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The Mzuzu Diocese is in mourning following the passing of Sister Margret Gong’ontha Nyirenda, one of the longest-serving Catholic nuns, who was laid to rest at the Katoto cemetery on Tuesday, 3rd September 2024.

She died on 1st September 2024, at the age of 83, at St. John’s Hospital in Mzuzu after a life dedicated to faith and service.

Born in 1938, Sister Margret joined the sisterhood in 1960, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey that spanned over six decades.

A native of Holy Cross Parish in Nkhamenya, Mzimba, she became a cherished figure within her community, known for her unwavering commitment to the Church and her compassionate spirit.

During a poignant Mass held for Sister Margret at St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Bishop John Ryan of the Diocese reflected on her life and legacy.

“Sister Margret lived her life well,” he said, urging the youth to draw inspiration from her exemplary dedication to service and faith. “Her actions were a testament to the values we should all aspire to uphold.”

As mourners gathered to pay their respects, the atmosphere was heavy with grief yet filled with gratitude for the impact Sister Margret had on so many lives.

Sister Agness Ng’ona, who spoke on behalf of all nuns and provided a biography of Sister Margret, said the community is heartbroken over the loss of Sister Margret, who helped many with spiritual guidance.

Sister Agnes added, “Our growth relies on the spirit of the Lord and also on the elderly, from whom we gain wisdom.”

The loss of Sister Margret is a huge blow to the sisters’ fraternity.”Her legacy of kindness and devotion will continue to resonate within the diocese and beyond, as explained by Raphael Nyirenda, a representative of Sister Margret’s family. While celebrating the life of their aunt, he expressed hope that her spirit of reaching out to the needy has helped many people in her home area.Nyirenda explained,

“Sister Margret was a mother to our community. She reached out to many people and helped them love and live by the word of God; her death will never be replaced.”

Sister Margret was a trained medical practitioner and also possessed vast knowledge on issues related to education.

Auxiliary Bishop for Mzuzu diocese Yohane Nyirenda says Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world due to failure by leaders to utilize locally available resources to increase imports and reduce reliance on debt.

The Auxiliary Bishop said this at ST Paul’s Parish in Mzimba today as the Diocese marked the World day of the poor with a distribution of food items to ultra poor families.

He said laziness among Malawians and habitual beer drinking are also factors contributing to high poverty levels in the country.

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.

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

The Mzuzu Diocese on Saturday celebrated a momentous occasion as new Auxiliary Bishop, Right Reverend Father Yohane Nyirenda, ordained two new priests.

The ordination ceremony was held at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Mzuzu and was attended by hundreds of faithful Catholics from across the diocese.

The two newly ordained priests, Father Tobias Mkwewu and Father Paul Mthali, were both born and raised in the Mzuzu Diocese. They have both dedicated their lives to serving God and the Catholic Church, and their ordination was a culmination of years of hard work and preparation.

During the ceremony, Auxiliary Bishop Nyirenda reminded the new priests of the importance of their role in the Church and urged them to always put the needs of their parishioners first. He also reminded them that their ordination was not just a personal achievement but a call to serve others and to spread the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The ordination ceremony was a joyful and emotional occasion for all those involved. It was a testament to the strength and growth of the Catholic Church in Malawi and a reminder of the important role that priests play in the spiritual lives of their communities.

As Father Tobias Mkwewu and Father Paul Mthali begin their new roles as priests, they will undoubtedly face many challenges and obstacles. However, they can take comfort in knowing that they have the support and prayers of their fellow Catholics in the Mzuzu Diocese and beyond.

On the International Day for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, Pope Francis says this plague must be rooted out from society, and calls for educational action that places the dignity of every person at the centre.

By Lisa Zengarini

As the world marks the UN International Day for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), on 25 November, Pope Francis reiterated his urgent call for tangible action to eradicate this scourge, especially through education.

A poisonous weed

“Violence against women is a poisonous weed that plagues our society and must be pulled up from its roots,” the Pope wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“These roots grow in the soil of prejudice and of injustice; they must be countered with educational action that places the person, with his or her dignity, at the center,”

Calls for global action to prevent violence

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women has been observed annually since 1981. The observance, which marks the start of 16 days of global activism, calls for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy, and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. It is often perpetrated within the family; estimates say that a woman is murdered by a partner or family member every 11 minutes.

According to the most recent UN data, globally, over 700 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

The phenomenon has intensified in various settings, including the workplace and online spaces, and has been exacerbated by post-pandemic effects, conflicts, and climate change.

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable in armed conflicts where sexual violence is used as a weapon of war and is also rife in refugee camps.

Pastoral responsibility of the Church

In a statement released on Saturday, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, reiterated the Catholic Church’s commitment to combating and preventing gender violence and offering support to victims.

“The Church has the task of remaining close to women who are victims of violence and exploitation,” he said, “and such closeness can be expressed in many ways: from providing safe housing for victims of violence, to psychological and spiritual support so as to help the victims themselves to overcome the trauma and report the abuse.”

Educating to affectivity and respect

Echoing Pope Francis’ words, Cardinal Farrell noted that a key aspect is also education towards respect for women, “which begins with recognizing the problem within families and Christian communities as well.

“Educating people about affectivity, love, respect for others, and first of all for their own lives, which is so necessary in preventing violence against women, is strongly and deeply rooted in the gospel,” he said.

Cardinal Farrell, therefore, urged all Churches around the world to take action “to provide families, youth, engaged couples, and communities with educational pathways aimed at preventing violence against women.”

“This is a pastoral responsibility,” the Cardinal concluded, “in which the Church’s vocation to be an instrument of peace is manifested.”