By Austin Dalabani
A new dean of Ulongwe deanery has been installed today on 13th January, 2024, at Ulongwe Catholic parish in the Diocese of Mangochi. This dean is Fr. Alfred Chikabwereza, the Parish Priest of St. Anna (Kapire) parish, who has replaced the former dean, Fr. William Dodoma who was transferred to Mzimu Woyera (Phalula) Catholic parish to serve as the Parish priest of that parish as well as the dean of Balaka deanery.
The installation ceremony took place within the Eucharistic celebration led by Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima, the bishop of the Diocese of Mangochi. Bishop Stima urged Ulongwe deanery congregants to desist from jealousy and envy. He said that among other sins that people are committing, envy and jealousy are killing the spiritual life of many Christians. “With envy and jealousy, the Church cannot stand and grow. If priests, religious and Christians allow these vices to occupy their hearts, the desire to have a united and prosperous Church becomes an unrealized dream,” said the bishop.
He further urged the Christians to desist from customs which the society is considering normal while in actual fact they are not. He gave examples like corruption, lack of trust and transparency which have affected not only within the families, but also the whole country.
Remarking on this event, Fr. Chikabwereza, despite thanking God for considering him worthy to carry out that role as a dean, he also asked for cooperation among the parish priests and the Christians in his deanery. He pledged to serve with humility, love, submission and commitment. He further asked for prayers on his responsibility.
The Diocese of Mangochi has five deaneries which are Mangochi, Ulongwe, Mpiri, Balaka and Nankhwali. The deanery of Ulongwe is made up of four parishes, namely: St. Francis (Chidzanja), St. Joachim and Anna (Kausi), St. Anna (Kapire) and Sacred Heart (Ulongwe) parishes. To be a dean, it is a position which takes three years to expire, then another dean gets appointed. He works under Canon Law 555§1 which states that a Vicar Forane has a duty and right of promoting and coordinate the common pastoral activity within the vicariate.