Nairobi, 25 July, 2026 / 8:25 pm (ACI Africa). As the Catholic Church in Malawi prepares to celebrate 125 years since the arrival of the first Catholic missionaries, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre has described the milestone as a moment of joy and gratitude for the remarkable growth of the Church, from a "small seed" into one of the country's largest faith communities. "What a joy for us as a Church in Malawi, me as an Archbishop, and all the Bishops who are very ready to celebrate this," Archbishop Msusa said during the interview on the sidelines of the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA). "The seed which was so small has now grown, and it is still growing. The Malawian-born Catholic Archbishop hailed the SMM/Montfort Missionaries for their contribution in laying a strong foundation that has continued to bear abundant fruit over the decades, noting that what began with a handful of missionaries has developed into a vibrant local Church with millions of faithful, numerous vocations, and active lay participation.