Mtima community is named after the Fr. Joakim Mtima Chisemphere. Fr. Mtima was born on 9 April 1958 at Mbidzi village in the Dedza District of Malawi. He was baptized at Kasina Parish when he was eleven. His secondary school was St. Kizito Minor Seminary (1972-1977), where with his brother, he started a youth club in which he taught catechism and singing.
After school he entered the Major Seminary at Kachebere (philosophy) for
three years and then went to St. Peter’s Zomba (theology) for another three years. He took leave of absence for two years (1983-1985) and worked in a bank. On returning to the seminary he was ordained for the Dedza Diocese in 1986. His first assignment was at his old school of St. Kizito’s.
With a letter of freedom from his bishop, he entered the Jesuit Novitiate
at Lusaka in 1989.After vows (1991) he was appointed chaplain at Canisius
Secondary School (1992-1993). He then spent some time studying
theology at Hekima College (Nairobi) and at Heythrop College (London).
He was then appointed curate in Matero Parish, Lusaka (1996). Joakim
was only 39 years old when he died and yet in some ways, he had
completed a life’s journey. He was an intelligent person with a gift for
writing and a great desire to continue studying and developing his talents
for the service of others. He was in the habit of writing essays about his
own experience and on the need for the social teaching of the Church in
pastoral ministry.
He was becoming more and more involved in trying to see his ministry as
an answer to the integral development of the people around him. His
years in Nairobi and London were opportunities for him to build on his
previous studies in the major seminary. One of the high points of his life
was to attend the Jesuit Social Apostolate International Congress in
Naples (Italy) in 1997. Meeting 150 Jesuits from all over the world ‘left an
indelible mark on me’. They were just my elder brothers and I felt this in
my heart and I was at home with them. I saw justice and love marry to
produce peace’.
Brothers at Mtima Community -2020
2020