On Sunday 21 September 2025 the faithful of St Padre PIO at Lusangazi in Mzuzu Diocese gathered to commemorate the feast day of their parish patron.
The celebration was led by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, Rt Rev Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda who encouraged the Christians to emulate the Life of St Padre – PIO who was well known for his wisdom, peaceful life, deep prayer life and healing of the sick.
Bishop Nyirenda said, “it is very important that Catholics celebrate the feast of our patrons together, to learn more about them and also because they intercede for us in heaven, so it is good that we commemorate and celebrate.”
The bishop further advised all parishes, church sectors, institutions and Christians to be celebrating their paron saints.
Father Joseph Mtemela a priest at St Padre PIO parish said as one way of emulating the life of St Padre PIO who was healing the sick , the parish also operates the hospital which offers free Outside Patient Department (OPD) medical treatment to the communities surrounding the parish and also offer monthly outreaches where around 300 people are treated from different physical sicknesses.
“We have different institutions around the parish under St Padre PIO charism, for example we have a hospital through which Padre PIO continues his healing mission, we encourage people here to go and attend to the medical activities which we are having so that they can be helped from their sicknesses, said Fr Mtemela
Fr Mtemela added that the parish also offers in-depth spiritual activities like daily mass, Catholic lessons that help the Christians to grow in their Catholic faith and their prayer life.
Sobuza Jere one of the parishioners, said it was a good celebration, and they are encouraged by the life and deeds of Padre PIO.
” Padre PIO teaches us to pray every day, not only Sunday and helping others in need,” said Jere
Initially the feast day is on 23rd September every year, but it was scheduled for 21 September to give opportunity to all members in the parish to celebrate together.
St Padre PIO Parish at Lusangazi in Mzuzu was established in 2002 and it has 22 outstations namely Matuli, Maluvenji, Nthungwa, Phutula just to mention a few.