By Catherine Walusa
On the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, the minor seminary of St. Paul in the diocese of Mangochi was blessed to celebrate it together with the alumni of this seminary, who also organized a thanksgiving Mass for Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Lilongwe. The celebration was aimed at thanking God for calling and choosing one of their contemporaries to become a bishop. On the same day, some of the minor seminarians received the sacrament of Confirmation.
During the homily, Bishop Mwakhwawa emphasized that the plan of God does not fail on every person. However, the people have just to cooperate and be ready to fulfill it. The bishop recalled the words of encouragement from late bishop Allesandro Asolarri for advising them during bishop’s talk. He also expressed his gratitude towards the good work done by Fr. Joseph Kimu, his rector of that time and encouraged his contemporaries to make use of the good character they learnt at this seminary.
Representing the bishop of the diocese of Mangochi, Fr. Davie Mambo as a Vicar General, acknowledged the importance of this occasion as it strengthened unity among those who learnt at SPAS. He also thanked the SPAS alumni for organizing the ceremony.
Mr. Andrew Kavala, chair of the organizing committee of this celebration, thanked God and all members of their association for the unity shown when they were preparing for this occasion. Agreeing with Bishop Mwakhwawa, he encouraged the minor seminarians to leave everything in the hands of God to be done as per His plan.
Born on 20th November, 17975, bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa comes from Salima in the archdiocese of Lilongwe. After learning at St. Paul minor seminary of the diocese of Mangochi from 1987 to 1991, he proceeded to St. Anthony major seminary to study philosophy for three years and then to St. Peter’s major seminary to study theology for five years. He was ordained on 12th July, 2003 and appointed as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Lilongwe by Pope Francis on 15th November, 2023 and got consecrated on 20th January, 2024 at Civo stadium by His Grace, Desmond Tambala, Archbishop of Lilongwe archdiocese.
