About St. John Msamba Catholic Parish
Located in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Tsabango, in Malawi’s central region district of Lilongwe, St. John the Baptist (Msamba) Catholic Parish was established in 1987. The historical timeline of the Parish is outlined as follows:
In 1920, the first group of Christians were found in Mwenda, Katantha, Kaondo, Mtsinje and Tongole villages under Likuni Parish when Fr. Salaun was the Parish Priest.
In 1928, Village Headman Samuel Buluzi presented a proposal to the priest of Likuni Parish to construct a school in his village. When the school was constructed, the Christians within and beyond Buluzi village started to attend Sunday school prayers in the classrooms. This was led by a church elder, Mr. Yona Mkwezalamba and a catechist, a Mr. Shati.
In 1956, Mtima Woyera was established as an outstation of Likuni Parish and Mtchitanjiru church was established under Mtima Woyera. In addition, Christians from Kaondo, Mtsinje, Mwenda, Tongole and Kaphiri villages started to congregate at Mtima Woyera outstation instead of going to Likuni Parish. In the same year, Brother John Luke of Marist Brothers in collaboration with his sister started a project to construct a Teachers Training College (TTC) using money from their late father. The District Commissioner and T/A Tsabango offered land for the TTC project. The first phase of the project involved the construction of a Demonstration School, residential houses and a church for teachers and trainee teachers. The TTC is what is today St John’s Secondary School.
In 1960, the TTC project was completed and Christians from Kaondo, Mtsinje, Mwenda, Tongole and Kaphiri villages started congregating with teachers and trainees at Msamba and stopped congregating at Mtima Woyera Outstation. As a result, Likuni Parish established an outstation at St. John-Msamba and called it Msambachikho Outstation. The outstation was named after Msambachikho river.
In 1964, Chagogo church was established. The establishment of the church was led by Mr. Maltino Magalasi.
In 1970, St. John TTC was changed to St. John Secondary School and the Demonstration School was changed to St. John Primary School. The Marist Brothers who managed the TTC moved to Zomba in 1975.
In 1984, St. John the Baptist (Msamba) was established as a sub-parish and Fr. Audafansio Kapinga was the first parish priest. The sub-parish started with four (4) Small Christian Communities (SCCs).
In 1986, Likuni Parish handed over Buluzi, Chagogo and Mchintanjiru outstations to St. John the Baptist (Msamba) Sub-Parish.
In 1987, Likuni Parish handed over Nkhukwa church to St. John the Baptist (Msamba) Sub-Parish. In the same year, St. John the Baptist (Msamba) was made a full parish with five (5) churches i.e. Msamba, Buluzi, Nkhukwa, Mchitanjiru and Chagogo. Fr. Audifansio Kapinga was the first parish priest, followed by late Fr. Severo Sepere and Fr. Maurice Eugene Kalino (All diocesan priests).
In 1991, the parish was handed over to Daniel Comboni Missionaries. The first parish priest under Daniel Comboni Missionaries was Fr. Raymond, followed by Frs. Brian, Deampsy Shoni, Silvio Zanardi, John Paul Somanje, Moses Bwanali, Moses Huruwella, JeanMarie Munketalingi, Kossi Jean de Dieu Hounongbe and Patrick Lipenga (current parish priest, August 2024).
In 2010, St. John the Baptist (Msamba) celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Church.
In April 2018, the parish established a sixth outstation, namely St. Peter’s (Msampha).
Vision Statement
Our vision as a Catholic parish is to cultivate a vibrant family of God, united in faith and infused with the Holy Spirit. We strive to embody a community where love is the guiding principle, fostering deep connections among members. Through shared worship, service, and fellowship, we aim to create an environment that nurtures spiritual growth and encourages each individual to embrace their unique calling. We believe that as we come together in love and support, we reflect the teachings of Christ and become instruments of His grace in the world. Our parish is committed to reaching out to those in need, promoting compassion, and spreading the message of hope and joy. Together, we aspire to be a living testament of God's love, serving as a beacon of light in our community and beyond.
Mission Statement
At our Catholic parish, we are dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, fostering a deeper relationship with Him. Our mission is not just to proclaim His teachings, but to transform lives, guiding individuals to become devoted disciples who live out their faith in everyday actions. We believe that through this spiritual journey, our community can grow together, empowering each other to engage in integral human development. By promoting love, compassion, and service, we aim to uplift those around us, addressing both spiritual and material needs. Together, we strive to create a vibrant community where the message of Christ resonates, inspiring all to contribute positively to society and fulfil the call to discipleship.
