TANZANIA: Three Are Ordained Catholic Bishops Within Three Days in Tanzania
Father Henry Mchamungu and Father Stephano Musomba OSA, were ordained Bishops as Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam
Sarah Pelaji
The Catholic Church in Tanzania has received the blessing of three bishops within three days after Monsignor Lazarus Lusimbe was ordained and installed a Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Morogoro September 19th this year.
On September 21 this year, Father Henry Mchamungu and Father Stephano Musomba OSA, were ordained Bishops as Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.
The Holy Mass for the consecration of Bishops Mchamungu and Musomba was led by the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Most Rev. Judda Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi OFM Cap at Msimbazi Centre in the Archdiocese.
On July 4 this year, Father Simon Chibuga Masondole was ordained a bishop and installed a Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bunda and this increased the number of newly ordained bishops between July and September this year to four.
The consecration of Rev. Mchamungu and Rev. Musomba makes the Catholic Church in Tanzania to have a total of four Auxiliary Bishops including Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini who is the Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Bukoba and Rt. Rev. Prosper Lyimo the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Arusha.
Currently, there are 34 diocesan ordinaries according to the number of dioceses of the Catholic Church in the country which are also divided into seven archdioceses namely Mbeya led by Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, Songea led by Archbishop Damian Dallu, Arusha led by Archbishop Isaac Amani, Dodoma led by Archbishop Beatus Kinyaiya, Mwanza led by Archbishop Renatus Nkwande, Tabora led by Archbishop Paul Ruzoka and Dar es Salaam led by Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi OFM Cap.
In addition, the Catholic Church in Tanzania has seven retired Archbishops/bishops including His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo (Archdiocese Dar es Salaam), Most Rev. Josaphat Lebulu (Archdiocese Arusha), Most Rev. Norbert Mtega (Songea Archdiocese), Bishop Jacob Koda (Same), Bishop Damiani Kyaruzi (Sumbawanga) and Bishop Telesphor Mkude (Morogoro).
In his homily, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi, among other things, urged the Auxiliary Bishops to stand firm and be ready to proclaim Christ, recognizing that the appointment and eventual consecration to the post of bishop is not by personal merit or popularity but by the grace of God.
He encouraged them not to be afraid as God is with them in their mission.
“You are called by the love and mercy of Christ… so in leading the sheep, know that the good shepherd is one who devotes himself to his flock, who knows the sheep and cares for them, is willing to die for them and is always present and ready to give them hope, ”he stressed.
The Holy Mass of the consecration and installation of Bishop Msimbe was held at the grounds of St. Peter’s Minor Seminary in Morogoro and was presided over by the Vatican Ambassador to Tanzania Archbishop Marek Solczyński and attended by thousands of faithful from within and outside Morogoro Diocese.
Expressing congratulations on behalf of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), TEC President Rev. Gervas Nyaisonga congratulated Rt. Rev. Msimbe on his appointment as Bishop of Morogoro diocese and urged the diocese to continue working in solidarity for the good and success of the Church.
“This position has been given to you because the Holy Father is satisfied with your performance and has seen that you can help him with those responsibilities. I also congratulate the faithful of the Diocese of Morogoro for working well with the Retired Bishop Telesphor Mkude and now for welcoming the new bishop. This is a good sign that you are united, you love each other and the Church is happy, “said Archbishop Nyaisonga.
Archbishop Nyaisonga also welcomed the newly ordained bishops to the Episcopal council by handing them the TEC Code of Conduct, urging them to stir the Gospel as needed.
In a word of thanks, the Bishops Mchamungu and Musomba, thanked God for calling them to priesthood and now making them bishops. At the same time, they have asked the Episcopal council to support them as they take their responsibilities as bishops.
