TANZANIA: National Laity Council in Tanzania Elects New Leaders
By Pascal Mwanache, TEC.
The National Laity Council in Tanzania has held a meeting whereby its members went to election polls and chose new leadership, in an event which was blessed by the presence of Bishop of Bukoba Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Desderius Rwoma.
The meeting which went altogether with the election was held on October 3, 2020 at the National Laity Center of Blessed Isdori Bakanja, in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.
The election was preceded by a seminar on leadership in the Catholic Church and later the election concluded with a Holy Mass celebrated by the Bishop Rwoma who is the Chairman of the Pastoral Directorate at Tanzania Catholic Episcopal Conference (TEC).
In his homily, Bishop Rwoma urged new leaders to always seek true happiness in doing justice to others and doing the will of God.
“True happiness comes from doing what God wants you to do. True happiness also comes from doing justice, and here we believe that those who voted have done it all fairly and in accordance with the association’s Constitution. So, let us always be happy in the things that unite us with God, let us feel happy in upholding dignity of the human person, service to those most in need. ”said Bishop Rwoma.
On his side the Director of Pastoral Directorate at TEC, Rev. Fr Florence Rutaihwa, said that a leader within the Church should work in designing, planning, deciding and implementing together with his colleagues as a participant.
“He or she must participate in designing, planning, decision-making and implementation as well as being active participant. Do not pretend to know everything, there is no leader with all the gifts; there are others in the community with gifts that you, the leader, do not have! Therefore, recognize the gifts of others and use them in furthering the activities of the Church. Be prepared to be challenged or criticized and be ready to acknowledge and use the gifts of your fellow leaders or community members,” he said.
The newly elected team of leaders has Mr. Deogratius Rutatora of Morogoro Catholic Diocese as Chairman, Ms. Asteria Sylvester of Geita Catholic Diocese being his Vice. The Secretary is Mr Fredrick Nyaky of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es salaam while Mr. Godfrey Leonard of the Archdiocese of Tabora is the Assistant Secretary. The Treasurer is Mr. Alvera Kabwogi of the Archdiocese of Dar es salaam.
