TANZANIA: Precious Blood Congregation Launches 60th Anniversary of its Presence in Tanzania
Dalphina Rubyema
The Precious Blood Congregation of Jesus Christ, under the leadership of its Regional Director in Tanzania, Fr. Vedasto Ngowi, CPPS, has officially launched the celebrations to mark 60 years of its presence in Tanzania.
The launch took place during the Holy Mass for the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of three deacons of the same Congregation, which was held at Blessed Isidore Bakanja Boko Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Bagamoyo.
During the event, the faithful witnessed Fr. Vedasto Ngowi cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening of the Jubilee and later invited the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bagamoyo, Stephano Lameck Musomba, OSA, to light the Jubilee candle, commemorating 60 years of the Congregation in Tanzania.
The climax of the celebrations has been announced to take place on 1st and 2nd July this year in Manyoni, within the Catholic Diocese of Singida, where the Congregation first established its roots in Tanzania in 1966.
The lighting of the Jubilee candle symbolizes bringing light to all people and offering thanks to God for the Congregation’s 60 years of service and missionary work in Tanzania.
As part of the Jubilee celebrations, the Precious Blood Congregation also plans to take the relics of Blessed John Merlini to various dioceses and communities across Tanzania, so that the faithful may come to know him better, learn from his virtues, and witness his life.
The Precious Blood Congregation of Jesus Christ is a missionary religious congregation of priests and brothers, founded by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo on 15 August 1815 in Italy, at the Abbey of Saint Felix, and placed under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the patronage of Saint Francis Xavier.
The main purpose of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in founding the Congregation was the liberation of humanity and the spreading of Christ’s love, manifested through the shedding of His Blood on the Cross. Since its early beginnings, thousands of missionaries have been drawn by the charism of Saint Gaspar and have continued to promote this mission worldwide.
Despite many initial challenges, the Congregation has continued to grow beyond Italy and now has about 500 members across all continents, in more than 20 countries, organized into eight Provinces, two Vicariates, and two Missions.
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood are guided by three pillars of their charism, namely: mission, community life, and the spirituality of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. These pillars inspire them to live together in community, united by bonds of love and fraternity.
The arrival of the Precious Blood Congregation in Tanzania was a result of the 150th anniversary of the Congregation’s founding worldwide. The first headquarters in Tanzania was established in Manyoni, Singida, and later moved to Morogoro, and is currently located in Kisasa, Dodoma.
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood first arrived in Tanzania on 19 May 1966.
In Tanzania, Missionaries of the Precious Blood Congregation are currently serving in the dioceses of Morogoro, Ifakara, the Archdiocese of Dodoma, the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, Mpanda, Rulenge, Mbulu, Singida and Musoma.
