Maula CWA Visit Highlights Mlale Seminary's Struggles, Spurs Call for Action

St. Paul’s Minor Seminary (Mlale), located within the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has issued a heartfelt appeal to Christians for urgent assistance as the institution struggles with aging infrastructure, financial strain on students, and shortages of learning materials.

The appeal has been made today, 07th December 2025, by the Seminary Director, Father Benedict Kamdabweni, during a recent visit by members of the Catholic Women’s Association (CWA) from Maula Cathedral Parish, who donated assorted household items to the priests’ residence.

Father Kamdabweni expressed gratitude to the women from Maula Parish for their generosity, describing their act as a "gesture of love and kindness."

“For me and indeed the entire institution, this is a gesture of love and kindness towards us and we really do appreciate that these women thought it wise to come and visit us and also give us the different gifts," Father Kamdabweni stated. "We cannot take this for granted. We truly appreciate and we know that they have had to make a lot of sacrifices to buy the different items.”

However, the Director quickly pivoted to the critical needs of the students, revealing that many are facing significant hurdles.

“It is very true that we have so many students that are facing a lot of challenges in terms of paying school fees and also having the necessary materials that would help them in their studies.”

Father Kamdabweni stressed that the challenges go beyond the students and include old, dilapidated infrastructure. He issued a direct appeal for intervention:

“Mine is a call to all the Christians to come forward and identify some students that they can sponsor, they can help so that they are able to finish their education, they are able to concentrate on their studies rather than always worrying about the things that they lack.”

He further emphasized that the Seminary is a communal resource:

“It’s a call to all the Christians in this archdiocese and also that they should appreciate that this seminary belongs to them and they can also take a part in forming future priests as well as future leaders for the church and for the country.”

The visiting CWA group, led by Maula Cathedral Parish CWA Vice Chairperson Mrs. Sarah Germany, presented items such as plates, cups, and other essential household necessities to the priest residence—a donation Father Kamdabweni noted was the first of its kind for the residence.

Mrs. Germany explained that the visit was part of the CWA's annual work plans, which involve identifying institutions in need. She affirmed that the association recognizes the essential work carried out by the priests who manage the Seminary.

She acknowledged the depth of the issues raised by the Director:

"We were there and we heard what the father said. There are really challenges in terms of school fees, maybe groceries for some students and so many challenges which have [arisen]."

Mrs. Germany pledged that the CWA would take the message forward:

“Us as CWA, we have taken this message, we'll go back and also for future work plans, we also have to include some of these challenges so that we can see how we address [them].”

She concluded by encouraging wider support across the archdiocese.

"Apart from this, we also reach out to the parish at a [deanery] level and all the Christians so that they can also consider as they are doing the work plans to come and assist here at St Paul's Minor Seminary."

By Titus Jata Phiri

St. Paul's Minor Seminary is located at Mitundu in Lilongwe.