TANZANIA: Catholic Church in Tanzania Celebrates Nation Eucharistic Congress
Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi giving a present of Monstrancy to Vice President TEC Bishop Flavian Kassala during the opening of Nation Eucharistic Conference
Sarah Pelaji
The Catholic Church in Tanzania has celebrated the fourth National Eucharist Conference in Tabora Archdiocese from 9th -12th September 2021 which coincided with the conclusion of the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference in Budapest, Hungary.
The fourth National Eucharist Conference held from September 9-12 this year is led by the motto ‘Holy Eucharist: the fountain of our lives’.
On September 9 this year, the conference began with a Mass to bless the Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus in the Tabora Archdiocese. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Joseph Roman Mlola, ALCP / OSS, of the Catholic Diocese of Kigoma.
On 10th September there was opening of the congress by Holy Mass in honor of St. Joseph, as part of the celebration of St. Joseph’s Year led by the Vice President, of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC Bishop Flavian Kassala who is also the Bishop of Geita Diocese.
The Mass was attended by thousands of Christians from different dioceses in the country including Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania who was the Guest of Honor at the ceremony.
In his homily, Bishop Kassala said that Saint Joseph reflects the relationship between God and man. The body of the Child Jesus kept in the Holy Family is the body that Christ Jesus gives to His servants daily during the celebration of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Minister Kabudi presented a gift of a monstrance to the Catholic Church in Tanzania from President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The bishops thanked president Samia for the present and saying that it is a silent request to the Church to continue praying to Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist to cleanse the world especially during this time of Coronavirus pandemic.
On September 11 this year a Mass was held in honor of the Virgin Mary led by the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Rev. Jude Thaddaeus Ruwai’chi OFM Cap.
He said the Church recognizes the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of every Baptist and in the Life of every believer in Christ as she participated in the redemption of man; and that the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ wh0 is the Holy Church. So, she becomes the mother of God and the Mother of all.
He further explained that Pope John XXIII dedicated Tanzania to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After the Holy Mass there was seminar on ongoing catechesis, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Adoration.
September 12, 2021 became the climax of the congress whereby the faithful went on a procession of the Holy Eucharist at 5 a.m. to the Cathedral of St. Theresia of the Child Jesus and then marched on to Ifucha Pilgrimage Centre which is 20 kilometers away from the cathedral
The procession of the Holy Eucharist was led by Bishop Beatus Urassa, ALCP/OSS of Sumbawanga Catholic Diocese and the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Arusha Rt. Rev. Prosper Lyimo.
At about six o’clock the procession arrived at Ifucha Pilgrimage Centre where the faithful had the opportunity to worship the Holy Eucharist before Holy Mass and the closing the congress.
Archbishop Paul Ruzoka of the Archdiocese of Tabora presided over the closing ceremony of the Holy Mass.
