TANZANIA: AMECEA losses another Member from TEC

AMECEA has lost another member, (the
second one in this year from Tanzania after the death of Bishop Paschal Kikoti of Mpanda Diocese) following the death of Rt. Rev. Bishop
Aloysius Balina of the Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga.

A statement made to the public from the President
of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, said Bishop
Balina passed away on 6th November, 2012 at Bugando Referral Hospital in
Mwanza, Tanzania.

 

A condolence message sent to the
Chairman of TEC from AMECEA Secretariat on behalf of AMECEA Chairman, Most Rev. Tarcisio Ziyaye of the Archdiocese
of Blantyre, Malawi said Bishop Balina as
a member of AMECEA will be remembered for his selfless service not only as
Shepherd of the People of God entrusted to his care, but also for his
contribution to the entire family of AMECEA; and that the family of AMECEA is united with TEC and the
Diocese of Shinyanga in this time of grieving so that God may give them the
strength to endure this difficult period of grief.

 

The Late Bishop Balina was born in
Isoso village, Bariadi in Shimiyu Region on 21st June 1945. He was
ordained a priest on 27th June 1971. He was appointed the first Bishop
of the Catholic Diocese of Geita on 8th November 1984 by Blessed
John Paul II and was Consecrated the first Bishop of the Diocese of Geita on 6th
January 1985 during a ceremony which took place at St. Peter Cathedral in Rome.

 

On 8th August 1997, Blessed
John Paul II appointed him bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga. He was installed
as Bishop of Shinyanga Diocese on 17th November 1997.

 

He died on 6th November
2012 having been a Priest for 41 years and a Bishop for 27 years.

 

May God grant him Eternal
Peace.