By Mabvuto Kalawa – Malawi Freedom Network Correspondent
There was unexpected drama at St. Peter and Paul Parish in Nathenje on Sunday when a swarm of bees disrupted Corpus Christi celebrations, forcing the mass to come to an abrupt halt.
The Catholic feast of Corpus Christi, which celebrates the body and blood of Jesus Christ, had drawn large crowds of faithful from the parish’s three main outstations—Makanya, Matapila, and Nathenje itself.
The prayers began peacefully, with the faithful gathered in reverence for the solemn occasion.
However, the atmosphere changed suddenly during the blessing session when one of the honeycombs fell from the church roof, triggering an aggressive bee attack.
The bees, which had nested in the timber rafters beneath the iron sheets of the church, began stinging members of the congregation.
In a moment of panic, the priest conducting the mass reportedly fled the scene and sought refuge in a nearby vehicle.
Speaking to Malawi Freedom Network, Mr. Emmanuel Gaga, chairperson of the Nathenje Parish Laity Council, said the bees had long been present in the church structure but had never attacked worshippers until that day.
Mr. Gaga explained that the honeycombs were likely too heavy due to an abundance of honey and eventually gave way, falling onto the congregation below.
He added that the bees were not housed in a traditional hive but had been clinging to the wooden beams, which made the structure vulnerable.
“No one was killed, but several people were injured,” said Mr. Gaga. “I am also a victim—the bees stung my head and it is very painful.”
Mr. Gaga stated that the parish would now seek the services of an expert to harvest the honey and possibly spray pesticides to ensure the bees are removed safely.
He emphasized that the parish wants to prevent a repeat of the incident during future church events.
Another parishioner who was also stung said the bees bit him in the eye, leaving it swollen and painful.
He recalled that while the bees had been a concern during previous cleanups at the church premises, they had never attacked anyone as aggressively as they did during the mass.
“I thank God that no lives were lost,” he said.
Attempts to speak with the priest who was leading the mass proved unsuccessful, as he was reportedly a visiting priest from another parish within the Archdiocese.
Efforts to reach the parish’s Father Superior, Fr. Regis Mshanga, for comment on the next steps also failed, as he did not respond to phone calls.
St. Peter and Paul Parish in Nathenje falls under the jurisdiction of Likuni Deanery in the Lilongwe Archdiocese.
The parish comprises six centers—Chitekwere, Matapila, Nathenje, Chamadenga, Kapezera, and Makanya—and has a total of 84 Small Christian Communities (m’phakati).
