Masuku, Mangochi – In a significant step for healthcare services in the area, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima, Bishop of the Diocese of Mangochi, presided over the official opening of a new staff hostel at Mulibwanji Community Hospital.
The ceremony, which began with a Holy Mass, was a celebration of the realization of a dream to provide decent accommodation for the hospital’s staff. In his homily, Bishop Stima reflected on the importance of building the “house of the Lord” in one’s heart, citing the Gospel reading of the wedding at Cana.
“Once we build the Lord’s house in our hearts, the next thing is to invite the Lord to dwell in it. And once the Lord finds dwelling place in our hearts, he shows his glory as he did at the wedding in Cana,” the Bishop said
He added, “Jesus was able to perform his first miracle because together with his mother Mary, they were invited to the wedding. Had it been he was not invited, there would have been no miracle. And the result would have been embarrassment on the part of the new couple.”
As echoed in the words of Pope Francis, “The Christian community is called to ‘put the flesh of Christ on the flesh of the poor’.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 88). The inauguration of this hostel is proof to the commitment of Mulibwanji Community Hospital to serve the poor and vulnerable.
In his remarks, Bishop Stima thanked all those who contributed to the realization of the hostel project, singling out the Mulibwanji Association in Italy for their continuous support to the hospital. He urged those who will occupy the hostel to take good care of the infrastructure, saying, “The joy of giving is not just in building, but in maintaining and preserving what has been built.”
The Chairperson of Mulibwanji Community Hospital Housing Committee echoed the Bishop’s words, urging occupants to show appreciation by taking good care of the hostel building.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including the Diocesan Health Services Coordinator, Fr. Simon Mundisiye, Chaplain of Mulibwanji Community Hospital, Fr. Francis Kachere, Parish Priest of St. Ignatius of Loyola – Masuku Parish, Fr. Lazarus Girevulo, traditional leaders, and religious leaders of various churches and religions.
The hostel, built with assistance from Mulibwanji Association from Italy and local funding, is expected to improve the living conditions of the hospital’s staff, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services in the area. The hostel will be known as Good Shepherd Hostel.
Communications Office
Diocese of Mangochi