St. Kizito Parish, Chigoneka, today celebrated 50 years of its existence with a joyful and colourful Golden Jubilee Mass celebrated by His Grace George Desmon Tambala, Archbishop of Lilongwe. The parish was established in 1975 in Chigoneka, Area 47, and is managed by St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. On the same day, two Malawian St. Patrick’s Missionaries, Reverend Father Kennedy Julius Mulande, SPS, and Reverend Father Gift Mawuya, SPS, were ordained to the priesthood.
Also, on this day, the parish priest celebrated 30 years of priesthood. He was ordained on June 10, 1995, at Maghera Parish in County Derry, Ireland.
St Kizito Parish Commended
In his remarks during the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop Tambala commended St. Kizito Parish for its tremendous work in uplifting the lives of its parishioners, both spiritually and socially. He also advised the newly ordained priests against complacency in their ministry. “Familiarity breeds contempt,” he said, while advising priests not to treat sacred vestments and liturgical items as ordinary everyday items.
Priests’ Appointments
St. Patrick’s Missionary Society assistant leader, Father Sean Cremin, announced that Reverend Father Kennedy Mulande has been appointed to serve in the West Africa region of the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, while Reverend Father Gift Mawuya has been appointed to serve in the East Africa region.
The celebration was attended by Fr Martin McGowan, the Society’s Regional Leader and other Malawian and foreign priests based in Zambia and Kenya.
After Mass, the parishioners continued their celebration with food, drink, and dance.
Nigeria Ordination
In Calabar, Nigeria, three other St. Patrick’s Missionary Society deacons were also ordained to the priesthood: Reverend James Utionkpan SPS, Reverend Vitalis Ndubuisi SPS, and Reverend Daniel Adiele SPS. The ordination was held at St. Patrick’s Parish, Ikot Ansa. Reverend Father James Utionkpan has been appointed to serve in Malawi. He is no stranger to the country, as his pastoral year was spent at St. Kizito Parish.
Malawi Photography: Eric Norman Mkwaira (Radio Alinafe – Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Malawi)
Nigeria Photography: Ogonnaya Okorie, Deborah Ugbong (SPINT Media, CYON SPP)