TANZANIA: Bishop Pissa the New President of Tanzania Conference
Sarah Pelaji
The Catholic Bishops in Tanzania have elected Rt. Rev. Wolfgang Pisa, of Lindi Diocese, and a member of the Order of Franciscan Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
Rt. Rev. Pissa takes over from Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga who has served as president of TEC since 2018.
Bishop Pissa has been elected as the new President of TEC at the just-ended TEC Permanent Council and Plenary held from 13th – 21st June 2024 at Tanzania Catholic Bishops Conference Kurasini, Dar es Salaam.
Rt. Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa of Mpanda Catholic Diocese is the Vice President and the Chairman of the Communication Directorate.
The outgoing President Nyaisonga announced that the Bishops have also appointed Fr. Charles Kitima as the TEC Secretary General and Fr. Chesco Msaga as the Deputy Secretary General.
Other Bishops elected to the TEC Executive Board are Most Rev. Isaac Amani of Arusha Archdiocese, the chair of Pastoral Directorate, Rt. Rev. Agostino Shao ALCP/OSS ALCP/OSS (Audit) , Rt. Rev. Henry Mchamungu (Legal) Rt. Rev. Anthony Lagwen (Finance and administration).
Issuing his farewell statement, Bishop Nyaisonga congratulated the new President Bishop Pissa, and his team for being trusted by the Bishops Conference.
He also thanked all the executives of the Secretariat for the cooperation they gave him throughout his term as TEC President from 2018-2024 and apologized where there were challenges during his leadership.
On his part, the new President, Bishop Pissa, thanked God and the Bishops for giving him the responsibility together with his executives saying that they are ready to carry it out.
He emphasized that the Executive Leader in any leadership is Jesus Christ Himself and they are servants who follow His directives and guidance.
He congratulated and thanked Archbishop Nyaisonga and his Vice Bishop Flavian Kassala for the noble work they did, promising to continue where they left. He further requested their cooperation and guidance every time they seek for more directives in the office.
Bishop Wolfgang Pisa O.F.M. Cap. was born on 6 July 1965 in Mbulu Catholic Diocese -northern Tanzania. He went through religious formation in Lusaka, Zambia, and Jordan University in Morogoro. He made final vows on 15th August 1998 and was ordained a priest on 1st September 1999.
He was the Rector of the OFM Cap Maua Junior Seminary in Moshi Kilimanjaro Region from 1999 to 2000, then went for further studies at Dar es Salaam University from 2001 -2004.
He was again appointed the Rector of the OFM Cap Maua Junior Seminary from 2005-2008.
He went for Further studies in America at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC from 2009 to 2011. He was elected as Tanzania Provincial from 2011 to 2017.
He went for further studies in America from 20017 to 2019 at the Catholic University of America Washington, DC, and then was appointed a parish priest at Kibaigwa Parish in Dodoma Archdiocese from 2019 to 2020.
He was appointed to lecture at St Augustine University of Tanzania Arusha Branch from 2021 until he was appointed by Pope Francis to become the News Bishop of Lindi Catholic Diocese.
He was Consecrated a bishop in 2022, and in June 2024 he was elected By Catholic Bishops to become TEC’s new President.
