TANZANIA: Kondoa Catholic Diocese Gets a New Cathedral
Hundreds of people from Kondoa diocese and outside
gathered in Kondoa Parish premises to pray and witness the dedication of the
Holy Spirit Cathedral, a ceremony that took place on 4 December 2014.
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| Vice President (in Black Suit) together with Bishops after the celebration of Holy Mass |
the Achbishop of Dar es salaam who was the main celebrant, congratulated the faithful
of Kondoa for building such a magnificent Cathedral.
the building could be changed for another use other than being a place for
worship, but after the dedication the building is set specifically for this purpose-
to be the House of God –House of Prayer. “Contrary to that is committing sacrilege,”
he said.
Cardinal Pengo asked the faithful of Kondoa to equate the
beauty of the Cathedral with their call to sanctity. “You are called to be salt
and light of the society here in Kondoa; like the early Christians you should
become the catalyst and bring holiness to your community, and be a model to the
people around you,” he said adding that “Just as the
early Christian who met at graveyards to pray, the places which were considered
as unclean; these Christians sanctified those places/environment
which others felt that they
were unclean.”
Also speaking at the event, Most Rev Jude
Thadeus Ruwai’chi of the Archdiocese of Mwanza,
on behalf of the President of Tanzania
Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt Rev Tarcisio Ngalalekumtwa, congratulated the faithful of the Kondoa to committing
themselves to that noble work of the construction of the
Holy spirit Cathedral. “May I ask you to keep it as the ‘House of God’ and a
place of prayer,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Vice President
of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Mohamed
Gharib Bilal, hailed
the Diocese Kondoa for the good
work and provision of better services to the people of Tanzania. “The Catholic Church has been
at the forefront in providing quality
services in the
health sector, education, water and general social development
of the people,” he said.
Dr Bilal strongly warned all those who want to breach peace in the country. “In
the recent days there has been ‘red lights’ propelled by some people in the country,”
he said adding that “ I want to assure you that the government will never allow any person or
persons, for whatever reason, to violate the peaceful co-existence that has been there for years in the country.”
In his concluding remarks, the Bishop of Kondoa, Rt Rev
Bernadini Mfumbusa commended the sacrifice of the faithful of Kondoa, (both from within and outside the diocese) that enabled
them to complete the construction of their Cathedral. Bishop Mfumbusa also
extended his gratitude to partners, both international and local, who supported
the initiatives of the faithful of Kondoa.
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