BALAKA PARISH

Mponda Church has been a branch of Utale Catholic Mission for twenty years, from 1941 up to 1961.
The Montfort Missionaries who were based at Utale Catholic Mission had two aims:

- To strengthen and care for those who were already Christians
- To spread the Gospel to all people
In 1938, Bishop Auneau wrote a letter to Utale parish directing the priests to build schools. The letter said, "Open many schools and find good and many new places where in future we can open other parishes".

The fathers who were living in Utale, Fr. Alfred Finye, Fr. J. Casterman, Fr. J. Kuypers, Fr. A. Alexander, Fr. J. Guimard and Fr. Bossard, together with their catechists, followed the request of the Bishop.

In the year 1941, Mr. Raphael Chifukwa and his wife Catherine, together with other christians who had come from Nguludi in Chiradzulu district, requested Fr. Casterman, who was then the Parish Priest of Utale mission, to build a church in Mponda village. All the christians in and around Mponda village had to go for Mass either at Toleza or Mchenga churches.

Mr. Raphael Chifukwa was from Sumani village, T. A. Mponda and was baptised at Nguludi catholic mission by Fr. Gilimala. Mr. Chifukwa is the founder of Mponda church. He died very old.

At the time they were asking for the church, the number of christian families were on the increase. Some families that migrated from Nguludi were those of Mr. Elias Boti, Mr Andrea Jewajewa and Mr. Mofolo Jonasi. They agreed to build a four-yard prayer house. Then in the year 1942, the same christians built a bit bigger church, which unfortunately collapsed before it was completely finished. The christians were not discouraged at the result, they molded more bricks for a better and bigger church. They had a problem in burning the bricks because a church leader, Mr. Paulo Sauka, to get firewood cut mlombwa and ngongomwa trees, which were protected trees. They were taken to court to answer the charge, however they were not afraid. They defended themselves saying that, "They had cut natural trees cared by God so they could build a house to thank Him".

THE BEGINNING OF MPONDA CHURCH
In 1944, after the church was built, the priests from Utale were visiting the christians of Mponda church every last Friday of the month. Christians around Mponda village joined their friends. Some were coming from Sosola, Mpulula, Kapalamula, Hanjahanja and Kaumphawi. Gradually the number of christians increased, for many people settled in Balaka, which was then known as Ngwangwa.

People increased rapidly because of the railway, as well as the establishment of the British Cotton Growing Association (BCGA), now known as Cotton Ginnery. Balaka became a small center.

Some of the people who joined the catholic faith are: Mr. Benedicto, Mr.Nicholas Chambo and his family, Mr.Mathias Kandaka, Amona and Modesta Kapalamula.

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