_Kasungu, Malawi: September 6, 2025_
St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Kasungu District, under the care of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), joyfully marked its Silver Jubilee on Saturday, September 6, 2025, celebrating 25 years of faith, service, and community life. The celebration, held at Kasungu Stadium, gathered thousands of faithful, clergy, and religious under the theme “Mindset Change.”
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by His Grace, Archbishop Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, who served as guest of honour. The highlight of the liturgy came when Archbishop Tambala administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 588 catechumens, affirming the parish’s vitality and ongoing growth in faith.
Ahead of the Mass, Archbishop Tambala blessed and officially opened a new Marian grotto at St. Joseph Parish, further enriching the spiritual life of the community.
Also present at the celebration was Fr. Virgilio Costa, SJ, Assistant to the Provincial of the Jesuit Southern African Province (SAP), who joined fellow Jesuit priests and brothers from Malawi and beyond in marking the milestone.
In his homily, Archbishop Tambala encouraged the faithful of St. Joseph Parish to mature in their faith and take greater ownership of their Church. “The time has come for you to grow and stop depending on missionaries. This parish, founded with sacrifice and love, must now stand on its own,” he said. He recalled that St. Joseph Parish was established on October 22, 2000, under the leadership of the late Archbishop Tarcizius Ziyaye, who entrusted it to the Jesuits.
The Archbishop also praised the Jesuits for their commitment to holistic development in Malawi, particularly through their contribution to education. He highlighted Loyola Jesuit Secondary School in Kasungu as a shining example of Jesuit dedication to forming “men and women for others.” In a separate interview, Archbishop Tambala urged graduating students of Loyola Jesuit Secondary School to remain connected to their roots by returning to support less privileged students.
Echoing the Archbishop’s message, the parish priest, Fr. Terry Mwando Mutesha, SJ, likened the parish’s growth to that of a child transitioning from porridge to solid food. “This Jubilee invites us to embrace maturity in faith and responsibility as a parish community,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the faithful, Parish Council Chairperson Mr. Nowa Nthembwe commended parishioners for their dedication and called on Church leadership to consider elevating some of the six parish centres: St. Peter, St. Mark, St. Ignatius, St. Theresa, St. Luke, and St. Joseph, into independent parishes. He noted that St. Joseph Parish now serves more than 7000 active Christians.
The Silver Jubilee celebration drew Catholics from all walks of life, as well as Jesuit companions from within and outside Malawi. Together, they gave thanks for a quarter-century of grace and looked ahead with renewed commitment to living the Gospel and serving the people of God.
__By Harold Kangoli
Communications Office – Loyola Jesuit Secondary School _
English