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St Augustine parish of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, on 7th September 2025 honored and celebrated the feast day of St Augustine of the Hippo their parish patron.

It was a colorful event where all the 9 churches of the parish gathered to thank God and beseeched the intersession of St Augustine.

Leading the eucharistic celebration for the day the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu Father Isaac John Katumbi said if Christians want to follow Jesus Christ, they must deny themselves and carry their cross at their patron saints deed while on earth.

In his homily, the Vicar General encouraged the parish parishioners to emulate the life of St Augustine who at the age of 33 years was converted to Christianity and left everything and followed Jesus Christ.

Augustine was born to a Christian mother, St. Monica, and a pagan father, Patricius. Despite his mother’s devout faith, Augustine grew up influenced more by his father’s paganism, but the turning point came in 386 when Augustine, while in a garden in Milan, heard a child’s voice singing “Tolle, Lege” (“Take up and read”). Interpreting this as a divine command, he picked up a nearby Bible and opened it to Romans 13:13-14, which urged him to abandon his life of sin and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. This moment marked his final conversion to Christianity.

St Augustine parish was established in 1986 from St Peters Parish in Mzuzu and currently it has about 3,600 members following the establishment of St Micheals pro-parish which was part of St Augustine parish.

The Parish Priest for the Parish, Father Albert Chirambo said the life of St Augustine is a source of hope to Christian who have gone against God , citing that no matter how sinful someone maybe but God forgives.

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in God, we cannot find peace in sins, let us follow the will of God and find peace like our patron saint“ Father Chirambo quoted St Augustine sentiments.

St. Augustine’s journey from a life of sin to sainthood is a testament to the transformative power of God’s grace. His intellectual brilliance and spiritual depth continue to inspire Christians across the world, making him one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church.

 One of the Parishioners, Judith Tembo from St Faustina Outstation said the history of their patron has taught her conversion is possible despite the past sins and age.

St. Augustine died on August 28, 430, during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals. His feast day is celebrated on August 28, and he is the patron saint of theologians, brewers, and those seeking conversion.

Mzuzu, Malawi – In a powerful response to Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’ , the Mzuzu Diocese is making significant strides in its mission to protect the local environment and educate the next generation. Two years after its ambitious launch, the Diocese’s Integrated Ecology Centre project is celebrating a series of major achievements, transforming a vision into a tangible force for ecological conservation. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

The project was born from an urgent need to save the Katoto Forest, a vital 192-acre green lung within the bustling Mzuzu city limits. Facing rapid deforestation and degradation, the Diocese saw not just a crisis, but an opportunity to create a living classroom for sustainable living.

“We were losing the only forest in the middle of our city. Laudato Si’ calls us to care for our common home, and this was a direct threat to our home here in Mzuzu,” explained Mr. Crief Daniel a project coordinator for the Mzuzu Diocese Integrated Ecology Centre. “We knew we had to act decisively to protect this resource and use it to teach the younger generation about the sacred duty of environmental stewardship.”

The first and most crucial step was securing the forest’s boundaries. The Diocese has now successfully completed a massive 4-kilometer-long perimeter fence, a two-year undertaking that effectively halts illegal encroachment and protects the recovering ecosystem within. This physical barrier marks a clear commitment to preserving this critical natural space for future generations.

Parallel to the conservation effort, the Centre’s model farming initiative has been fully transformed into a pure organic entity. This demonstration farm serves as a practical showcase for sustainable agriculture, promoting farming methods that work in harmony with nature rather than against it, a core principle of the integrated ecology vision.

Education remains the heart of the project. Over the past two years, the Centre has already begun its outreach, training youth from the Soweto township and students from Mzuzu University and the University of Livingstonia. These initial programs have provided hands-on experience in organic farming, forest management, and ecological principles.

The future of this educational mission is now taking physical shape. Construction is currently underway on two key facilities: a hostel to accommodate participants and a dedicated ecology education hall. These structures will serve as the central hub for Training of Trainers (TOT) programs, aiming to multiply the Centre’s impact by equipping a new wave of environmental advocates with the knowledge and skills to lead in their own communities.

“We are incredibly proud of what the community and our partners have achieved in just two years,” the coordinator added. “The fence protects God’s creation, the farm models how to nurture it, and the new buildings will be where we teach people to love it. This is Laudato Si’ in action, and we are just getting started.”

The Mzuzu Diocese Integrated Ecology Centre stands as a growing testament to local Catholic leadership translating faith into concrete ecological action, ensuring that the call of Laudato Si’ continues to resonate loudly in Northern Malawi.

St Martin de Porres, a new parish of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu at Chizani in Mzimba district has been launched.

The historical event was led by His Lordship, Bishop of the Diocese, Right Reverend Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda on Saturday 30 August 2025.

Speaking during the launching Mass, Bishop Nyirenda said the new parish signifies the growth of the diocese and it creates an easy access to the word of God and sacraments for the Christians during their spiritual journey.

 Bishop Nyirenda further advised the Christians of the new parish to effectively use it, by frequently worshiping, praying and receiving sacraments, which are also the requirements for the pilgrims of hope.

The bishop also asked Christians of St Martin de Porres to live their life in line with the gifts holy spirit which are love, forgiveness, happiness, kindness and peace. They should avoid fights for the parish to develop.

 Lastly the bishop assured that the diocese has plans to establish more new parishes so that other catholic that still walk long distances to access the parish should be considered with a nearby parish too. 

Father Petros Mwale expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to lead the foundation of the pris and asked well wishes to continue supporting the development of the parish.

The Chief of the area Inkosi Khosolo expressed deep appreciation for the establishment of the new parish in his area. Inkosi further expressed that other infrastructure developments like schools, hospitals and good roads will follow the parish, hence developing the area.

Before the Eucharist celebration, the bishop blessed the Father’s House for the parish and then laid the foundation stone of the Parish church.

St Martin De Porres Pro parish was established on 1 August 2023 by Bishop Emeritus of Mzuzu Diocese Right Reverend John Ryan.

Currently the parish has 2 Priests,2 Brothers,5, Catechists,6 Zones,27 Substations, 50 out churches and over 14,000 Christians This brings a total number of parishes in Mzuzu Diocese to 22 including 2 Pro- Parishes.

The construction projects for the new parish are supported by the local and well-wishers.

Mzuzu Diocese Education Commission is pleased to announce the release of the 2025 form 1 Selection in the four-grant aided Catholic Secondary school of diocese namely, St Francis Secondary School- Mzimba; St John Bosco Secondary School; Nkhamenya Girls Secondary School and Nkhata-Bay Boys Secondary School. The results can be accessed in all parish centers and in all Catholic Secondary school in Mzuzu Diocese

All selected students are advised to report to their respective schools on the date the Ministry of Education will announce.

For more information contact the following numbers for the respective schools

Mr. Elija Chirwa – St Francis Secondary School- 0888 550 634

Mr. Fariot Ngwira – St John Bosco Secondary School- 0888355289/0998864091

Sr. Kettie Mjuma – Nkhamenya Girls Secondary School – 0999292267/0888432651

Mr. Mathia Chiumia Nkhata Bay Secondary School – 0991607270/0884179771

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!!

The first ever National Children Congress happened at Don Bosco Parish Lilongwe Archdiocese- Malawi from the 30th of July to the 3rd of August 2025. The delegates were Children between the age of 8 to 14 and their animators. The numbers of delegates per diocese were as follows; Lilongwe 463, Dedza 228, Blantyre 332, Mangochi 183, Chikwawa 44, Karonga 163, Zomba 183, Mzuzu 32. The total number of delegates was 1628.

A) The Main Aim Of the Children Congress 

• To allow children to meet in one place, know one another and share knowledge.
• To give children a chance to discuss issues that affect their spirituality and their day-to-day lives. 
• To give children a chance to give views to leaders on how best they want to participate in church and nation. 
• To prepare children to be good leaders for the church and nation.

B) What Was Discussed 

• How parents take care of their children following how Joseph and Mary took care of Jesus Christ   Child abuse.
• Child labor and child trafficking.
• Catholic Social Teaching (CST) 

C) The Following Were Some Key Lessons

• That everyone was created in the image of God and that everyone needs to be respected and children are also created in the image of God Genesis 1: 26-27. 
• Life is a gift from God co from God and therefore no one has freedom to take away his or the life of another person We are all one family, and we should do things together (Solidarity).
• We children should do things for the good of our fellow children (Common good) Everyone should be allowed to do his or her part (Subsidiarity). 
• We should help our fellow children who are lacking (preferential option for the poor) Our responsibility is to care for the environment (Genesis 1:28).
• That mass is the highest prayer in the church, sacraments and liturgy and that We children should love the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance. 
• How to have good thoughts (Mental Health) Eat proper, enough and healthy food Having adequate time to sleep (10 hours). 
• Avoid bad behaviors of smoking Chamba and alcohol drinking Avoid excessive use of technology and watching inappropriate things. 
• Malawi 2063 which is the vision for this country. Malawi wants to be an inclusive wealthy and self-reliant nation by the year 2063. 
• What causes climate change, the problems that come with it and how we can prevent climate change and what we children, and the church can do with it list. 

 D) Resolutions 

1. Parents and the church should take an effort to protect children from their children’s abuse, child trafficking and what disturbs the mental health of children and so they should not allow us children to excessively use modern technology. 
2.  Parents should help us to be close to Jesus Christ, teach us how to pray and read the word of God and send us for mass, parents should desist from leaving us home while they go for mass. 
3. The lessons should be taught in dioceses and parishes to benefit more children.
4. The lessons should also go to parents who are key in taking care of children. 
5. We are wanting to ask various church leaders, priests and sisters that they should love us children. 
6. The church should strengthen its efforts in taking care of the creation and fight climate change; all parishes should find places where they can grow trees every year. 
7. The church and the government should give equal access to education so that we can be able to achieve Malawi 2063. 
8. The church should establish peer groups at the diocese and parish where children can be able to report various abuses. 
9. The safeguarding policy which the church established should be taught and be utilized.
10. The church should establish groups to help children that are lacking most.
11. Priests and Sisters should take an active role in PMS activities more especially the Holy Childhood. and that during Epiphany Day parishes should organize food so that children can interact this will foster unity and togetherness.
12. There should be good coordination between bishops, priests and sisters in efforts on taking care of children. 
13. In various children’s gatherings there should be role models in vocation and other key figures in society to motivate children.