Ste-Marie celebrates golden Jubilee
Archbishop Remi Joseph Ste-Marie of the Lilongwe Archdiocese of the Catholic Church Saturday last week celebrated 50 years of priesthood at a colourful ceremony held at Maula Cathedral.
Catholic secretariat communications officer Prince Henderson said thousands of Catholics attended the function where Ste-Marie and Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese co-celebrated the holy mass.
Henderson said Bishop Mtumbuka, who represented the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), commended Ste-Marie for his contribution to the Catholic faith in the country.
Mtumbuka said Ste-Marie is a shining example and asked young people to learn from his humble lifestyle.
“It’s high time we the Catholics in the country commended and acknowledged what Archbishop Ste-Marie has done to the church and Lilongwe Diocese in particular. He is a man who always pursues perfection in whatever he does. We must commend him for that,” he said.
Ste-Marie thanked God for taking care of him throughout his priesthood.
He challenged local church leaders to accept God’s call to work for him so that he achieves his mission for creation.
Ste-Marie was born in La Minerve Co Labelle in Canada on January 11 1938. He was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Dedza Diocese on May 9 1998 before he was promoted to a full bishop on September 7 2000.
He is retiring after serving the Lilongwe Archdiocese for six years. Former Archbishop Tarcizius Ziyaye of the Blantyre Archdiocese is expected to replace him on September 21 this year.
