TANZANIA: Celebrates National Eucharistic Congress
Sarah Pelaji
The Catholic Church in Tanzania has celebrated the Fifth National Eucharist Conference held in Dar es Salaam Archdiocese from 12th -15th September 2024 which coincided with the conclusion of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador.
The fifth National Eucharist Congress attracted thousands of Catholics in Tanzania. Catholic Bishops from all the 35 Dioceses in Tanzania were present for the event whose theme was
“Fraternity Heals the World, We Are All Brothers”.
The Opening Mass was held at Msimbazi Centre while presided by The Archbishop of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese Most Rev. Jude Thaddaeus Ruwai’chi OFM Cap who insisted on the fraternity and unity among Tanzanians.
In each day was opened by the Holy Mass, followed by presentations and ended with the Holy hour ‘Adoration.’
On 14th September there was a historical Eucharistic procession from the Dar es Salaam University School of Education campus at Kurasini to the Msimbazi Centre.
Thousands processed in a long que around Dar es Salaam City including bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful singing and dancing lead by children of The Holy Childhood Association in Dar es Salaam Archdiocese.
On the 15th of September it was the conclusion of The fifth National Eucharistic Congress in Tanzania by the Holy Mass presided by the President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC, Rt. Rev. Wolfgang Pisa OFM Cap, at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam attended by thousands who filled the stadium.
The occasion also marked closure of the 50 Years Jubilee of Small Christian Communities in Tanzania as a member of AMECEA .
Bishop Pisa insisted that the Catholic faithful must be personally touched and transformed by the Holy Eucharist.
“Catholics, you have an opportunity of receiving the Holy Communion. And normally, they say, ‘You become what you eat’ meaning that what we eat transforms our being. If you receive Jesus in the Eucharist and remain the same as you were before, then there is something wrong in your life. The Sacrament is supposed to makes us changed people,” emphasized the TEC President.
“The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of love, so we should love one another. We are different because of Ideologies, religion, race, traditions but this should never be the cause of us to discriminate against each other. We all have one God. Let us live in compassion, love and care for one another,” Bishop Pisa continued.
The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) took the opportunity to strongly condemned the recent surge in abductions and killings across the country, calling on state authorities to take decisive action to restore Tanzania’s reputation for peace and stability.
In his statement, TEC Vice President Rt. Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence. For decades, Tanzania has been celebrated as a beacon of peace amid diverse religious, ethnic, and ideological differences.
However, Bishop Nzigilwa noted that recent developments threaten this longstanding peace.
“The recent incidents of abductions and killings force us to question the direction our nation is heading. Have the leadership, relevant authorities, and security agencies become so overwhelmed that they are unable to manage this crisis?” he asked.
Bishop Nzigilwa emphasized that criminal groups should not be more powerful than the country’s security forces. He urged these agencies to fulfill their responsibilities and restore the nation’s core values of brotherhood and peace.
He all the same asserted that the police need to conduct comprehensive investigations in relation to child abductions and other kidnappings and prosecute those responsible, in a bid to ensure citizens’ safety.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, Archbishop Angelo Accattino, conveyed Pope Francis’ greetings to the Catholic faithful of Tanzania gathered in a National Eucharistic Congress.
The Nuncio commended religious freedom prevailing in Tanzania, as demonstrated by the atmosphere at the Congress.
Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko, greeted the Christian faithful attending the Congress and encouraged Tanzanians as a whole to embrace tolerance, mutual respect and love for one another. He also said differences in opinion among citizens should not divide them.
The next Sixth National Eucharist Congress in Tanzania shall be held in Arusha Archdiocese.
The forts Congress in Tanzania.
The Pontifical Commission for International Eucharistic Conferences was officially established by Pope Leo XIII in 1876 and this year the International Conference is the 53rd while the National Conference is the Fifth.
In Tanzania, The National Holy Eucharist Congress is held every four years, guided by various theme.
The First National Holy Eucharist Conference was held in 2008 in the Catholic Diocese of Dodoma under the theme Eucharist, God’s Gift for the Life of the World and the Earth.
The Second Conference was held in Iringa Catholic Diocese in the year 2012
When the Third Conference was held in 2016 from June 9-11 in the grounds of Kawekamo Catholic Arch Diocese of Mwanza led by the motto ‘Christ in you is our hope’;
The Fourth National Congress was held at the Ifucha Pilgrimage Center of the Tabora Catholic Archdiocese led by the theme “The Holy Eucharist is the fountain of our life.”
The Fifth was held in Dar es Salaam 2024 and the Sixth shall be in Arusha Catholic Archdiocese in 2028.
