The joy and happiness on the faces of the members and apprentices of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle, as well as the people present, were evident. The entrance hymn, ”Chaka! Chaka! Lero kuli chaka,” meaning “Rejoice! Rejoice! Today is a big day,” sang of joy as the procession of the Mass began.
On this evening of July 30, the MCSPA expanded its footprint by opening its first Formation House for Philosophy, St. Augustine’s Philosophate, at Balaka, in Mangochi Diocese, Malawi. This milestone marks the continued growth of the MCSPA. The President of the MCSPA, Scholastica Wamalwa, along with other members, were present to witness this celebration.
The inauguration began in the late afternoon with Mass led by Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima, Bishop of Mangochi Diocese. The Bishop blessed the church and the compound, and priests and seminarians from all six congregations enlivened the celebration by participating in the choir and the inauguration.
In his homily, Bishop Montfort drew an analogy from the potter’s house in the Book of Jeremiah, emphasising the importance of moulding lives with care and intention. This blessing marked more than a new building; it marked a place of genuine human formation.
We pray that everyone who enters this house will leave moulded and formed, stronger and ready to serve as missionaries in the charism of the MCSPA.
Scholastica Wamalwa thanked Bishop Montfort for welcoming the MCSPA in Balaka and the Society of Montfort Missionaries for welcoming our first seminarians. She also recognised the efforts of Frs. Manuel Hernandez and Fernando Aguirre in sourcing funding and building the buildings of St. Augustine’s Philosophate.
By Louis Mkweza, Benedict Maina & Laurent Tsamba
Apprentices of the MCSPA
Balaka [Malawi]
