Blantyre Archdiocese is one parish bigger
Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa last Sunday opened St. Mary’s Chemussa Parish, adding to the already existing 40 parishes of the Archdiocese of Blantyre.
In his sermon, Archbishop Msusa implored the Christians of St. Mary’s to live like the first Christian community.
“You are no longer an outstation; no longer young. As evidence of your growth, build your life on love just like the first Christians as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. Be united and accommodating. This parish should be a school of God’s mercy and love,” he said.
The new parish will carter for the Catholic community in the highly populated townships of Mbayani, Chemussa and low density Chapima Heights.
During the same function, the Archbishop installed Fr. Edezio Nasalangwa as the first parish priest.
Christians of the new parish pledged to be exemplary in all aspects.
Speaking on behalf of the faithful of the new parish, chairperson of the parish council, a Mr Mboola, told the gathering that since last August, when Archbishop Msusa announced that Chemussa would be weaned from St. Montfort—CI parish, the congregation begun to think and operate like a full parish.
“We promise you that we shall dedicate our lives to serve the church. We will not betray Jesus and your trust in us,” he said.
Fr Nasalangwa was thankful to Archbishop Msusa for his spiritual and moral guidance.
On the other hand, the new parish priest pleaded with well-wishers to help the parish as they embarked on a project to build a house for priests close to the parish centre because currently, he is operating from St. James in Chilomoni.
People started gathering at Chemussa for communal prayers in the 1960s. It was in 1993 that the late Archbishop James Chiona consecrated it as an outstation under St. Montfort, popularly known as C.I.
Member of Parliament for the area, Rashid Gaffar pledged 50 bags of cement for the house project.
The number of Christians in the Archdiocese of Blantyre keeps soaring. It is now over 1.5 million and consequently demands for services are also high.
Four years ago, three more parishes Chilobwe, Chirimba and Mwangata which is situated along Chikwawa road, were also created from St Pius and CI Parishes. n
