TANZANIA: Class of ’92 Priests congregate in Kondoa Diocese for a joint Silver Jubilee
Some 36 Priests (Class of ’92) from various Catholic Dioceses of Tanzania joined Rt Rev Bernadini Mfumbusa to mark their 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.
The celebrations were held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Kondoa on 15th of October this year.
The priests shared experiences and reminiscences on their 25 years journey of faith. Ten Jubilants graduated from Peramiho Seminary and the rest came from Kipalapala and Segerea Seminaries.
The decision to organize a joint celebration at Kondoa – according to Bishop Mfumbusa – was reached in July last year in Zanzibar where the Class of ’92 met for a retreat.
As part of their joint celebrations, the priests had an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in April this year.
Meanwhile, seven bishops, 70 priests, some government officials and hundreds of the faithful from within the diocese and beyond attended the event.
In his Homily, the Archbishop of Tabora Most Rev Paul Ruzoka called the event an auspiciousday, a day of praise not just for Bishop Mfumbusa but also for all the Priests jubilant and the clergy, religious and the faithful of Kondoa diocese. He emphasized unity among the pastoral agents and the Catholic faithful.
“The fact that he managed to unite his fellow priests Jubilants; those whom he studied together and ordained in 1992 expresses him as a person who believes in networking and collaboration not only in his diocese but even outside,” Archbishop Ruzoka said adding that “The unity of any particular church and diocese is visible through its head, the bishop.”
The Archbishop commended the achievements of the Diocese of Kondoa despite the fact that it is only seven years old.
“I can tell the differences when I came seven year ago for the inauguration of the diocese and the ordination of Bishop Mfumbusa; things have changed a lot. I attribute it all to collaboration of Bishop Mfumbusa, members of the diocesan clergy, religious and the lay faithful of Kondoa,” he added.
Speaking on the same event, the District commission of Kondoa Sezaria Makota commended the collaboration that exists between the government and the Catholic Diocese of Kondoa.
The Secretary General of AMECEA, Very Rev Ferdinand Lugonzo, also attended the celebration.
By TEC Correspondent
