TANZANIA: Catholics in Tanzania to Mark 150 years of Faith
By Mwenya Mukuka and Pamela Adinda
The Catholic Church in Tanzania is set to mark 150 years since arrival of the first catholic Missionaries in the country at Bagamoyo, the entry point of Catholic Evangelization to Main Land Tanzania.
Main Land Tanzania From Zanzibar Island
Tanzania Episcopal Conference’s Deputy Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Gallus Marandu while addressing participants of AMECEA ICT Workshop in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania said that the ceremonies planned for year 2018 will be preceded by the centenary commemoration of the ordination of the first indigenous priests in the country.
“The conference launched a program for the celebrations in October 2016 at Bukoba Diocese and Christians are encouraged to renew their faith in preparations for the Jubilee,” he said adding that the celebrations will last three years climaxing in October 2018.
The first Indiginous Tanzanian Priests included Rev. Fr. Angelo Mwilabule from Kome Island Geita diocese; Rev. Fr. Celestine Kipanda from Ukerewe Island in Bunda Diocese; Rev. Fr. Osca Kyakaraba and Rev. Fr. Wilbard Mupapi both from Bukoba Diocese.
Among the activities earmarked for the celebrations include, renewal of missionary life of the Church, promotion of vocations through seminars and workshops, the teachings on the role of priestly vocation and religious charisms, strengthening the Small Christian Communities as well as renewal of Christian faith through pilgrimages at local levels beginning from the dioceses to the national level.
“We also want to show commitment to what the missionaries underwent and see what inspiration can be drawn from that,” he said.
Bangamoyo was the entry point of the Missionaries of Africa popularly referred to as White Fathers who first evangelized the Island of Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania and other parts of eastern Africa.
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