Diocese of Chikwawa

His Lordship Peter Musikuwa, Bishop of the Diocese of Chikwawa has called on newly ordained priests to embrace their calling to priesthood and commit themselves to serving the Church. The Bishop made the call on Saturday, 1st August, 2026 at St Michael’s Cathedral, at a eucharistic celebration where three deacons were ordained to priesthood. Delivering his sermon, the Bishop recounted the Lord Jesus in the temple realizing the prophecy of Isaiah who exclaimed that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He, therefore, called on the new priests to embrace and allow to be the led by the Spirit in their ministry. Speaking at the ceremony, Fr Francis Kunkeyani, one of the newly ordained, thanked everyone who helped them reach the Lord’s altar. He pleaded for prayers for the success of their calling. The three priests ordained last Saturday are; Fr Francis Kunkeyani, Fr Alexious Lipenga and Fr Matthews Lovemore Fatch. The three come from Molere, Chikwawa and Nchalo parishes respectively. The Bishop announced that Fr Kunkeyani will begin his ministry at Ngabu Parish, Fr Fatch at Nsanje parish and Fr Lipenga at Nkhate parish. The addition 0f the three priests brings the total of all clergy in the Diocese to 45.

The Vatican has declared that six bishops associated with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX) have incurred automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication after carrying out unauthorized episcopal ordinations in Écône, Switzerland, on 1 July 2026. In a decree issued on 2 July, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said the ordinations were conducted without papal approval and against the will of the Pope, describing them as “an act of a schismatic nature.” The decree, signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, states that Bishops Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, who performed the consecrations, together with the four newly ordained bishops—Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier—have all incurred automatic excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See. The Vatican said the canonical penalty took effect immediately upon the unlawful consecrations, which took place during a ceremony in Écône on 1 July.

On June 14, Mitondo Parish was filled with overwhelming joy as St. Monica ( Mpama II)Church Outstation celebrated a major milestone in its history. His Lordship Bishop Peter Musikuwa presided over the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new church building, marking the beginning of a permanent place of worship for the community.   The ceremony was followed by a Holy Mass, also led by Bishop Musikuwa alongside the Parish Priest, Fr. Patrick Nkula. Parishioners, clergy, and community leaders gathered in large numbers to witness the event, with singing and thanksgiving echoing throughout the grounds.   St. Monica Church Outstation was established in 2015 under Fatima Parish before later becoming part of Mitondo Parish. The small but vibrant congregation has grown to about 200 members.   For the past 11 years, the community has worshipped in a small temporary structure that parishioners often described as “hats” due to its size. Praying there was especially difficult during the rainy season, with leaking roofs and limited space forcing many to stand outside.   The new church building promises both joy and a new face for the outstation, as the chairperson of the building committee highlighted in his speech. With a permanent structure underway, St. Monica’s members will finally have a dignified space that can shelter them from the rains and accommodate their growing numbers.   Bishop Musikuwa commended the community for their faith, unity, and sacrifice in making the project possible. He encouraged them to continue building not only with bricks, but also with love and service to one another.   For St. Monica Outstation, June 14 marks more than a ceremony. It’s the start of a new chapter where years of patience and perseverance are giving way to hope.