Irish missionary Ryan consecrated bishop of Mzuzu diocese, calls for unity
New bishop for Mzuzu Diocese John Ryan has called for unity amongst the people he is going to shepherd.
Ryan said on Saturday during his consecration to episcopate where President Peter Mutharika, vice president Saulos Chilima and leader of opposiiton Lazarous Chakwera were in attendance.
“We need to be united because it’s about all of us to make progress,” Ryan said in authentic Tumbuka, the local dialect.
Bishop Martin Mtumbuka speaking after consecrating the new bishop, advised Ryan to be courageous and focus preparing the souls for heaven.
“The most important thing is heloing Christians to embrace Christ and also to prepare souls for heaven.
From Ireland, Ryan replaces Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza who died on January 15, 2015.
Before his appointment, he was lecturer at Mzuzu University in the Coding Theory department.
Ordained a priest in Ireland, he came to Malawi in the 70s.
Mutharika said he was “willing to work with the new bishop.”
He described Ryan as a blessing to Malawi.
” … he came to Malawi in the 70s.” With proper research, far more than that could have been reported in the article , such as; – Ryan was a signatory to the original pastoral letter which criticized Hastings Banda. – He was arrested at the alter during a church service in Mzimba, taken to Mzuzu and told that he had – what? – 24 hours to leave the country. – Fearing that the regime would kill him enroute from Mzuzu, the UK, US and perhaps other countries sent diplomats in embassy vehicles to escort Ryan in a convoy taking… Read more »
Peter Nkosi! It was not John Ryan who was a signatory to the pastoral letter. It was Monsignor John Roche who at that time was heading Mzuzu Diocese.