TANZANIA: Arusha Archdiocese Commemorates the Olasit Bomb blast Victims
Thousands of people including the government leaders have attended Requiem Mass for the repose of the souls of the victims of Olasiti Bomb blast that happened on May 6, 2013 during the opening of St Joseph the Worker Parish in Arusha.
During Mass,
the Archbishop of Arusha, Most Rev Josephat Lebulu, who was the main celebrant
asked the faithful to pray for the deceased while also asking them to avoid
hatred among themselves.
the Archbishop of Arusha, Most Rev Josephat Lebulu, who was the main celebrant
asked the faithful to pray for the deceased while also asking them to avoid
hatred among themselves.
The Archbishop called on the faithful to cultivate the
virtue of forgiveness because revenge is not among the values of a baptized
Christian. “The important thing is forgiveness, hatred and revenge is not
helping not have space for us Christians baptized”, he said.
virtue of forgiveness because revenge is not among the values of a baptized
Christian. “The important thing is forgiveness, hatred and revenge is not
helping not have space for us Christians baptized”, he said.
Referring to the bomb blast of 2013, Archbishop Lebulu
said that the culprits wanted to instigate religious conflict among the people
in the country but through God’s power they have not succeeded.
said that the culprits wanted to instigate religious conflict among the people
in the country but through God’s power they have not succeeded.
He has asked all the Christians and people of good will
to respect each other irrespective of
to respect each other irrespective of
tribe, political affiliation, religion or
color. “These killings would not have happened if people valued human life,
human life and have a mutual respect,” he said.
The Parish
Priest of the St Joseph the Worker Parish, Fr Peter Chibale, said that the
incident made some of their parishioners handicapped. “One person had his hand
amputated and another completely blind because of the bomb blast,” he said.
Priest of the St Joseph the Worker Parish, Fr Peter Chibale, said that the
incident made some of their parishioners handicapped. “One person had his hand
amputated and another completely blind because of the bomb blast,” he said.
He said that
the government’s pledge of 100 Million Shillings (about USD 60,000) to the
victim was not honored until now despite of the all efforts made to follow up
the matter. “We have followed up the matter with the Prime Minister, His Excellency
Mizengo Pinda but all our efforts were
futile,” he said.
the government’s pledge of 100 Million Shillings (about USD 60,000) to the
victim was not honored until now despite of the all efforts made to follow up
the matter. “We have followed up the matter with the Prime Minister, His Excellency
Mizengo Pinda but all our efforts were
futile,” he said.
During the
commemoration event, Archbishop Lebulu dedicated the Church to be specifically a
place for pilgrimages and also erecting a tower at the site of the explosion in
memory of the victims.
commemoration event, Archbishop Lebulu dedicated the Church to be specifically a
place for pilgrimages and also erecting a tower at the site of the explosion in
memory of the victims.
By Doreen Aloyce, Arusha
–Kiongozi Newspaper TEC
–Kiongozi Newspaper TEC
