Meaningful Milestone: Catholic Bishop on Malawi’s 125 Years of Active Evangelization

By Nicholas Waigwa

Blantyre, 15 June, 2026 / 5:07 pm (ACI Africa).

The President of the Pastoral Commission and Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) at the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) has described the Southern African nation’s national Quasquicentennial Jubilee as a “meaningful” milestone that should serve as a foundation for the future growth and mission of the Catholic Church in the country.

In a video recording shared on Monday, June 15, Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima reflects on the journey of the Catholic Church in Malawi, noting that the anniversary presents an opportunity for discernment on how the Church can continue to respond more effectively to its mission.

“It is a meaningful celebration that should also give us a stepping stone into the next generation, and challenge us to ask what else we can do and how we can do more in responding to God’s call as He invites us to live and practice our faith in the Catholic Church,” he says in the video recording MCCB published.

The Bishop of Malawi’s Catholic Diocese of Zomba underscores that the 125-year history represents continuous evangelization that has borne visible fruit across the country, saying, “We are talking about 125 years of active and continuous evangelization. Today, we find ourselves in a Church that now has eight Dioceses.”

While acknowledging continued collaboration with missionaries from other countries, the Malawian Catholic Bishop notes that the leadership and daily life of the Church are increasingly being shaped by local Clergy and faithful, a development he describes as a positive sign of growth. 

He said, “The Church also has Clergy, most of whom are local. There are also religious men and women, the majority of whom are indigenous Malawians, although the Church continues to collaborate with Missionaries from other countries.” 

“We also see young people actively participating in the life of the Church,” Bishop Chaima says, further highlighting the active participation of young people in the life of the Church as an encouraging sign for the future of evangelization in the country.

He also highlights the growth and effectiveness of key MCCB structures and commissions that have supported the evangelization mission of the Catholic Church over the years, noting that they enable the Church to draw closer to the people of God and serve them within their local communities. 

“We are witnessing growth in the way our commissions, health, education, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), and CARITAS, are functioning,” he says, adding, “These structures are present in all Dioceses, and they are not only institutional in nature; they are also active and engaged in service delivery.” 

Noting that the services offered through the MCCB Secretariat’s commissions do not serve Catholics alone, Bishop Chaima says, “It is evident that people greatly appreciate the contribution the Church is making in Malawi, particularly in the health and education sectors.”

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“Our schools are very popular and are considered institutions of choice, and the same applies to our health facilities and other services offered through these commissions,” the member of the MCCB adds.

He underlines the significant contribution of the  Catholic Church to the country’s national development, noting that the Church’s engagement in social services continues to strengthen its presence and witness among the people.

“As we celebrate 125 years of active evangelization in the Catholic Church, we are also called to reflect on our spiritual growth,” the Local Ordinary of the Zomba Diocese states, pointing to the increased active participation in the celebration of the Eucharist compared to previous years.

He explains, “We can see clear progress and growth. This is evident in the increased participation of the faithful, including young people and other groups who actively take part in the liturgy.”

“This growing participation, as well as the generosity of the faithful, is also helping us move towards building a more self-reliant Church,” Bishop Chaima says in the 3-minute video recording that the MCCB published on June 15.

The national celebration marking 125 years since the permanent establishment of the Catholic Church in the Southern African nation is scheduled for September 19 at St. Mary’s Nzama Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Dedza, Malawi’s first Catholic Parish.

While announcing the event officially in an April message signed by the MCCB President of the MCCB, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, Catholic Bishops in the country said the jubilee is significant.

“This Jubilee is a profound moment of thanksgiving, inviting us to reflect on the abundant blessings God has bestowed upon our nation through the gift of the Catholic faith,” the message read in part.

The Catholic Church’s presence in Malawi traces its roots to the late nineteenth century and was firmly established through the ministry of the members of the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr.), popularly known as the White Fathers, who established the country’s first mission in 1901. 

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.