Bishop Stima to be consecrated on Feb 22
The Catholic Church will on February 22 2014 consecrate Montfort Stima as new bishop of Mangochi Diocese.
Pope Francis appointed Stima late last year after serving as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, replacing Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye who was posted to the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.
He becomes the fourth bishop to head Mangochi Diocese after succeeding Bishop Alessandro Pagani who has served since May 26 2007.
Pagani leaves the position after attaining the retirement age.
Diocesan secretary and communications officer Father Raphael Mkuzi said the consecration will coincide with the farewell mass for the retiring bishop.
Mkuzi said preparations for the event are at an advanced stage.
“We are currently mobilising resources for the event. We will need at least K1.5 million,” he said.
Stima comes from Khomera Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Dambe in Neno.
He was ordained priest on August 3 1986 at Limbe Cathedral.
Stima was appointed auxiliary bishop of Blantyre Archdiocese on January 24 2010.
