Mass with Marriage Encounter

January 13, 2026 | Recent Posts

Today, 10th January, the Archbishop celebrated Holy Mass with members of the Marriage Encounter at Archdiocesan level at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Couples drawn from all the ten deaneries of the Archdiocese gathered for this prayerful and joyful celebration, highlighting the unity and richness of married life within the local Church. Also in attendance was the Minister Provincial of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) for Zambia and Malawi, Rev. Fr. Mathews Kasongo, whose presence added to the significance of the occasion. In his homily, the Archbishop reflected on the importance of marriage and why it holds the dignity of a sacrament in the Catholic Church. He explained that marriage is not merely a social contract, but a sacred covenant rooted in God’s own love for humanity. He called on married couples to emulate God’s example of love—one that is self-giving, sacrificial, and always places the good of the other before oneself. Drawing from the day’s readings, the Archbishop pointed to the example of St. John the Baptist, who humbly declared that Christ must increase while he must decrease. He urged couples to adopt this attitude in their marriages, reminding them that as the foundation of families, they are stewards of God’s gift. Marriage, he said, is not about doing as one pleases, but about reflecting Christ in the home and faithfully passing on the faith to children and future generations. The Mass ended joyfully, leaving the couples encouraged and renewed in their commitment to live out their vocation to marriage as a true witness of Christ’s love in the Church and society.