Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Malawi

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Lilongwe / Lilongven(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Dedza, Karonga, Mzuzu

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of Africa

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1889.07.31: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Nyassa (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika)
1897.02.12: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Nyassa
1903.12.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Shiré
1913.01.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Bangweulu
1933.05.23: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Lwangwa
1937.07.01: Gained territory from Mission sui juris of Lwangwa and lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Jameson
1947.05.08: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Nyassa
1951.07.12: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Likuni
1956.04.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Dedza
1958.06.20: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Lilongwe / Lilongven(sis) (Latin)
1959.04.25: Promoted as Diocese of Lilongwe / Lilongven(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Blantyre)
2011.02.09: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lilongwe / Lilongven(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Dedza, Karonga and Mzuzu)

Contact Info

Address: P.O. Box 33, Lilongwe, Malawi

Phone: +265 1 754667

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2021.10.15 – ...):	Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D. (56) President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.11.15 – ...):	Bishop Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa (49) Titular Bishop of Aquæ Thibilitanæ

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Lilongwe (Roman Rite)

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D. (56)
(2021.10.15 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lilongwe (Malawi)
President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi

Dives in misericordia

Born:	1968.11.11 (Zomba, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1996.04.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.01.30

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (2015.10.15 – 2021.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2021.10.15 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Zomba (Malawi) (2021.11.29 – 2023.06.05)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2022.02.04 – ...)

Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye
(2013.07.03 – 2020.12.14)

He is with me

Born:	1949.05.19 (Khombe, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1977.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.05.23
Died:	2020.12.14 (Windhoek, Namibia † 71)

Titular Bishop of Macon (1991.11.26 – 1993.05.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Dedza (Malawi) (1991.11.26 – 1993.05.04)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1993.05.04 – 1994.11.11)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1994.11.11 – 2001.01.23)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2000 – 2012.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Blantyre (Malawi) (2001.01.23 – 2013.07.03)

President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (2008.07 – 2014.07.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2013.07.03 – 2020.12.14)

Archbishop Rémi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie, M. Afr.
(2011.02.09 – 2013.07.03)

Sub tuum præsidium

Born:	1938.01.11 (La Minerve, QC, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1963.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.05.09
Died:	2022.06.18 (Montréal, QC, Canada † 84)

Titular Bishop of Molicunza (1998.02.14 – 2000.09.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Dedza (Malawi) (1998.02.14 – 2000.09.07)

Bishop of Dedza (Malawi) (2000.09.07 – 2006.02.18)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2006.02.18 – 2007.07.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Dedza (Malawi) (2006.02.18 – 2007.07.04)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2007.07.04 – 2011.02.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2011.02.09 – 2013.07.03)

Bishops of Lilongwe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rémi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie, M. Afr. (later Archbishop)
(2007.07.04 – 2011.02.09)

(see above)

Bishop Felix Eugenio Mkhori
(2001.01.23 – 2007.07.04)

In the name of the Lord

Born:	1931.08.24 (Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1961.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.01.08
Died:	2012.10.27 († 81)

Titular Bishop of Sicca Veneria (1977.09.29 – 1979.02.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Chikwawa (Malawi) (1977.09.29 – 1979.02.12)

Bishop of Chikwawa (Malawi) (1979.02.12 – 2001.01.23)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (1980 – 1984)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (1994 – 2000)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2001.01.23 – 2007.07.04)

Bishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye (later Archbishop)
(1994.11.11 – 2001.01.23)

He is with me

Born:	1949.05.19 (Khombe, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1977.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.05.23
Died:	2020.12.14 (Windhoek, Namibia † 71)

Titular Bishop of Macon (1991.11.26 – 1993.05.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Dedza (Malawi) (1991.11.26 – 1993.05.04)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1993.05.04 – 1994.11.11)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1994.11.11 – 2001.01.23)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2000 – 2012.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Blantyre (Malawi) (2001.01.23 – 2013.07.03)

President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (2008.07 – 2014.07.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (2013.07.03 – 2020.12.14)

Bishop Matthias A. Chimole
(1979.12.20 – 1994.11.11)

Born:	1916 (Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1947.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.12.13
Died:	2005.11.18 († 88)

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (1970.09.21 – 1979.12.20)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1979.12.20 – 1994.11.11)

Bishop Patrick Augustine Kalilombe, M. Afr.
(1972.05.06 – 1979.12.20)

Born:	1933.08.28 (Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1958.02.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.08.27
Died:	2012.09.25 († 79)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1972.05.06 – 1979.12.20)

Bishop Joseph Fady, M. Afr.
(1959.04.25 – 1972.05.06)

Born:	1899.06.07 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1925.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.09.09
Died:	1984.06.22 († 85)

Vicar Apostolic of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1951.07.10 – 1959.04.25)

Titular Bishop of Abaradira (1951.07.12 – 1959.04.25)

Bishop of Lilongwe (Malawi) (1959.04.25 – 1972.05.06)

Vicars Apostolic of Lilongwe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Fady, M. Afr.
(1951.07.10 – 1959.04.25)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Nyassa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Ansgarius Julien, M. Afr.
(1934.12.10 – 1950.12.07)

In cruce salus

Born:	1886.12.12 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1912.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.03.24
Died:	1961.03.05 († 74)

Vicar Apostolic of Nyassa (Malawi) (1934.12.10 – 1950.12.07)

Titular Bishop of Choba (1934.12.10 – 1961.03.05)

Bishop Mathurin Guillemé, M. Afr.
(1911.02.24 – 1934.06.27)

Born:	1859.07.03 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1883.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1911.06.18
Died:	1942.04.07 († 82)

Vicar Apostolic of Nyassa (Malawi) (1911.02.24 – 1934.06.27)

Titular Bishop of Matara in Proconsulari (1911.02.24 – 1942.04.07)

Bishop Joseph-Marie-Stanislas Dupont, M. Afr.
(1897.02.12 – 1911.02.24)

Accendatur

Born:	1850.07.23 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1878.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1897.08.15
Died:	1930.03.19 († 79)

Vicar Apostolic of Nyassa (Malawi) (1897.02.12 – 1911.02.24)

Titular Bishop of Thibaris (1897.02.16 – 1930.03.19)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Rémi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie, M. Afr. (later Archbishop) (2006.02.18 – 2007.07.04)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye (later Archbishop) (1993.05.04 – 1994.11.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Stanislaus Tobias Magombo (2009.04.29 – 2010.07.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Maula Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Africa, Lilongwe, Lilongwe, Central Region

Chipata (←), Mzuzu (↑), Dedza (↘), Tete (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 24,025 km²

Population: 1,764,000 Catholics (25.6% of 6,899,038 total)

Pastoral Centres: 46 parishes

Personnel: 108 priests (64 diocesan, 44 religious), 367 religious (64 brothers, 303 sisters), 54 seminarians