 |
| Bishop Mtumbuka addressing guests at St. Patrick Seminary in Rumphi during the celebrations of St. Patrick's Day, the Patron Saint of the seminary |
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese has expressed concern over the increasing number of seminarians being expelled from major seminaries in the country.
Bishop Mtumbaka for example said seven seminarians from Karonga Diocese have been dismissed from Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji in the last 12 months, a situation he said is a sign of immaturity and lack of discipline among those pursuing priesthood.
He was speaking at St Patrick’s Seminary in Rumphi on Saturday during this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations which is commemorated every year on March 17 in honour of St Patrick of Ireland, patron saint for the seminary.
“These individuals were not dismissed because of theological issues like not maturing in faith or prayer, but for petty things. To the seminary, this is bad; to the church, very bad; and to me as the bishop, very bad,” said Bishop Mtumbuka who is also the Chairman for Seminaries at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).
He called on minor seminaries such as St Patrick’s to uphold standards to ensure that those vying for priesthood are disciple and mature.
“Discipline of a priest is very important. Christians want priests, really desperately. But they don’t want just any priest. They want a priest who will try to live a certain type of life so that he can be exemplary,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
During this year’s celebrations, St Patrick’s Seminary Foundation-a grouping of alumni from St Patrick’s Seminary-supported the school’s activities with Malawi kwacha 2.5 million (about $5,656).
National coordinator for the group, Francis Gondwe, said the group has established business in piggery, fisheries, vegetables and poultry for the school to support itself. He said they have also constructed pit latrines at the school in addition to the provision of bursaries to needy students.
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer