By:
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Malawian Catholic Diaspora in Germany Hosts Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa of Lilongwe, in North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) Region.
On 7 March, members of the Malawian Catholic community in Germany had the honour of welcoming Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa during his recent visit to Germany. The engagement brought together members of the Malawian diaspora in North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) for a Mass and community discussion focused on faith, solidarity, and supporting development efforts in Malawi.
The celebration took place at St. Mary Magdalene Church Rheinbreitbach, Germany where Malawian Catholics living in the region gathered for a special Mass with the visiting bishop. The event provided a rare opportunity for diaspora members to celebrate their faith together while reconnecting with the Church leadership from their home country.
After the Mass, Bishop Mwakhwawa spent time interacting with members of the community to discuss how Malawians living abroad can contribute to supporting the Church and the broader development of Malawi. The discussions highlighted the important role that diaspora communities play in sharing knowledge, strengthening faith, and supporting initiatives back home.
The Bishop presiding over Mass
Addressing the gathering, Bishop Mwakhwawa encouraged Malawians living abroad to remain strong in their faith and to use their experiences and skills to contribute to the development of their country.
“Your presence here is not just professional. You are here also to help the faith grow and renew. Please live your faith authentically and continue to pray,” the Bishop said.
“Malawi still has a lot of work to do, and we value the experience and insights of those in the diaspora. We are ready to collaborate and listen.”
He further emphasized that development in Malawi requires contributions from many sectors of society.
“Malawi cannot develop using the government sector only. Civil society, professionals, the church and people in the diaspora and all others, all have an important role to play.”
The visit also provided an opportunity for the community to share ideas about collaboration with the Church in Malawi, including knowledge exchange, investments, and community-based initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of the Malawian diaspora community, the Chairperson of Umodzi wa a Malawi in Germany, Alex Semba, expressed gratitude to the Bishop for taking time to meet with Malawians living in Germany.
“It was an honour and a privilege for us to welcome His Lordship Bishop Mwakhwawa and celebrate Mass together as a community,” said Semba. “We appreciate his willingness to engage with the diaspora and discuss how we can work together to support the Church and communities back home in Malawi.”
Following the Mass, members of the community gathered for further interaction with the Bishop. The meeting was graciously hosted at the home of former chairman Mr. Alexander Kambili and his family, providing an informal setting for deeper discussion and fellowship.
Semba also thanked members of the community who contributed to making the visit possible.
“We are grateful to everyone who made time to attend, as well as those who contributed in cash or in kind to make this engagement successful. Community solidarity made this event possible.”
The visit strengthened ties between the Malawian Catholic diaspora in Germany and the Church in Malawi while highlighting the important role that diaspora communities can play in supporting faith, development, and social progress in their homeland.
The gathering concluded with a renewed sense of unity and commitment among participants to continue engaging with the Church and contributing to initiatives that benefit communities in Malawi.
