Sala, Kazi na Undugu katika Kristo. Rt, Rev, Monsignor,Beatus Christian Urassa ALCP/OSS   BISHOP OF SUMBAWANGA

THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SUMBAWANGA -RUKWA-TANZANIA

Territory 

Sumbawanga Diocese, formerly Tanganyika Vicariate, Karema Vicariate andKaremaDiocese1969.10.24: Renamedas Diocese of Sumbawanga / Sumbavangen(sis) (Latin) is now 138 years old,). The diocese includes the southern part of the Rukwa Region in Tanzania . The episcopal seat is the city of Sumbawanga , where the cathedral of the Three Magi(Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar-Epifani) is located .  The territory is divided into 27 parishes.  e of Sumbawanga    Dioecesis Sumbavangensis Latin Church,  

The area of Rukwa region by which sumbawanga diocese if found, is covered by the diocese is 28, 654 sq km. out of the estimated population of is  1, 500,135 the Catholics are 865,430. Geographically, Sumbawanga Diocese occupies on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika and the western shores of Lake Rukwa. The neighboring dioceses are Mpanda and Mbeya in Tanzania and Mpika and Kasama in Zambia.

History

  • 09.27: Established as Apostolic Vicariateof Tanganyika / Tangankien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa)
  • 01.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariateof Haut-Congo and Apostolic Vicariate of Unianyembé
  • 07.31: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefectureof Nyassa
  • 08.05: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefectureof Katanga
  • 07.18: Lost territory to establish Mission sui jurisof Tukuyu
  • 05.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariateof Karema (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Kigoma)
  • 03.25: Promoted as Dioceseof Karema (became suffragan of Tabora)
  • 10.24: Renamed as Dioceseof Sumbawanga / Sumbavangen(sis) (Latin)
  • 10.23: Lost territory to establish Dioceseof Mpanda
  • 12.21: Became suffragan of Mbeya

The apostolic vicariate of Karema was erected on 10 May 1946 with the bull Quo maiora of Pope Pius XII , deriving the territory from the apostolic vicariate of Tanganyika (now the diocese of Kigoma ). On 25 March 1953 the apostolic vicariate was elevated to a diocese with the bull Quemadmodum ad Nos of Pope Pius XII himself. Originally the diocese was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Tabora .               On 24 October 1969 it took on its current name.   On 23 October 2000 it ceded a portion of its territory for the sake of the erection of the diocese of Mpanda . On 21 December 2018 it became part of the ecclesiastical province of the archdiocese of Mbeya .

Chronotax of bishops  

Since its foundation in 1885 by the white Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) has had nine Bishops and one Apostolic Administrator (Missionary of Africa Priest. Periods of vacancy not exceeding 2 years or not historically ascertained are omitted.

  1. Bishop Jean-Baptiste-Frézal Charbonnier, M. Afr. (1887.01.14 – 1888.03.1616)
  2. Bishop Léonce Bridoux, M. Afr. (1888.06.15 Jun 1888 – 1890.10.20)
  3. Bishop Adolphe Le Chaptois, M. Afr. (1891.06.19 – 1917.11.30)
  4. Bishop Joseph-Marie Birraux, M. Afr. (1920.04.22 – 1936.04.22), appointed Superior General of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers)
  5. Bishop Jan Cornelius van Sambeek, M. Afr. (1936.11.19 – 1947.05.10), appointed Vicar Apostolic of Kigoma Vicar Apostolic of Karema (Roman rite) Bishop James Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr. (1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25 see below) Bishops of Karema (Roman rite)
  6. Bishop James Holmes-Siedle Afr.(see above 1953.03.25 – 1958.08.05), appointed Bishop of Kigoma
  7. Bishop Charles Msakila(1958.11.13 – 1969.10.24 see below) Bishops of Sumbawanga (Roman rite), Bishop Charles Msakila 1958.10.24 – 1994.02.23)
  8. Bishop Damian Kyaruzi(1997.04.21 – 2018.04.19)
  9. Bishop Beatus Christian Urassa(since 2018.04.19)

NB. Former Prelate Co-adjustor Bishop Tarcisius J Ngalalekumtwa(14.11. 1988-21.11.1992), Now is a bishop of Iringa Tanzania

1994-19.04.1997 the diocese was under Apostolic administrator Rev. Fr Luekewille Walter M,Afr

Mamajusi watakatifu

Events and News

Ofisi ya habari Jimbo

“Mwokozi wetu, katika Karamu ya mwisho, usiku ule alipotolewa, aliweka sadaka ya Ekaristi ya Mwili wake na Damu yake. Alifanya hivyo ili kuendeleza sadaka ya Msalaba siku zote mpaka atakaporudi, kusudi amwachie Bibi Arusi mpendwa, yaani Kanisa, ukumbusho wa kifo chake na ufufuko wake: Sakramenti ya upendo, umoja, kifungo cha mapendo, karamu ya Pasaka ambamo Kristo huliwa, na roho hujazwa neema, na ambamo tunapewa amana ya uzima wa milele”
 

Na Padre Joseph Herman Luwela, – Vatican.

Kardinali Protase Rugambwa Anaandika Historia ya Jimbo kuu la Tabora, Tanzania
Askofu mkuu Paul Runangaza Ruzoka wa Jimbo kuu la Tabora, Tanzania anaelezea furaha ya watu wa Mungu kwa kuteuliwa na hatimaye kusimikwa kwa Kardinali Protase Rugambwa, historia ya majimbo …

Askofu Beatus Urasa Aongoza Maelfu ya Waamini katika Hija ya Kutukuka kwa Msalaba

Zaidi ya watoto 700 kutoka katika vigango saba (7) vya Parokia ya Kihesa 

 

Mkutano Mkuu wa Sinodi ya Maaskofu Tarehe 04/10/2023

Mkutano Mkuu wa Sinodi ya Maaskofu umeanza kwa kujikita katika mang’amuzi muhimu ya Kanisa la Sinodi. Hapa wajumbe wa Sinodi wakimsikiliza Baba Mtakatifu akiwahutubia katika Ukumbi wa Paul VI. 04.10.2023

Waraka wa Sinodi ya XVI ya Maaskofu Kwa Watu wa Mungu

Ujenzi wa umoja na ushirika; wongofu wa kichungaji na kimisionari, ili kutangaza Injili ya Kristo inayosimikwa katika huduma; Upendo wa Kanisa unabubujika kutoka katika Ekaristi. Kanisa linahitaji ujenzi wa utamaduni wa kuwasikiliza watoto wake wote hasa wale wanaotengwa na kusukumizwa pembezoni mwa vipaumbele vya jamii

Zaburi 4:1

Ee Mungu wa haki yangu, uniitikie niitapo; Umenifanyizia nafasi wakati wa shida; Unifadhili na kuisikia sala yangu.

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Sumbawanga Diocese - Diocesan Priests

Si ninyi mlionichangua mimi, bali ni mimi niliyewachagua ninyi . Yn 15:16

Adolfo Monela

Born: 00-00-1888, Place of birth: Utinta, Ordained: Karema, 02-02-1923, Died: 67-02-1937, Buried: Mulera/Kigoma.

Joseph Atiman

Born: 12-11-1892, Place of birth: Karema, Ordained: Karema, 02-02-1923, Died: 16-09-1957, Buried: Karema.

Athanasi Choma

Born: 00-00-1900, Place of birth: Kirando, Ordained: Tabora, 08-09-1927, Died: 29-03-1993, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Michael Chipeta

Born: 29-09-1904, Place of birth: Karema, Ordained: Ujiji, 29-06-1933, Died: 19-11-1975, Buried: Ifakara.

Elias Lugula

Born: 00-00-1907, Place of birth: Izimba, Ordained: Ujiji, 29-06-1933, Died: 08-05-1960, Buried: Dar es Salaam.

Bartolomeo Kalyalya

Born: 00-00-1909, Place of birth: Izimba, Ordained: Ujiji, 29-06-1933, Died: 24-01-1982, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Petro Mwanampemba

Born: 18-08-1907, Place of birth: Kirando, Ordained: Tabora, 15-08-1935, Died: 28-10-1971, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Urbano Makungu

Born: 00-00-1904, Place of birth: Izimba, Ordained: Tabora, 15-8-1937, Died: 20-08-1965, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Daniel Masya

Born: 00-10-1907, Place of birth: Kirando, Ordained: Tabora, 15-08-1937, Died: 28-01-1993, Buried: Karema.

Joseph Kamunika

Born: 10-05-1910, Place of birth: Karema, Ordained: Tabora, 15-08-1939, Died: 21-06-1994, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Fidelis Nchinga

Born: 00-00-1903, Place of birth: Mpui, Ordained: Tabora, 15-08-1940, Died: 16-03-1987, Buried: Sumbawanga.

Dominiko Sakasya

Born: 00-00-1908, Place of birth: Izimba, Ordained: Tabora, 15-08-1940, Died: 26-06-1992, Buried: Sumbawanga.

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