BY FR. STEVEN ALFRED LIKHUCHA

EARLY LIFE: Bishop Patrick was born on 28th August in 1933 in the family of Pierre Mangulenje Kalilombe and Helena Mzifei, both Ntakataka residents but became famous inhabitants of Mua. Patrick was a 9th born in the family of 11 children, 6 girls and 5 boys.
From 1933-1938, the family lived in the compound of Mua Catholic Mission where his father was working in modern carpentry workshop of the Parish.  In 1938 Pierre retired and the family bought a plot nearby at Chewa Village of Kamchamba.
BASIC EDUCATION: In 1938, Patrick began kindergarten classes at a school that was run by the Missionaries of Our Lady (White Sisters). One of her sisters used to take her along as she was also going to school. In 1939 he entered Primary School that was run by the White Fathers. One of the teachers was his elder brother.
PRIESTLY DESIRE: To achieve his long time goal of becoming a priest, Patrick was relieved when he got news that he had passed entrance exams to Kasina Minor Seminary where he was to complete his primary and secondary schools. Thus from 1944 to 1949 he was at the minor seminary where he learned with people from Zambia, Mozambique and various parts of Malawi. He also made several friends, among them were Gervasio Chisendera (Bishop Emeritus of Dedza) and Merdado Mazombwe (Bishop Emeritus of Lusaka), both were classmates and just a year ahead him there was Emmanuel Milingo( Bishop Emeritus of Chipata).
SERIOUS JOURNEY TO PRIESTHOOD:  From 1949 to 1954, Patrick began a serious priestly journey at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji where he studied Philosophical and Theological disciplines that included also Canon Law, Catechetics, Liturgy, Scriptures and Church History. It was at this academic institution where Patrick fell in love with studies in Scriptures.  In his class there were eight students six of whom made it to priesthood and among them three were later on consecrated bishops namely: Allan Chamgwera (Bishop Emeritus of Zomba Diocese) and Emmanuel Milingo of Chipata in Zambia.
THE RADICAL DECISION:  In May 1954 Patrick made a radical decision of changing from persuing diocesan priesthood to a missionary priesthood. The congregation he had intended to join was Society of Missionaries of Africa. After being permitted by his Bishop, Patrick left Malawi for his novitiate to Priesthood in Algeria.
From 1955 to 1957 he was in Thibar Tunisia studying Theology and towards the end of his studies he took an oath as a Missionary of Africa and was consequently ordained deacon. On 3rd February 1958 Patrick was ordained Priest.
From 1958 to 1962 Patrick was in Italy doing post-graduate studies at Gregorian University in Rome. His first appointment came soon after his studies in 1962 when the Superiors asked him to serve at Ntakataka Parish and sometime later at Bembeke Parish.
NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION: Through his presentations, it was evidently noticed that Patrick was a genius in Scriptural studies. No wonder, Episcopal Conference of Malawi commissioned him to lead a group of people that was entrusted with the duty of translating the Missal and Ritual from Latin into Chichewa so that many local people could actively take part in liturgical celebrations. This was to be done hand in hand with some dioceses from Zambia that were also speaking chinyanja. Apart from this assignment, Fr. Patrick was also asked to revise and edit the manuscripts of a Bible Translation which was started by European Missionaries. Such efforts ended up with ‘Malembo Oyera,’ a well translated  Chichewa Bible. Prior to this there was a non-Catholic translated Chichewa Bible called ‘Buku Lopatulika.’
SERVICE AT KACHEBERE SEMINARY: In 1964, Fr. Kalilombe became the first Malawian lecturer at Kachebere Major Seminary. In 1968 he became the first Malawian Rector of Kachebere Major Seminary. On 12th June 1972, Fr. Patrick was appointed Bishop of Lilongwe Diocese to succeed Bishop Joseph Fady and so he had to leave Kachebere Major Seminary. He was the first Malawian to be appointed Bishop of Lilongwe Diocese.
BISHOP OF LILONGWE: Fr. Kalilombe was consecrated Bishop of Lilongwe Diocese on 27th August 1972. In  1973, he wrote his first Pastoral Letter for Lilongwe Diocese entitled ‘ Christ’s Church in Lilongwe, Today and Tomorrow.’ The letter focused on building a self reliant Church. His intention was to build Lilongwe Diocese into a Church that is self ministering, self supporting and self propagating.
To materialize this vision Bishop Kalilombe called upon all the Laity to be actively involved in the whole life and mission of the Church. He thought that this would be possible if there could be small groups in various places where ideas of how to improve and develop the Church could be suggested and implemented at a higher level. Such small groups were to be called ‘Miphakati’ (Small Christian Communities).
Consequently a mini-synod was, later on, called where such ideas were to be discussed by the Christians at all levels; diocese, deanery, Parish and outstation. The Bishop had in mind that if ‘Miphakati’ would be established, discussions would not only be spiritual but also involve the integral life of a human being such as socio-political aspects of life involving human rights, justice and peace, education and health, employment in line with its conditions and public morality.
This did not go well with the Government of that time as most of the Laity became aware of their rights and stood for them. They were considered to be disobedient to Party Policies and the Life President and consequently many leaders of Miphakati were intimidated and some were arrested. These people were accused of forming a clandestine subversive groups which did not show respect  and obedience to the Life President.
This issue became very serious. In March 1976, Bishop Kalilombe was summoned to a meeting in Lilongwe with the Regional Minister for the Centre together with the delegation of Ministers and Members of Parliament. He was interrogated for six hours. Later, the Bishops were asked to do something about the Bishop of Lilongwe or else the Government itself was to act. He was consequently asked to leave Malawi immediately and go to Rome where the case was to be decided upon.
DETENTION AND LIFE IN DIASPOLA:  On 27th April 1976 Bishop Kalilombe left Malawi for Kenya and then Ghana.  Later in July the same year he thought of coming back to Malawi to visit his mother who was very sick at Mua. While in the country the Malawi Government detained him (house arrest) from 16th to 18th of July. Thereafter, he went to Rome until the end of 1976.
From 1977 to 1979 Bishop Kalilombe began a PhD programme at the University of California in Berkeley.  Thereafter, he was in Jerusalem from 1979 to 1980 working on his dissertation for PhD. He then went to Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham, England from 1980 to 1981 as the William Paton Fellow of the Colleges.  After the completion of PhD at Berkeley he returned to Selly Oak towards the end of 1982 as a Third World Lecturer in the Mission Department of the College. He was a Lecturer until 1987 when he became the Director of the Ecumenical Centre for Black and White Christian Partnership a post he served up to 1996.
RETURNING TO MOTHERLAND: When the political climate was conducive enough for him to live in Malawi once more, Bishop Patrick returned to his country and this was close to a time when he was to clock 25 years in the service as Bishop. No wonder then on 27th  August 1997 he celebrated his Silver Jubilee in a cultural way at Mua Catholic Mission.
From 1998 to 2008 the Bishop had been lecturing at the University of Malawi- Chancellor College in Religious Studies.  Thereafter, the Bishop has been very busy with Bible Society of Malawi writing several commentaries on some Old and New Testament Books in local languages  apart from giving spiritual talks, retreats and conducting Biblical Seminars in the country as well as abroad.
HIS DEATH      ( 24th Septermber,2012)
The Bishop passed away on the evening of 24th September, 2012 at the Intensive Care Unit  (ICU) of Zomba Central Hospital at around 1800 hours. Present during his death were, among others, Bishop Emeritus Allan Chamgwera of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, Fr. Patrick Phalawala his long time friend and Guardian of the day, Fr. Henry Chaona, Chairperson of Local Clergy in Zomba Diocese. Just outside the ICU were Fr. Steven Likhucha, Sr. Zerah Polokera and Sr. Georgina Sapangwa all working at the  Secretariat of Zomba Diocese.
According to ICU nurse of the day, Mrs. Pamela Malunga, the deceased, who was a well known diabetic patient, had bowel Obstruction at the time of his arrival at the hospital on Thursday  20th September 2012. Medical Doctors had a successful operation on the same day and consequently his health seemed to improve while admitted at the hospital’s ICU for close monitoring. On 23rd September 2012 (Sunday evening) his health deteriorated and the following day (24th September)) the doctors thought of taking him back to the theatre. However, he was becoming weaker and weaker so much so that the operation could not take place. On the evening of the day Bishop Kalilombe breathed his last.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
Compiled by:
Rev. Fr. Steven Alfred Likhucha
                                    Communication’s Secretary- Zomba Diocese