Malawi
Population: 9.6 million
Life expectancy male/female: 41/42 years
Infant mortality rate: 134‰ Religions: Animists 3,000,000; Catholics 1,200,000; Protestants 1,200,000; Muslims 700,000.
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from the UK)
GDP per capita: US$ 165 (1995)

History
The group started as a relief mission by eleven ex-missionaries of Nigeria from the Irish Province to respond to the needs and request of the Archdiocese of Blantyre in 1971. The Archdiocese had asked for help in pastoral work and teaching in the minor seminary. The group was joined in 1973 by three other Spiritans from TransCanada who arrived in response to the appeals for help by Chikwawa diocese. With time the group started to decrease because of sickness, age, withdrawal or death.

Government Link

In 1993 the first group of WAF confreres joined the group mainly to help in the vocations' ministry and to take care of the candidates from the country and also reinforce the number of personnel in the group which had diminished drastically. The group was made an international group with the Superior raised to the status of a Major Superior in 1996.

 

Statistics
Malawi has an estimated population of 9.6 million. The country has 7 dioceses and the Spiritans are working in two, Blantyre and Dedza.There are presently 8 members (4 members from the Irish Province, 1 from TransCanada, and 3 from WAF).

 

Mission engagements
The group has been involved in:

parish pastoral ministry in areas of primary evangelisation;
chaplaincy to migrants and foreigners vocations ministry;
community and social development;
work with AIDS victims;


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In the last few years some of the members retired from teaching in the minor seminary and chaplaincy in the hospita. Back to Africa