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125th Quasquicentennial Jubilee of the Catholic Church in Malawi

The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) is celebrating the Quasquicentennial Jubilee, marking 125 years of the permanent establishment of the Catholic Church in Malawi. The historic milestone honours the arrival of the first Montfort Missionaries at St. Mary’s (Nzama) Parish in the Diocese of Dedza.

Under the theme, Rooted in Christ, sent for a mission: Celebrating 125 years of evangelisation in Malawi, this will be a momentous occasion to recall the early missions that came to Malawi, bringing the Good News of salvation. The celebration will be held on 19th September, 2026, at St Mary’s (Nzama) parish, the first catholic parish in Malawi.

Our Deaneries

Dedza Deanery

Dedza Deanery consists of seven parishes namely Bembeke (Holy Family), Kanyama, Kasina, Holy Angels (Matumba), Joseph’s (Chiphwanya), Martin de Porres (Dedza) and Mtendere (Our Lady of Peace).

Ntcheu Deanery

Ntcheu Deanery covers Ntcheu district and consists of five parishes namely Mikoke, St Peter Claver (Nsipe), Corpus Christi (Ntcheu), Nzama and Tsangano.

Lakeshore Deanery

Lake Shore Deanery covers Dedza and parts of Salima districts and consists of five parishes namely Chipoka, Ganya, Mtakataka, Mua and Sharpevale.

Our History

The Diocese of Dedza was formerly under Nyasa Vicariate which in 1951 was split into two vicariates. The upper “Nyasa” vicariate was called Likuni Vicariate, and the lower “Nyasa” vicariate was referred to as Shire Vicariate. The Diocese of Dedza was part of the vast Likuni Vicariate.

On 30th April, 1956 Vicariate Apostolic of Dedza was born. It was not yet a diocese but an independent territory of the Catholic Church which comprised of the districts of Dedza, Ntcheu and a small part of Salima. Prior to the establishment of Dedza Apostolic Vicariate in 1956, Zomba Vicariate was born out of Shire Vicariate in 1952 and Shire Vicariate became Blantyre Vicariate. In that very year, 1952, Blantyre was made an Archdiocese.

The 1952 Zomba Vicariate covered as much area as Ntcheu District which in 1956 the same Ntcheu District became part of Dedza Apostolic Vicariate. This meant that some priests who originally came from Zomba but were serving the people of God in the parishes of Ntcheu District were incardinated into Dedza Apostolic Vicariate. The Apostolic Vicariate of Dedza was made a Diocese of Dedza in 1959.