Brief History of Comboni Missionaries in Malawi
We Comboni Missionaries have been present in Malawi since 1973. The first commitments were taken within the Archdiocese of Blantyre. We then took new parishes in the dioceses of Zomba and Lilongwe. In the 1980s, we got involved in assisting refugees from Mozambique in the areas of Phalombe and Mulanje. These refugees fled their country because of the civil war there.
In the 1990s, we opened new a new community in the diocese of Mangochi. There we co-founded the inter-congregational seminary with three other missionary institutes. In Balaka seminary, candidates study Philosophy and are accompanied by their respective formators in their journey towards priesthood. We are also present in the major seminaries of Zomba and Kachebere, where we help in the formation of the future local clergy.
An important landmark in the history of the Comboni Missionaries in Malawi is the Craft Training Centre and the Vocational and Missionary Animation Centre in Lunzu. The Training Centre, operating since 1989, accommodates 100 young people who are trained in carpentry, electricity and metal work. A full time vocation and missionary animator coordinates the activities of vocation promotion in schools and parishes and organizes “come and see” sessions during holidays for the candidates who wish to join our institute. The missionary animator also distributes NEW PEOPLE magazine and edits ZIKOMO, a magazine in Chichewa for young people.

At present the Comboni Missionaries have five communities in Malawi, made up of missionaries from various nationalities.
To subscribe to NEW PEOPLE and obtain more information about vocation promotion, contact: The Vocation Promotor, Comboni Missionaries, P.O. Box 144, Lunzu, Malawi.