22/09/2026
PROGRAMME FOR THE VISIT OF MSGR. DINH ANH NHUE NGUYEN TO MALAWI
30 September – 11 October 2026
The visit of Msgr. Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen to Malawi from 30 September to 11 October 2026 is being undertaken on behalf of the Holy Father through the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Office in Rome. As the Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, his visit will express the Holy Father’s missionary concern and the communion of the universal Church with the Church in Malawi, while strengthening the missionary animation and formation promoted by the Pontifical Mission Societies.
The principal purpose of the visit is to mark the Centenary of World Mission Sunday and to open World Mission Month in Malawi. In particular, in collaboration with the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood in Malawi, Msgr. Nguyen will participate in the One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace and Unity and the celebration of the Eucharist at Salima Parish. The visit will also promote missionary animation, ongoing formation and a renewed missionary spirit among priests, religious, pastoral workers, lay faithful and children throughout the Church in Malawi.
The formation programme will focus on the 2026 World Mission Sunday Message, the broader meaning and missionary spirituality of World Mission Sunday, and the ways in which its centenary can inspire renewed missionary commitment, cooperation and communion with the universal Church. It will invite priests, religious, pastoral workers, lay faithful and young people to reflect on their shared responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel and supporting the Church’s mission both within Malawi and beyond its borders.
Through prayer, reflection and dialogue, the visit will seek to strengthen collaboration among dioceses, parishes and the Pontifical Mission Societies. Its expected impact is to encourage every member of the Church in Malawi to become an active witness of Christ and a committed partner in the universal mission of evangelization.
Msgr. Nguyen will arrive in Malawi on 30 September 2026 on behalf of the Pontifical Mission Societies Office in Rome and proceed directly to Katete Parish in the Diocese of Mzuzu.
On 1 October 2026, he will participate in the Eucharistic Celebration marking the opening of World Mission Month at Katete Parish. The celebration will provide an opportunity to emphasize the missionary nature of the Church and encourage the faithful to participate actively in the missionary activities of the month.
On 2 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will meet with Rt. Rev. Yohane Nyirenda, Bishop of Mzuzu, to discuss missionary animation, the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies, missionary cooperation and the promotion of the missionary spirit in the Diocese of Mzuzu. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the Church’s missionary priorities and the activities planned during his visit to the diocese.
On 3 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will participate at Mzuzu Stadium in the National Centenary Eucharistic Celebration of World Mission Sunday under the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.” The Eucharistic Celebration will be led by Rt. Rev. Peter Chifukwa, Vice President of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB). The celebration will mark 100 years of World Mission Sunday and will bring together bishops, priests, religious, seminarians, lay faithful, children and representatives from the dioceses of Malawi.
The day will also include the launch of the Strategic Plan of the Local Clergy of Malawi, providing an opportunity to strengthen the formation, pastoral ministry, collaboration and missionary commitment of the diocesan clergy in Malawi. The two significant events will highlight the missionary nature of the Church and the shared responsibility of clergy, religious and lay faithful in carrying forward the mission of Christ.
On 4 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will participate in and lead the Eucharistic Celebration at St. Patrick’s Minor Seminary in Rumphi, Diocese of Mzuzu. The celebration will provide an opportunity to encourage seminarians in their vocation and emphasize the importance of forming future priests with a strong missionary spirit and commitment to the universal mission of the Church.
As part of the preparation for the diocesan celebrations of World Mission Sunday, Msgr. Nguyen will conduct missionary animation and ongoing formation in the Diocese of Mzuzu, Diocese of Mangochi, Archdiocese of Blantyre and Diocese of Dedza. The sessions will bring together priests, Sisters, Brothers and lay leaders, focusing on the 2026 World Mission Sunday Message and the role of the Pontifical Mission Societies in interpreting and explaining the message through pastoral agents, so as to strengthen missionary awareness and commitment at parish and diocesan levels.
On 5 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will conduct the first of these missionary animation and ongoing formation sessions in the Diocese of Mzuzu.
On 6 October 2026, he will travel from the Diocese of Mzuzu to Salima Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in preparation for the One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace and Unity initiative.
On 7 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will participate, together with the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood in Malawi, in the One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace and Unity initiative and the celebration of the Eucharist at Salima Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. Children across Malawi will join children from around the world in praying the Rosary for peace and unity, entrusting the Church and the whole human family to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The initiative will highlight the missionary role of children and their contribution to the evangelising mission of the Church through prayer, faith and solidarity.
On 8 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will conduct missionary animation and ongoing formation in the Diocese of Mangochi.
On 9 October 2026, he will continue with missionary animation and ongoing formation in the Archdiocese of Blantyre.
On 10 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will conduct missionary animation and ongoing formation in the Diocese of Dedza, completing the formation programme in the four dioceses.
On 11 October 2026, Msgr. Nguyen will conclude his missionary visit to Malawi with a visit to the Poor Clares for prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist, entrusting the fruits of his visit to God and praying for the Church, the Holy Father, the Pontifical Mission Societies and the missionary mission of the Church in Malawi. He will then depart Malawi, carrying with him the spirit of communion and the renewed missionary commitment of the Church in Malawi.
