MZUZU DIOCESE TAKES THE LEAD AS MALAWI LAUNCHES WORLD MISSION SUNDAY CENTENARY PREPARATIONS

The Catholic Church in Malawi has officially launched preparations for the Centenary Celebration of World Mission Sunday, under the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.” The national launch took place on 19 July 2026 at Katete Parish in the Diocese of Mzuzu, bringing together Church leaders, religious men and women, and thousands of Christians in a joyful celebration of faith and mission. The Eucharistic celebration was led by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mzuzu, Msgr Isaac Katumbi, and concelebrated by the National PMS Director, Diocesan PMS Directors from Mzuzu and Zomba, the Diocesan Pastoral Secretary, the Parish Priests of Katete and Nankhunda, and the Assistant Priest of Katete. Prior to the Eucharistic celebration, over 120 Church leaders took part in an animation session on the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) and this year's World Mission Sunday message of the Holy Father. The session was aimed at deepening the missionary spirit of Church leaders and strengthening their commitment to the mission of the Church. A significant moment during the celebration was the symbolic handover of the responsibility for hosting the national World Mission Sunday activities from the Diocese of Zomba to the Diocese of Mzuzu. The Diocese of Mzuzu has embraced this missionary responsibility wholeheartedly, demonstrated through the beautiful preparation of the launch and its commitment to surpass the contribution made by Nankhunda Parish last year. The Diocese has committed to contributing over MK10,000,000 towards the mission, a powerful expression of missionary generosity and self-reliance. In a spirit of self-reliance and shared responsibility for the mission of the Church, the Christians of Katete presented various gifts to the Vicar General, including a cow. The gesture was a visible sign of their readiness and determination to take a leading role in hosting the National Centenary Celebration of World Mission Sunday. Speaking during the celebration, a Church leader from Zomba encouraged the Christians of Katete to embrace the opportunity of hosting national Church events. He noted that such occasions help parishes to grow in their missionary spirit, unity and self-reliance, reminding Christians that mission is the responsibility of every baptised person. The National Chairperson of the National Organising Committee for the Centenary Celebration in Mzuzu also invited Christians from Malawi and across the world to prepare spiritually and support the National Centenary Celebration, which will take place at Mzuzu Stadium on 3 October 2026. The Parish Priest of Katete thanked all those who took part in the celebration and expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to the parish to play a leading role in this historic missionary event. The National Director of PMS thanked the Christians for their participation and expressed his joy at the colourful and meaningful launch. He encouraged the Christians of Katete to remember that the success of the centenary celebration depends on their united commitment to prayer, missionary work and generous contributions towards the mission of the Church. In his remarks, the Vicar General thanked the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, through the National Office of PMS, for entrusting the Diocese of Mzuzu, and particularly Katete Parish, with this important responsibility. He reminded the Christians that Katete Parish was chosen for a special reason. Established in 1939 by the Missionaries of Africa, Katete is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Mzuzu and Karonga. As the Church celebrates the Centenary of World Mission Sunday, he said it was both fitting and meaningful for Katete Parish to take a leading role in the Diocese of Mzuzu's missionary journey. The celebration also highlighted the blessing of international visitors expected in Malawi this year. In connection with PMS activities, Msgr Guy Bognon will visit Malawi for the formation course of formators of seminaries, while Msgr Nguyen will attend the National Centenary Celebration. In addition, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, is expected to visit Malawi for the celebration of 125 years of the permanent presence of the Catholic Church in the country. The presence of these important international Church leaders is a powerful sign of the growing missionary spirit of the Church in Malawi and the country's increasing contribution to the universal mission of the Church. As Malawi begins the journey towards the Centenary Celebration of World Mission Sunday, the message is clear: mission belongs to everyone. United in Christ, the Church in Malawi is ready to pray, to serve and to give so that the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth.