Diocese of Zomba, Malawi

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Zomba / Zombaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Blantyre

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1952.05.15: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Zomba / Zombaën(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Shiré)
1956.04.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Dedza
1959.04.25: Promoted as Diocese of Zomba / Zombaën(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Blantyre)
1969.05.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Johnston

Contact Info

Address: P.O. Box 115, Zomba, Malawi

Phone: +265 1 515324

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.06.05 – ...):

Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima (54)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Malawi

Ordinaries

Bishops of Zomba (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima (54)
(2023.06.05 – ...)

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi)
General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Malawi

Born:	1970.07.14 (Nambera, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1998.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.08.12

Priest of Blantyre (Malawi) (1998.07.04 – 2023.06.05)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2022.06.24 – ...)

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (2023.06.05 – ...)

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D. (56)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.11.29 – 2023.06.05)

Bishop George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D. (56) (later Archbishop)
(2015.10.15 – 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 – ...)

Bishop Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M. (62) (later Archbishop)
(2004.01.17 – 2013.11.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Blantyre (Malawi)
Vice-President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa

Ut unum sint

Born:	1962.02.02 (Iba, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1996.08.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.04.17

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (2004.01.17 – 2013.11.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Blantyre (Malawi) (2013.11.21 – ...)

Vice-President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (2014.09.25 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2015.01.30 – 2022.02.04)

Bishop Allan Chamgwera (96)
(1981.02.12 – 2004.01.17)

Bishop emeritus of Zomba (Malawi)

Born:	1928.04.30 (Nkhonjiwa, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1957.09.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.05.31

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (1981.02.12 – 2004.01.17)

Bishop Matthias A. Chimole
(1970.09.21 – 1979.12.20)

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 Lawrence Pullen Hardman, S.M.M.
(1959.04.25 – 1970.09.21)

Born:	1909.12.08 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1938.03.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.09.07
Died:	1996.03.24 († 86)

Titular Bishop of Attanasus (1952.05.15 – 1959.04.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Zomba (Malawi) (1952.05.15 – 1959.04.25)

Bishop of Zomba (Malawi) (1959.04.25 – 1970.09.21)

Titular Bishop of Cenculiana (1970.09.21 – 1971.04.06)

Vicars Apostolic of Zomba (Roman Rite)

Bishop Lawrence Pullen Hardman, S.M.M.
(1952.05.15 – 1959.04.25)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Zomba, Zomba, Southern Region

Blantyre (↙), Mangochi (↑)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 3,522 km²

Population: 282,350 Catholics (27.1% of 1,041,400 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 102 priests (98 diocesan, 4 religious), 71 religious (25 brothers, 46 sisters), 16 seminarians