Deacon Benjamin Diya Ordained Priest

The Catholic Diocese of Zomba has ordained Deacon Benjamin Diya to the priesthood and appointed him to serve at Lingoni Parish.

During the ordination ceremony, Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyu Chaima, Bishop of the Diocese, urged the newly ordained priest to remain holy and committed to his vocation, reminding him of the call of the Prophet Isaiah to serve God after being purified.

“Be holy and sanctify the Christians entrusted to your care, just as Isaiah was purified by God before being sent to serve His people,” Bishop Chaima said.

In their remarks, Fr. Diya’s parents encouraged him to entrust his priestly ministry to the intercession and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to accompany him throughout his service to God and His people.

Welcoming him into the presbyterate, the Chairperson of the Local Clergy in the Diocese, Fr. Steven Likhucha, urged the newly ordained priest to work closely with his fellow priests. He also appealed to the laity to continue supporting the clergy, saying this would help lessen the burden on the Bishop in his pastoral responsibilities.

Fr. Benjamin Diya hails from St. Patrick’s Outstation of Sacred Heart Parish, Zomba Cathedral. He was born on 11 February 1998 at Kamuzu Barracks Camp Hospital in Lilongwe and is the youngest of five children-four boys and one girl. His family originates from Ntiya Village under Traditional Authority Mlumbe in Zomba District.

He began his primary education at Changalume Barracks Primary School, Nankhunda Primary School and Satema Primary School between 2005 and 2013. From 2013 to 2017, he attended Child Jesus Minor Seminary at Nankhunda for his secondary education.

From 2017 to 2018, he underwent spiritual formation at Kasina Spiritual Formation Centre in the Diocese of Dedza. He then studied Philosophy at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji from 2018 to 2021 before proceeding to St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba in 2021 to study Theology.

He was ordained a deacon on 24 May 2025 by His Grace Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe at St. Peter’s Major Seminary.

Outside his priestly formation, Fr. Diya enjoys watching football, playing basketball and eating rice with pork.

His priestly motto is: “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.”