All posts by Mzuzu Diocese

St Denis Parish of Rumphi Clocks 75 Years.

The St Denis Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu has celebrated its 75th Diamond Jubilee this year after it was established in 1948.

Bishop John Ryan of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu will preside over the Eucharist celebrations at a colorful ceremony held at St Denis Parish in Rumphi district.

Parish priest, Father Raymond Mwale, said the parish is pleased to have achieved among others, uniting people and bringing faith and salvation to the parishioners.

Delegates from within and outside Malawi graced the event.

The St Denis Parish was established in 1948 by Father Dupuis.

The Auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda presided over the Eucharist celebration.

Christians from different parishes in the Diocese and beyond took part in celebrating the 75th Diamond Jubilee.

Adequate local resources, a major setback for the country’s economic growth

Auxiliary Bishop for Mzuzu diocese Yohane Nyirenda says failure by leaders in all spheres of life to ensure maximum production using available local resources remains a major set back for the country to craw out of poverty.

Auxillary Bishop Nyirenda gave the example of the country having abundance water but fails to produce enough food where hunger is the order of the day year in year out.

He said unless leaders whether it be politicians, public servants faith leaders  change their ways and become angry with the suffering, the country will remain one of the poorest in the world.

The Bishop also singled out laziness and beer drinking as other factors fueling poverty among the citizens.

He was speaking during events to mark this year’s world day of the poor at St Paul’s Parish in Mzimba where food items were distributed to ultra poor families.

One of the beneficiaries Monica Moyo who is widowed hailed the Diocese for the support saying the food items which included a bag of maize flour will help in feeding her family of four.

Resources for the food items came from all commissions under Mzuzu Diocese.

This year’s World Day of the poor was commemorated under the theme ‘Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor’.

Auxiliary Bishop Nyirenda Consecrated where President Chakwera Talked Development

President Lazarus Chakwera has asked Malawians to embrace the culture of hard work if the country is to develop.

Chakwera said in Mzuzu during the consecration ceremony for Auxiliary Bishop of Mzuzu Diocese Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda where he reiterated that this is in line with the development blueprint, Malawi  2063.

“We should stop just complaining about anything and start working hard. If we start working hard, we will be able to generate more resources for our benefit as a country” said Chakwera.

Catholic Church followers, friends, relatives, well-wishers, and government officials including President Lazarus Chakwera and his Vice Saulos Chilima graced the colorful ceremony which earlier was threatened by rainfall experienced in the city and surrounding areas.

In his thanksgiving speech, Auxiliary Bishop Nyirenda asked for everyone to pray for him and the Bishop of the diocese John Ryan for the growth of the Catholic Church.

Said Father Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda: “This journey is so long. And we will all get there as a church if we join hands and pray for Bishop Bishop John Ryan, myself and the church”.

Bishop Bishop John Ryan of the Mzuzu Diocese tipped Bishop Nyirenda when he consecrated him to remain vigilant and be prayerful, always saying he has carried a heavy load.

“You should always be strong and prayerful at all times”, urged Bishop John Ryan.

As an Auxiliary Bishop, Rev. Fr. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda will serve as an assistant to the Ordinary of the Diocese Bishop John Ryan in giving pastoral care to the people of God and meeting the administrative needs of Mzuzu Diocese.

Born on 20th June 1976, Rev. Fr. Yohane Nyirenda who hails from Mzimba was ordained a priest of Mzuzu Diocese on 19th July 2008 and Pope Francis, on 5th May 2023 appointed Fr. Nyirenda Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu.

 

Journalist
Steve Zimba
Malawi
+265999776776
stezimba@gmail.com

 Consecration of Auxiliary Bishop Nyirenda to Attract Over 6 Thousand People

More than 6 thousand people from within and abroad are expected to witness the consecration ceremony of Father Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda as an Auxiliary bishop of the Diocese.

Organising Chairperson of the event Father Raymond Mwale says President Lazarus Chakwera will be the guest of honor at the event scheduled to take place in Mzuzu tomorrow Saturday.

“More and more people have confirmed their attendance this Saturday. We are likely to experience some rainfall but we have plans to erect tents in the stadium so that the event does not face any hiccups.

But who is Rev. Fr. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda?

Born on 20th June 1976, Rev. Fr. Yohane Nyirenda hails from Wozi in Mzimba District and was ordained as a priest of Mzuzu Diocese on 19th July 2008.

Rev. Fr Nyirenda has served in various positions at national and diocesan levels including Director of Kasina Formation Centre from 2019 to  2023; Director and Formator at Christ the King Formation Centre in Rumphi; Parish Priest of Saint Augustine Parish and Vocations Directors in Mzuzu Diocese.

Pope Francis on Friday, May 5, 2023, appointed Fr. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu in Malawi.

As Auxiliary Bishop, Rev. Fr. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda will serve as an assistant to the Ordinary of the Diocese Bishop John Alphonsus Ryan in giving pastoral care to the people of God and meeting the administrative needs of Mzuzu Diocese.

Apart from the priestly studies which he did from the year 2000 to 2008, the Bishop-elect is a holder of a Diploma in Ecclesiastical (Canon Law from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa as well as a Diploma in Religious Formation and Spirituality.

“This profile of the Auxiliary Bishop, Rev. Fr. Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda tells it all how capable he is,” said Father Raymond Mwale.

Father Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda will be the first Auxiliary Bishop of the Mzuzu Diocese which was created in 1961.

Journalist
Steve Zimba
Malawi
+265999776776
stezimba@gmail.com

CCJP Mzuzu Diocese for Review of the Witchcraft Law

The Catholic Commission for Justice and  Peace (CCJP) under the Mzuzu Diocese has called for an immediate review of the Witchcraft law that can deal with atrocities perpetrated on people accused of practicing witchcraft where most of them are elderly.

CCJP Coordinator of the diocese, Felix Manda suggested this at a press conference in Mzuzu on Tuesday where he commented on the gruesome Mzimba witchcraft incident where two elderly women were verbally and physically harassed on allegations that one of them killed her daughter-in-law through magic.

“The Witchcraft Act must be reviewed to protect people, people are being victimized on hearsay. And as the CCJP who are implementing various programs in Mzimba, have not done enough in popularising the current law and as result, people are ignorant about the law,” says Manda.

The Commission is planning to meet all senior traditional leaders in Mzimba to bring them into dialogue as a measure of reducing these incidents in the district.

Recommended  Manda: “We are calling on all traditional leaders across the diocese to comply with the Witchcraft Act. All chiefs in the diocese should stop granting permission to witchdoctors from performing extortions in their areas, and all chiefs where the incident occurred, should be picked up by police for questioning for failing to contain the situation of that day.”

A Mzuzu University-based social commentator Dr. Chrispin Mphande suggests traditional leaders should lead the process of banning witchdoctors from performing rituals in their communities.

“There is need for various stakeholders like the CCJP to sensitize people about the issue of Witchcraft. Most people who believe in this issue have low levels of education and their understanding is too limited,” noted Dr. Mphande.

Police in Mzimba have since arrested 20 people in the area of traditional authority Kampingo Sibande on allegations that they harassed two elderly women one of them was accused of killing her daughter-in-law. Last weekend a video clip of suspects harassing the two elderly women went viral on social media that attracted anger from most people in the country.

Journalist
Steve Zimba
Malawi
+265999776776
stezimba@gmail.com