Lilongwe, Malawi — Malawi’s Catholic bishops have commended the Synod of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe as a key step toward building a more listening, participatory, and Spirit-led Church rooted in communion and mission.
Secretary General of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), Very Rev. Fr. Valerian Mtseka, described the General Assembly as a timely initiative that reflects the Church’s commitment to engaging the faithful in shaping its life and mission.
“This is a very good initiative,” he said in an interview with MCCB Communications on Monday following the official opening of the Assembly at St. Kizito Parish in Area 47.
The Assembly, running from 20 April to 1 May 2026, marks the conclusion of a synodal journey launched in 2022 by Archbishop George Desmond Tambala under the theme, “Discerning with the Holy Spirit.”
Fr. Mtseka said the synodal process expresses the Church’s call to journey together, bringing clergy, religious, and lay faithful into dialogue and shared responsibility.
“We are in an era whereby we need to listen and receive feedback,” he said, underscoring the importance of lay participation in the Church’s mission.
He added that the bishops remain united in prayer for the success of the Assembly and expressed hope that its outcomes will strengthen the Archdiocese of Lilongwe and offer a model for other dioceses.
Auxiliary Bishop of Lilongwe and Chairperson of the Synod Commission, Rt. Rev. Vincent Mwakhwawa, said the Assembly is grounded in attentive listening and discernment of the Holy Spirit.
“The first expectation is that leaders truly listen to the challenges and proposals of the faithful,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from the Gospel account of Jesus’ encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Bishop Mwakhwawa said the Church is called to walk with her people, attentive to their anxieties and hopes.
Key areas under reflection include marriage and family life, youth and children, the sacraments, and the liturgy, with a renewed call for deeper participation.
“People desire to encounter Christ and experience the presence of God in the liturgy,” he said.
The Assembly is also expected to provide direction on the stewardship of Church resources, with emphasis on accountability, transparency, and self-reliance, while addressing social challenges in health, education, and economic life.
“We know people are suffering. The Church must respond with compassion and action,” he added.
Reflecting on the Synod’s theme, Bishop Mwakhwawa urged delegates to be guided by prayerful discernment. “Let the Holy Spirit guide what we say and decide,” he said.
The Assembly brings together representatives from parishes, clergy, religious congregations, and lay movements, marking the third synod in the history of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, following earlier gatherings in 1973–1975 and 2004–2006.
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