TANZANIA: Bishop Emeritus, 3 Priests, Nun die within 7 days

The Catholic Church in Tanzania is in grief following the deaths of five servants of God, all within the space of seven days, including the Bishop Emeritus of Bukoba Catholic Diocese Rt. Rev. Nestor Timanywa, three priests and a nun.

The statement issued by the Bishop Desderius Rwoma of Bukoba Catholic Diocese and confirmed by a statement from the Office of the Secretary-General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) states that Bishop Emeritus Nestor Timanywa died on August 28, 2018, at five o’clock in the Bugando Hospital, Mwanza.

The funeral of the deceased Bishop Timanywa was held on August 31, 2018, at the Bukoba Cathedral.

“Late Bishop Timanywa who was suffering from cancer and has been treated in various hospitals, died at the Bugando Hospital in Mwanza at the age of 81, after serving as priest for 51years and as bishop for 44 years,” said Bishop Rwoma.

The sad news about the Bishop Emeritus came while another sad news was still in circulation about the tragic death of Sr. Suzan Bathlomeo, who was Director of Finance and Planning at Bugando Hospital in the Archdiocese of Mwanza. She died on the night of 27 August.

These followed the death and funeral of former Scripture professor at Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Fr Christian Mhagama. He died on August 21, 2018 in Mbinga Diocese at Muhimbili National Hospital, and he was buried at Kigonsera Parish in the same Diocese on August 28, 2018, at a funeral which was presided by Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Songea, Most Rev. Damian Dallu and the Ordinary of the Diocese, Rt. Rev John Ndimbo.

On August 25, 2018, Bishop Severine Niwemugizi of the Diocese of Rulenge Ngara had just buried one of his priests, Fr. Genesius Kaiza, who died on August 23 at 10:30 in the town of Buseresere.

At the funeral of Fr Kaiza, Bishop Niwemugizi encouraged the grieving Congregation by reminding them that faith in the resurrection is the reason why the Church is praying for the deceased pastor, and added that faith in resurrection is the reason for the hope of a Catholic Christian.

During the same week, the Diocese of Lindi bid farewell to Fr Ernest Mangwinda, 65, who was buried on August 29 at Nyangao Parish in the diocese. According to medical information, the cause of the death of Fr. Mangwinda was Cerebral Vascular Accident, which is medically described as a major crash in the brain due to severe heart pressure.

At the funeral of Fr Mangwinda, the bishop of the Diocese of Lindi Rt. Rev Bruno Ngonyani has urged the lay men and women to pray to God for many young people to hear the call of God to priesthood and Consecrated life for the Church to continue intensifying its evangelization initiatives in the world.

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By Pascal Mwanache, TEC