Malawian Crucifix

This crucifix is located in Room 320 of Malloy Hall.

This crucifix is made entirely of dark wood and comes from the Community of Sant’Egidio in Malawi. The figure of Christ is free from added accent, with a long face and thin limbs.

A former British colony in southern Africa, Malawi gained its independence in 1964. It received its first Catholic missionaries in 1889 from a religious group known as the White Fathers (because of the white robes they wore). Early missionaries encountered resistance due to their disdain for traditional religious practice, especially the ritual known as Nyau dance. were not successful in achieving results until a second effort in 1901.

Though Catholics accounted for a little over 9% of the population in 1950 (around 277,000 believers), that figure grew to 18% by 1970 and has continued to increase. Catholicism is now the largest Christian denomination in Malawi, representing a third of the overall population, with more than 6.5 million baptized Catholics.

Founded in Rome in 1968, Sant’Egidio is a Christian organization established by Andrea Riccardi following Vatican II. Its primary tenets center around prayer, peace, and the poor, and it is now active in 70 countries. It has been present in Malawi since 2005 and provides assistance in areas such as healthcare, youth services, refugee aid, and elderly support. The majority of the country’s population lives in rural areas with an average of 0.02 doctors per thousand inhabitants. Sant’Egidio operates numerous medical facilities and molecular biology labs, with a strong focus on treating people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

This crucifix was donated to the Initiative by alumna Elizabeth Boyle ’20.

Turn around and turn left at the elevator. Take the stairs at the end of the hallway at the left down to the first floor. Then, turn right and immediately left toward the Department of German, Slavic, and Eurasian Studies. Proceed through the glass doors; the next crucifix will be on your left in the lounge area.