TANZANIA: TEC Mourns Death of Liturgy Specialist Monsignor Julian Kangalawe
Sarah Pelaji
The Catholic Church in Tanzania mourns the death of Monsignor Prelate Julian Kangalawe who died on October 14th and was buried on October 18th, 2024, at Mafinga Catholic Diocese.
Expressing condolences on behalf of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), the Archbishop of Mbeya Archdiocese Most Rev. Gervas John Nyaisonga expressed how the Tanzanian Church lost an important person who was an expert in liturgy.
“Monsignor Julian Kangalawe was our spiritual father who added spiritual values in the Church. He has served the Bishop’s Conference for a long period of about 19 years as the head of Liturgy department,” said Most Rev. Nyaisonga.
“He was at the forefront of overseeing episcopal celebrations and this brought respect to the Conference. Many of us as Bishops are his students, he formed us with respect and wisdom. His death is a big loss for the Conference and the country as a whole,” he continued.
The Secretary General of TEC Fr. Charles Kitima explained how Monsignor Kangalawe was serving the Conference with loyalty for he supervised the translation of the Catholic Church Catechism 1992 version into Swahili, involving Swahili experts.
“Priests should know that the late Monsignor Kangalawe brought the correct translation of the Canon of the Mass in Swahili language. Previously during the consecration, we used to recite with Lay Faithful, ‘The Lord be with you’ and then the believers would respond ‘And also with you’. It was corrected, and now the priest says, ‘The Lord be with you’; the congregation responds, ‘And with you spirit.’ We shall remember him for this,” said Fr. Kitima.
He said that Monsignor Kangalawe was appointed by the Bishops as the Head of Liturgy Department in the Conference on 14th December 1994. He served diligently until October 7th, 2012, after his health deteriorated, having served the Conference for a period of 19 consecutive years.
“Recognizing his unique contribution we dare to say that he has been a very important person in strengthening the Catholic Church in Tanzania,” said Fr Kitima.
Monsignor Kangalawe was born on 12th August 1939 in Mdabulo in Iringa Catholic Diocese. He was baptized and received First Communion and Confirmation on 09th October 1949 in Mdabulo Parish, by Bishop Atilio Betramin.
He got his Primary Education at Mdabulo Iringa Primary School 1948-1952. He joined the Peramiho Major Seminary (Philosophy and Theology) in 1962-1967 and was ordained deacon in 1968 and Ordained priest on 25th May 1969. He went for higher education in Liturgy from the University of Saint Anselmo, Rome: 1970-1972Went to the Matrimonial Court Course from Gregorian University, Rome in 1977.
He was given the honor of being Monsignor Capellanus by Pope John Paul II in 2001 and in 2012 he was given the honour of being Monsignor Prelatus by Pope Benedict XVI. In 1992-1993 He was the Apostolic Administrator of Iringa Province (Sede Vacante) after Bishop Mtega was transferred to Songea Archdiocese as Archbishop.
He was appointed the Head of Liturgy Department at Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) 1992-2012. Until his death on October 14, 2024, in Mafinga Hospital, he was a formator at Mafinga Minor Seminary 2012-2024.
