The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, in his official declaration of the Congress underscored that what is most important is not what we do with the Eucharist but what we are with the Eucharist.
c. Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, emphasized that the centrality of the Eucharist in a Christian’s life is not an option nor a personal choice, but a direct mandate from Jesus Christ Himself.
2. During the Eucharistic Congress there were six presentations:
a. Christ’s Presence in the Church, Especially in Liturgical Celebrations,
b. Renewing and Deepening Our Eucharistic Faith,
c. The Centrality of the Eucharist in the Families and Small Christian Communities,
d. The Centrality of the Eucharist in Consecrated Life,
e. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist (Testimony), and
f. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation as Preparation for Receiving the Eucharist
3. REFLECTION
The Congress highlighted the following key insights:
a. All liturgical rites are ordered towards the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our faith; therefore, every Christian should be properly disposed to receive the divine graces that flow through the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.
b. As the Family of God, all Christians are called to embrace a Eucharistic Encounter, Eucharistic Identity, Eucharistic Life and Eucharistic Mission as pathways to renewing and deepening their Eucharistic faith.
c. Christians are invited to offer their lives to God with Christ, in the spirit of Mary’s self-offering at the foot of the Cross.
d. The family and Small Christian Communities are called to mirror the presence of Christ in the life of the Church.
e. The Blessed Sacrament nourishes the lives of those in Consecrated Life, sustaining them in their evangelical counsels, daily living, and mission.
f. As a gift of God’s mercy, the Blessed Sacrament calls us to be agents of charity – strengthened by our devotion to the Eucharist.
g. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a necessary preparation for a fruitful encounter with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
h. The Eucharistic Sacrifice is a gift of the Holy Trinity to the Church and humanity; therefore, Ministers and the faithful are called to celebrate it with fidelity to the rites prescribed by the Church.
4. DECLARATION OF INTENT
The 2025 Eucharistic Congress, through Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, is committed to:
a. Spreading the reflections and fruits of the Congress to all the faithful at every level of the Church.
b. Promoting deeper devotion and reverence to the Blessed Sacrament.
c. Encouraging ongoing reflections and catechesis on the mystery of the Blessed Sacrament.
5. RESOLUTIONS
During the Congress, the delegates made the following resolutions:
a. Promoting reverence to the Blessed Sacrament as the true and real presence of Christ.
b. Priests as Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist should promote reverence to the Eucharist.
c. Having Adoration and Benediction in parishes should not be regarded as a private devotion for groups but an obligation for all Christians in every parish.
d. The format of Adoration as provided in the new Chichewa and Chitumbuka Hymn Books should be made known to all the faithful.
e. Liturgical celebrations should be properly prepared for, and choirs should aim at helping the congregation to actively participate in the liturgy by selecting songs that are well known to the worshipers.
f. Receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is strongly recommended.
g. All pastors’ priorities the dissemination of teachings on the Blessed Sacrament and providing pastoral assistance to Christians who are barred from receiving the sacraments so that they may be reconciled and return to full sacramental participation.
6. With deep gratitude to organizers of the Congress and all participants, we entrust the successful implementation of these resolutions on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Our Lady of Africa.
Given to the entire Catholic Church on 9th August 2025 by:
Rt. Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka – MCCB President and Bishop of Karonga
Rt. Rev. Peter Andrian Chifukwa – MCCB Vice President and Bishop of Dedza
Most. Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa – Archbishop of Blantyre
Most Rev. George Desmond Tambala – Archbishop of Lilongwe
Rt. Rev. Peter Musikuwa – Bishop of Chikwawa
Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima – Bishop of Mangochi
Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyu Chaima – Bishop of Zomba
Rt. Rev. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda – Bishop of Mzuzu
Rt. Rev. Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa – Auxiliary Bishop of Lilongwe