About Religious Congregations
Founded in 1925 by Bishop Louis Auneau – a French Montfort missionary. The charism of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary is to lead a holy life deepened in humility of serving God. The sisters embrace holy poverty to emulate Mary in sharing and living together in community. Their spirituality is simplicity of Mary the handmaid of the Lord who accepted to do the will of God by becoming the mother of God.
Their headquarters is Mary View at Nguludi, Chiradzulu district. Their first profession of the congregation took place in 1928. Currently they have three communities St Felix in Chikwawa, ST Martin in Molere and St Matthews in Nchalo.
The congregation started on 3rd November 1842 in Munster Germany. It was founded by Fr Edward Michelle’s, a Diocesan priest from Germany. The sisters came to Malawi on 6th July 1960 and settled at Muona in Nsanje, where their mother house is up to date. In Malawi, the regional house is in Chinyonga. Their charism is “helping the poor both physically and spiritually so that they may experience God’s love”.
In the Diocese they have community in Muona, Trinity community and mother Virginia formation house. They celebrate their feast on Holy Trinity Sunday.
It was founded in Ireland in 1815 by Mary Akenhead. The congregation came to Malawi in October 2011 and set up a community at Konzalendo in Chikwawa Diocese. Their motto is “caritas urget nos”: The love of Christ urges us on. The founding grace for the congregation is the story of Lazarus in the scriptures, whose sermon moved the founder to give her life in service of the poor.
Sisters of the congregation take a fourth vow of charity. Their international headquarters is in Dublin Ireland. Apart from Malawi, they also serve in Nigeria, Ireland, England,Scotland and Carlifonia
The association was founded in 1999 by Late Bishop Felix Mkhori. There were two pioneer girls who were accompanied by Teresian sisters. These girls took their final vows in 2011. Their first community as an association was in Nsanje parish. From 2013 to 2019, these pioneer sisters were assisted by Good Shepherd sisters from Chipata Diocese in Zambia in recruiting and formation of girls to sisterhood. Their charism is “Compassion for the poor”
They have community houses at St Lawrence girls Secondary School, Nchalo, the Bishop’s residential area where there is a Postulate, and Bangula, a novitiate.
Also known as Sisters of Our Lady, Sisters of Our Lady of Amersfoort were founded on 29th July 1822 in Amersfoort in Holland. The founders were motivated by zeal to serve young people and poor children living under oppression through education.
The founders of the congregation were: Fr Matthias Wolff, SJ, Maria Stichters- Sr Matthia, Maria van Werkhoven – Sr Ignace and Martha Pijpers – Sr martha. The purpose of the congregation is for the glory of God, sanctification of members and the education of young people and the poor. They are found in Netherlands, Indonesia, Philippines and Malawi. Their communities in Malawi are at Stella Maris in Blantyre, Jacaranda in Blantyre, St Julie convent in Lilongwe and Bangula convent in Chikwawa Diocese.
The sisters arrived in the Diocese of Chikwawa in 1970 at the invitation of Bishop Vrouemen and devoted themselves to serve the needs of the poor at Bangula and surrounding areas.
Charism
Featured News
Thu
13
Mar 2025
Schools that had been ordered to suspend classes due to cyclone Jude, resume classes today 13th March 2025. The order is communicated in a public notice released by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. “The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is pleased to inform the general public, and in particular students, parents and guardians, that following updates and recommendations by the Department of Climate change and Meteorological Services, classes for Primary and secondary schools will reopen on Thursday 13th March 2025. The cyclone is now leaving the country and its effects having significantly diminished.” Read the notice. This order goes to all districts and education divisions that had been ordered to suspend classes as they were affected by cyclone. Signed by Rachel Chimbwete Phiri, Secretary for Basic and Secondary Education, the Ministry has however given the Lower shire valley districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa autonomy to decide on the reopening schools depending on their local situation. Schools in these districts are likely to delay reopening as evidenced by videos and photos on social media, of school blocks that are surrounded by flooding waters, in Nchalo for example. Schools in the Southern part of the country had been suspended earlier this week in response to the tropical cyclone Jude that was likely to affect districts in the region.
Read More →
Mon
10
Mar 2025
Pastoral agents and other key leaders of different lay groups in Nsanje deanery held a meeting on Saturday 8th March 2025 to strategize on different aspects of its mission. The meeting took place at St Kalemba parish Bangula drawing participants from all the members of the clergy, sisters, representative for the laity, youth, Catholic Men Association, Catholic Women Association, Pontifical Mission Societies, choir, Christian Family Movement and catechists serving in the deanery. During the meeting, deanery leadership was introduced to all members. Among the agenda items was the Jubilee year where participants were taught on its history, logo and its symbolism and also events that are lined up to mark the year. Speaking during the meeting, Fr Patrick Jambo who is parish priest for St Kalemba parish and dean of Nsanje deanery, to optimize the Jubilee year in seeking reconciliation and forgiveness. “A Jubilee year as a year of spiritual conversion, a year of celebration where people reconcile and begin anew. A year to be filled with joy” Remarked Fr Jambo. On his part, Mr John Nyaika, Diocesan Laity chairperson lauded the Jubilee year as a time to rebuild and refresh hope in God. Pope Francis announced the Jubilee year on 24th December 2024 and it will run to 6th January 2026. Later in the day, participants held discusions to have an action plan, on the welfare of priests and preparations for ordination to priesthood later this year. Nsanje deanery is made of Nsanje Parish, Tengani parish, St Kalemba and Ngabu parish.
Read More →
Mon
10
Mar 2025
Following the announcement of an impending cyclone Jude, forecasted by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, the Ministry of Higher Education has issued a directive suspending all classes in the affected districts. The suspension is from Monday 10th March to Thursday 13th March 2025, depending on further updates. Dr Lewis Keliyasi Eneya, who is the Director for Higher Education, signed the directive, stating that this is a precautionary measure to avoid exposing both teachers and students or leaners to any dangers. The Department for Climate Change and Meteorological Services on Saturday 8th March released an update on weather warming on an imminent tropical storm Jude. The warning stated that the storm will land in the Southern Malawi on Monday 10th March 20205, expecting to bring rainfall in the affected districts. Until now, the progress of the storm has remained true to the forecast with the recent update announcing the landing of the storm in Mozambique. The affected districts are Balaka, Zomba, Mangochi, Machinga, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Neno, Mwanza, Ntcheu, Dedza and Salima. The Diocese of Chikwawa whose area of jurisdiction covers Chikwawa, Nsanje, parts of Blantrye and Thyolo expects to experience the cyclone. This area is one of the regions that is most affected by such climatic conditions.
Read More →
Sun
9
Mar 2025
The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), has today, 9th March 2025, released a pastoral letter titled “Who will roll away the stone for us?” a guide and reflection tool as Malawi seeks an inclusive, purposeful, steadfast and peaceful journey towards 2025 General elections. In adherence to their long standing tradition that dates back to 1961, the Bishops have issued the 29th Pastoral letter to guide Christians in this Lenten season, in this year of jubilee that seeks to deepen our faith, and so help prepare for the elections due to take place in September this year. In the letter, the Catholics bishops begin by referring to the experience of the three woman that journeyed to see the tomb of Jesus. Filled with anxiety about their own limitations, they women wondered if they would manage to roll of the stone used to shut the entrance to the tomb. However, they found the stone already rolled off. Drawing inspiration from such an event, the Bishops remind the faithful that the resurrection of Jesus is testimony that there is nothing and indeed no stone that cannot be removed or overcome by God. It from this promise that the Bishops, while recalling the various “stones” that Malawians face today, their anxiety should not be like that of the women. Rather they must be filled with hope that the problems that Malawians face today can be solved by having right leaders to rule this country. Therefore, the Bishops have called on all Malawians eligible to vote, to avail themselves in September to vote, and vote wisely, for leaders that will help to roll away the different stones that have hindered the prosperity of the nation. Among the problems facing Malawians mentioned in the later are; corruption, lack of seriousness on the part of political leaders, lack of general mentality to produce and enhance exports, donor dependence, lack of patriotism, food insecurity and high cost of living among others. Signed by all the Catholic Bishops in Malawi, the pastoral letter has been read in all Catholic Churches around the country. It is within the mandate of the Catholic Bishops to give guidance, correction and comfort to the people as they go through different social ills.
Read More →