TANZANIA: WAWATA in Dar es Salaam Archdiocese celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving
Dalphina Rubyema
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, His Lordship Henry Mchamungu, led thousands of members of the Association of Tanzania Catholic Women (WAWATA) from all 163 parishes of the Archdiocese in a Thanksgiving Holy Mass to thank God for all the blessings received in 2025.
In his homily to WAWATA, Bishop Mchamungu congratulated them for their faithfulness in giving thanks to God for the blessings they received in 2025 and urged them to continue praying so that God may remain with them in 2026.
He said that although women face many social challenges, including the major responsibility of raising children and being a key pillar in the family, those experiencing various difficulties should continue entrusting themselves to God.
“We have gathered here to thank God, and each person carries in her heart what God has done for her in the year 2025. Some blessings are personal, others are within families, and others are shared as WAWATA. We thank God for the help He gave you to carry out your mission well; therefore, giving thanks is a good and worthy thing,” he said.
He added, “Women who are going through difficult moments in raising your children should not lose hope, but continue to pray with faith without ceasing, so that your children may change, just as the mother of Saint Augustine prayed for her son Augustine and succeeded. Today Augustine is a saint. A child who is well brought up is a treasure in society.”
The Bishop encouraged the women to take pride in being members of the Church and Catholics, stressing that the Church of Christ is found within the Catholic Church. He said it is something to be grateful for to be born into the Catholic Church, and urged everyone to remain firm in defending and safeguarding the Catholic faith, since all the essentials for salvation are found within the Church and no one should be misled.
“God has given women hearts of compassion, generosity, and love. We are proud of your large number in the Church, and we pray for you in your mission, because you do so much in the Small Christian Communities, parishes, and at the diocesan level. You are on fire, truly on fire. We thank you very much for your sacrifices within the Church,” he said.
The Director of the Lay Apostolate Council of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Fr. Vitalisi Kasembo, also congratulated WAWATA and encouraged them to continue witnessing their faith through words and actions, and to pray for their parishes to have good leaders, not merely leaders in name.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Fr. Denis Wigira, urged WAWATA to focus their discussions on the proper upbringing of children.
This is an annual tradition for WAWATA to celebrate a Thanksgiving Holy Mass, followed by acts of charity through visiting and supporting the needy with various gifts. This year, they visited the Msimbazi Centre for the Needy.
