Gabriel Msipu Phiri
Gabriel Msipu Phiri was born on 13th December, 1964 at Sekani Village in the family of Antonio Msipu Phiri from Msipu Village, Chief Msipu in Mozambique and Ernestina Sakala from Guma Village in Vubwi area of Chief Pembamoyo, in the current Vubwi District. Gabriel is the second born child in a family of nine (9) children. Both parents and one young brother passed on. May thei
r souls rest in peace! Currently, there are six gents and two ladies. Gabriel Msipu comes from a humble background. The father was a general worker at Sindemisale Rural Health Centre in Chief Pembamoyo’s area while the mother was just a housewife. Antonio Msipu was cycling every morning from Sekani Village to Sindemisale for work. Then the nearest primary school was Mchenjeza which was quite a distance from Sekani. Due to long distance to Mchenjeza Primary School and to the work place at Sindemisale, they decided to relocate to Sindemisale which is situated between Malawi and Mozambique where Chief Pembamoyo gave him some land. In 1973, when Gabriel Msipu Phiri was nine years old, the family thought it wisely to take the child to school and Gabriel started his primary school education at Zozwe Primary School after failing to continue grade one at Mchenjeza Primary School due to the long distance. In 1980, he went to start his secondary school education at St. Mary’s (Msipazi) Junior Seminary about twenty (20) kilometers from Chipata off Chadiza Road. He was in the very first intake at St. Mary’s Junior Seminary. Gabriel was at St. Mary’s Seminary from 1980 to 1984. When he completed his secondary education at the junior seminary, he started his vocation journey of becoming a priest. He went to start his studies of diploma in philosophy at St. Augustine’s (Mpima) Major Seminary in Kabwe, Central Province from 1985 to 1988. He then went further to acquire his Degree in theology at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka from 1989-1991. Gabriel Msipu was ordained Deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Chipata at Lundazi Catholic Parish in 1990. On 15th September 1991, the Diocese of Chipata was blessed by the newly ordained priest by the name of Fr Gabriel Msipu Phiri who was ordained in the company of Fr. Mathias Mchona Phiri and Fr. This was at St. Anne’s Cathedral Parish in Chipata, Eastern Province. Fr Gabriel Msipu started his priesthood works as a curate which means an Assistant Priest at Sacred Heart (Chadiza) Catholic Parish of Chipata Diocese in Eastern Province from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, he was appointed as Parish Priest of Chadiza Parish and he served as Parish Priest for one (1) year only. It was in 1995 when he was appointed as the Diocesan Treasurer General of Chipata Diocese and also as Parish Priest of Mchini (St. Atanazio) Sub-Parish until 1998 and also taking pastoral care of Mbwindi Catholic Parish for one year. In 1999, he was appointed as the Diocesan Vicar General while he continued working as a Diocesan Treasurer General and also as a Parish Priest of St. Atanazio (Mchini) Catholic Parish. He served for three (3) years from 1999 to 2001. In 2001 to 2002 Fr Gabriel Msipu went to study at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership at Chicago, USA and obtained a certificate in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction. When he came back from USA, he was appointed as Director and first resident priest of Mphangwe Prayer Center of Chipata Diocese which is in Katete District of Eastern Province. He served at Mphangwe Prayer Center from 2002 to 2003. In 2003, Fr. Gabriel Msipu was appointed as Diocesan Vicar General for the second time and also the Dean for St. Anne’s Cathedral Parish in Chipata from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he continued with his tertiary studies and he went to study at St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Mwanza, Tanzania where he obtained a Degree in Business Administration. He successfully did his studies for three (3) years from 2005 to 2008. When he came back from his studies in Tanzania, he was appointed as Diocesan Treasurer General and the Human Resource Officer of Chipata Diocese and also as Parish Priest of Mary Mother of God Sub-Parish. Fr Gabriel was appointed Diocesan Vicar General for the third time in 2009 to 2010 and he was also working as a Human Resource Officer and as well as Parish Priest of Mary Mother of God Parish in the Diocese of Chipata. In 2010, Fr Msipu continued working as a Diocesan Treasurer General, Human Resource Officer of the Diocese of Chipata and also as a Parish Priest of Mary Mother of God Parish. He served in these offices from 2010 to 2012. Thereafter in 2012, Fr Gabriel went on a short sabbatical program at the Missionaries of Africa in Jerusalem- Israel. Upon coming back from his sabbatical program in Israel, Fr. Msipu was asked to work for the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB). From 2013 to 2021 he was the Finance and Administration Manager at the ZCCB Catholic Secretariat, Kabulonga in Lusaka Zambia. From April 2021, Fr Msipu came back to Chipata Diocese and he was appointed as Manager of Diocesan Income Generating Activities (IGAs) and also assisting priest at St. Matthias Mulumba Parish within Chipata area. On 10th December, 2022, His Holiness, Pope Francis appointed Fr Gabriel Msipu Phiri to be the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese in Eastern Province. We thank God for his life and we pray that God should continue with His good works he started in the life of Auxiliary Bishop-Elect, Mons. Gabriel Msipu in order to take part in the works of evangelization and providing pastoral care to the people of Chipata Diocese. Auxiliary Bishop-Elect, Mons. Gabriel Msipu Phiri, will be consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese on 11th February, 2023 at St. Anne’s Cathedral, Chipata, in Eastern Province. For Donations and Support
Account Name: Gabriel Msipu Phiri
Bank Name: ABSA
Account Number: 3261851
Branch: Chipata
AIRTEL MONEY: 0972696868
