Vocations Boom in Malawi is a Blessing and “heavy responsibility”: Commission for Seminaries Chairman

“There is truly a vocation boom in Malawi, and we are grateful to God for it,” he said, further noting that even “the formation houses for Sisters are also receiving many new entrants.”

The Malawian member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (SMM) acknowledged that although the boom is a blessing for the Church, it is equally “a heavy responsibility” that presents serious logistical and financial challenges.

He said the Bishops in Malawi met in June to discuss a way forward and resolved to introduce a ‘waiting period’ of one year for those wishing to join the Seminary after secondary school.

“We decided that instead of constructing more dormitories, we should allow some candidates to wait for another year before joining and also engage parents in ensuring that the young men are serious about their vocation,” he said.

He went on to dispel fears that the waiting period would lead some of the candidates to lose interest, saying, “No, we are not worried. We send them home, but occasionally they are invited to the Diocese to meet with the Vocation Directors. Sometimes, we the Bishops also meet with them, talk with them, and guide them spiritually.”

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The Malawian Catholic Church leader, who began his Episcopal Ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Zomba in April 2004, further explained that the one-year waiting period allows the aspirants “to discern their calling more deeply and make a mature decision” on whether they want to join the Seminary or pursue university studies.

“In the past, some joined the seminary before receiving their university placement results. Once admitted to university, a few would leave after the diocese had already paid for them. That was quite a challenge,” he lamented.

In the October 22 interview with ACI Africa, held on the sidelines of the three-day event that AMECEA hosted at the Roussel House of the Donum Dei Missionary Sisters in Karen, Nairobi, the SMM Archbishop also talked about how his Metropolitan See is addressing the financial challenges arising from the increasing number of priestly vocations.

He said, “In my Archdiocese, for instance, I currently have about 80 Seminarians studying philosophy and theology. I often share this joy with friends in Europe. They tell me, “You are blessed; send us Priests!’ and I respond, “Yes, let us collaborate—but also help us pay for their formation!”

In addition to the support received from organizations such as Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which he acknowledged for their long-standing generosity, Archbishop Msusa told ACI Africa that a local initiative he introduced in his Metropolitan See has also proven highly beneficial.

“The ‘Adopt a Seminarian’ initiative has inspired many families and organizations to sponsor Seminarians for a year, with some families supporting up to three at a time,” the Archbishop said, describing the program in which he invites parishioners, well-wishers, and friends to share a meal with him and contribute toward the needs of seminarians.

He added, “In fact, this year we aimed to raise 100 million kwacha and ended up collecting over 156 million. So, for this year, we have no financial worries for our seminarians.”

“The response is positive, and people see the need. As we continue to create more Parishes, the demand for Priests will also increase. Therefore, supporting our seminarians is not only a blessing—it is a mission for the future of the Church,” he said.

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.