SISTERS OF THE HOLY ROSARY TURN FAITH INTO ACTION: FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, NURTURING CHILDREN AND RESTORING LAND IN MZUZU DIOCESE

The Sisters of the Holy Rosary (SHR) on Thursday 24 September 2026 held a briefing meeting aimed at sharing the activities they are doing in the diocese of Mzuzu.

The orientation meeting that took  place at the Jobidon office in Mzuzu, was graced by  Right Reverend Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu. Also present were priests, sisters, diocesan commissions and employees at the diocesan offices.

The meeting unveiled three activities that sisters are doing namely: fighting human trafficking, promoting early childhood development and restoring degraded land.

On human trafficking, the sisters are raising awareness about human trafficking among communities, schools, Parishes and other groups recognizing the act as a social justice and human dignity issue. 

On Early childhood development, which is under Strengthening the Capacity of Religious women in Early childhood development (SCORE ECD IV), their aim is to nurture care, early childhood development and maternal mental health services.

Regarding land restoration, the sisters are into banana production, beekeeping, improved pig production and soil and water conservation. This  project is at Chigwere in Nkhata-Bay District.

SHR Superior General, Sr. Bernadette Munyenyembe said she is impressed with how far the projects have come and she envisages good fruits from the projects.

"We have received various support and we can see the impact on the communities. This is a good move for us and for the people we serve," she said.

The Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda, commended the sisters for their work but challenged them to do more through collaborations.

He called on the sisters, commissions and priests to work together so that the projects should reach a wider population and benefit more people.

"Some commissions are doing similar activities. If you open up and share what you are doing, you will be stronger," the Bishop advised.

Father Yotam Musumba of St. Albert Parish said the church is ready to play its part.

He said priests will now include messages on human trafficking, child development and land restoration in their homilies and during church gatherings.

"We will sensitize our congregations about these matters as many people do not appreciate the ills of human trafficking is until it affects their family. As priests, we have a role to preach about it," Fr. Msumba said.

The Sisters of the Holy Rosary are getting some of the funding from the Episcopal Conference of the United States of America and Hilton foundation.