The Chairman of the Commission for Seminaries at the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa, has described the rise in priestly and religious vocations in Malawi as both a blessing and a heavy responsibility for the local Church.
Speaking in Nairobi during the regional safeguarding conference organized by AMECEA, Archbishop Msusa said that Malawi is witnessing a remarkable increase in young people responding to God’s call to religious life, a trend also visible in other parts of Africa. He recalled that two years ago, the Bishops faced a challenge of limited space in the seminaries due to the growing number of candidates.
He explained that at one of the major seminaries, the number of students had grown beyond capacity. To manage the situation, the Bishops agreed to introduce a one-year waiting period for new candidates after secondary school, allowing them time for discernment and preparation. He said the decision was also meant to ensure that candidates are serious about their vocation and committed to the path they choose.
Archbishop Msusa said that even during the waiting period, the candidates remain in close contact with their vocation directors and sometimes meet with Bishops for spiritual guidance. He expressed confidence that the pause would not discourage them, but rather help them make mature decisions about their calling.
Highlighting the financial implications of the vocation boom, the Archbishop revealed that his Archdiocese of Blantyre currently has about eighty seminarians in philosophy and theology. He thanked organizations such as Aid to the Church in Need for their continued assistance and spoke of a local initiative called “Adopt a Seminarian,” which allows families and well-wishers to support seminarians for a year.
He said that this year, the initiative raised over one hundred and fifty-six million kwacha—surpassing the target—and has helped ensure that the seminarians’ formation needs are met.
Archbishop Msusa expressed gratitude to the faithful for their generosity and reminded them that supporting vocations is a shared mission. “The response is positive, and people see the need,” he said. “As we continue to create more parishes, the demand for priests will also grow. Supporting our seminarians is not only a blessing but a mission for the future of the Church.”
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