Maula Cathedral Launches Midday English Masses to Cater to Working Professionals and International Community

In a move to make the Eucharist more accessible to busy professionals and English-speaking congregants, Maula Cathedral officially launched a new Wednesday midday Mass on 25 February 2026.

The inaugural service, which commenced at 12:20 PM, was presided over by the Parish Priest, Father Lekaleka. Despite it being the first day of the initiative, the Cathedral reported an impressively high turnout, with a diverse group of Christians from various nationalities in attendance.

Father Lekaleka explained that the decision to introduce the midday English Mass was born out of a pastoral need to support those whose schedules or language preferences were not being met by the existing weekday timetable. Previously, while the Cathedral offered multiple English services on Sundays, the Monday through Saturday schedule consisted exclusively of Chichewa Masses.

Rev. Fr. Lekaleka, Parish priest of Maula Parish

"This necessitated us to think about introducing an English Mass within the weekday to give a chance to those who only understand English to participate," Father Lekaleka noted.

Beyond the language aspect, the parish recognized that many Catholics working in the Lilongwe City Center or running businesses struggle to attend early morning or evening services.

"In the morning, they rush to work, and in the evening, they are rushing back home," Father Lekaleka observed. "Midday, they are still there... they can just rush to the Cathedral and attend this Mass. Let’s give them a chance to receive the Eucharist at least one day a week during their lunch hour."

The new Wednesday service is part of a broader effort to revitalize weekday liturgy at the Cathedral. Father Lekaleka announced that the parish has also designated Thursday mornings at 6:00 AM for English Mass, replacing the previous Chichewa service on that day.

This expansion provides two key benefits for the faithful:

• Accessibility: Non-vernacular speakers now have dedicated times for worship during the week.

• Mass Intentions: Parishioners are encouraged to offer their personal intentions during these Wednesday and Thursday services, as Sunday Masses are primarily dedicated to the entire parish community.

To further support the spiritual needs of the congregants, the Parish has announced that Confessions will be available before the start of the Wednesday midday Mass, allowing workers to seek the Sacrament of Penance during their break.

Reflecting on the success of the launch, Father Lekaleka praised the vibrant atmosphere and the quality of the liturgy.

"We never expected the attendance to be how it was. It was very good... and the singing was good in English. We thank God for this wonderful intervention."

The Parish continues to invite all Christians in the city—regardless of their daily place of work—to take advantage of these new opportunities for prayer and fellowship.