By Catherine Meso
There was a Diocesan choir festival at deanery level in the deanery of Mangochi, on 29th June 2024, which took place at St. Augustine’s (Mangochi) cathedral. Fourteen choirs took part, from the parishes of Mangochi cathedral, Namwera, Katema, Namalaka and Lulanga which make up this deanery. From all choirs which contested, only five were supposed to proceed to the next level.
Fr. Saulos Chimbalanga as the chaplain for Catholic choirs in the deanery made a remark that the main aim of this festival is to celebrate the fifty years of the existence of the Small Christian communities in the AMECEA region. At the same time, it is also an opportunity to teach one another the talent of singing as they also spread the word of God.
The chairperson of the choirs at deanery level, Mr. Cosmas Raphael Kathumba, appreciated the choirs which came to take part on this festival.
Unlike previous years, women choirs were being judged separately from the rest of the choirs whose membership was of both men and women. As such, judges of this festival observed that St. Patrick’s choir from Mangochi Cathedral had to be on the first position, seconded by St. Augustine’s choir of the same cathedral while third position was taken by St. Mary’s choir from Mpondasi catholic church, an outstation of Mangochi Cathedral. As for the category of women, St. Anna of Mangochi cathedral took the first position while St. Anna choir of Katema parish took position two and the third was St. Mary’s choir from Namwera parish.
Choirs sang two songs: one from the Catholic Hymn Book of Chichewa, hymn number 181 and the composed one about the golden jubilee of Small Christian communities in the Catholic church. The next festival will be on 20th July.
