By Catherine Walusa
On calm and warm Easter Sunday at St. Francis (Chidzanja) parish, Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima, bishop of the diocese of Mangochi proclaimed, “Indeed, Jesus Christ has risen. He alone has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to Christian life. He is the living One, He is the Way to new life.” The bishop has yesterday led the Solemnity of the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, at St. Francis (Chidzanja) catholic parish. He reflected on the surprise and amazement of the women who visited the tomb where Jesus was laid and later detailed the incredible story of the Lord’s Resurrection.
Following Lenten season where people are encouraged to pray, fast and be charitable, Easter comes, when people start living anew, as redeemed like doing charity work without considering factors like races and status in the society since the life brought by Christ has been given to all of us, His followers.
The bishop also connected the theme of living anew with farming, to say that with the current situation in the country of Malawi, people should start thinking about finding for themselves fields to grow crops using irrigation since the drought has affected the whole country.
Father Daniel Piyo Kaliapa, the parish priest of this parish expressed his gratitude for the coming of bishop saying this is a sign of unity with the Christians at Chidzanja parish as it has been long time the bishop visited the parish.
The Laity chairperson of this parish, Mr. Christopher Mbewe, said to celebrate Easter means to show that Christ has been victorious. Therefore, he encouraged his fellow Christians to continue supporting the parish in various ways in order to uplift it. “As we support it, let our eyes be fixed on the Holy Cross where our salvation came from,” said Mr. Mbewe.
St. Francis (Chidzanja) parish is in the deanery of Ulongwe where there are four parishes. As a diocese, there are twenty-five five parishes and five deaneries.
