TANZANIA: Bishop-elect of Tanzania’s Njombe Diocese Recounts His Appointment Experience

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The recently appointed Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Njombe in Tanzania Monsignor Eusebio Samwel Kyando during an interview with AMECEA Online, recalls his experience which made him speechless when he received the message of appointment as a Bishop.

“I received a call from the Apostolic Nuncio (Archbishop Angelo Accattino) on a Saturday and since I was attending a retreat for the priest in the diocese, the Nuncio requested to see me the following Monday,” narrates Msgr. Kyando who has been serving in the diocese as an assistant administrator (contact person) since the Diocese fell vacant after the death of Bishop Alfred Leonhard Maluma.

“At the meeting with the Nuncio, I was convinced he wanted to know about the diocese. Actually, he asked me about my duties and the general progress of the diocese. After my response, he finally said “The Holy Father has appointed you the new Bishop of Njombe.”

“it was as if I fell from a cliff since it was not anything of my expectation,” Bishop-elect disclosed expressing signs of disbelief nearly a week later, during the Thursday, October 27, interview.

He continued, “All of a sudden I kept silent, silent for a couple of minutes, I couldn’t believe he was talking to me. What came to my mind was that if Jesus carried the cross, then I should also take my cross and follow after the master. I surrendered and said yes to this assignment from the Holy Father.”

With this incredulous feeling, Msgr. Kyando who had 10 days to keep the message confidential before the official announcement in Rome, expressed that “It takes time to come to terms with such reality knowing that the responsibility is not easy.”

Very Rev. Kyando hails from the same Diocese of Njombe and since his ordination in 1996, has served in the parish, as a tutor in the seminary, as a lecturer in the University, and as an accountant and treasury in a bank in Tanzania.

Asked what his priority will be in the new Diocese which he is familiar with quite well, the new Bishop-elect says he intends to intensify pastoral work in the Diocese which has about 49 parishes and more than 387,000 Catholics.

“My priority will be on pastoral work. I have seen a gap and there is a need to re-organize how this is to be done. I will have a pastoral meeting comprising Parish priests from various deaneries, the religious, and the laity so that together we can identify the major issues that need urgent attention, Msgr. Kyando disclosed, pointing out the possibility of improving the formation of future priests as a way forward for overcoming pastoral challenges.

Even though the Diocese has 117 priests the Bishop-elect said, “Some parishes are too huge making outreach a big problem since a priest may visit some of the outstations after two months.” So, “after the pastoral meeting, we will agree on the possibility of establishing new parishes and bring the pastors closer to the flock since it is very important to have a parish closer to the people.”

According to the Bishop-elect who is waiting for his consecration and installation slated for next year on 14^th January, the late Bishop Maluma was interested in having an independent Diocese, he, therefore intends to carry on with the plans of his predecessor and continue with the viable projects he begun for the Diocese to be economically sustainable.