Among the key events during the consecration and inauguration of the Shrine were the burial of the relics of St. Father Pio San Damiano.
The event was presided over by the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam Rev. Juda Thaddaeus Ruwai’chi OFM Cap who is a capuchin member.
Other Catholic bishops also attended the celebration including Capuchin Community members from various regions, hundreds of priests as well as lay faithful.
Following the consecration and inauguration of the shrine, Bishop Ruwa'ichi who is also a member of the Capuchin family declared the shrine to be a Pilgrimage church. He has invited lay faithful to come in large numbers for pilgrims.
However, Rev. Ruw'aichi said that the Shrine was in honor of St. Father Pio who volunteered to witness Christ through charitable service and his priesthood life. Therefore, he warned that the area not be used for business but for spiritual matters.
He has asked the faithful in their prayers not to forget to pray for the priests in order to continue to carry out their mission effectively.
Around the shrine area, the capuchins have built a pilgrim area for the way of the cross.
The shrine consecration ceremony was followed by the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Capuchin Brothers mission in Tanzania. The climax of the celebration was held at Msimbazi Centre led by Archbishop Ruwa'ichi.
Among other things, Bishop. Ruwa'ichi said that the Capuchin brothers could not succeed in evangelizing in Tanzania without the support of Benedictine Missionaries who came earlier in Tanzania.
The Capuchins started their missionary work in Tanzania after the outbreak of First World War because they came from one of the non-aligned countries.
Benedictines missionaries got challenges in evangelizing in Tanganyika for they were from Germany, the country that was involved in World War II.
This is the grounds and the source of the Capuchins coming to Tanganyika (now Tanzania) that was in 1921 coming from Switzerland accompanied by the Baldegg Sisters.
"Today we also thank the Baldegg Sisters who were and still are a great help in nurturing the Sisters of St. Francis Mahenge and the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Dar es Salaam." Archbishop Ruwa'ichi said due to the good work of the First missionaries in Tanzania, the Capuchins family in Tanzania continued to grow and in 1996 it was declared the Province of the Capuchin Brothers in Tanzania under the Patron of Blessed Virgin Mary.
He invited the youth to respond to God’s call to join the Capuchin family so as to continue serving God in religious life.
The Capuchin brothers also offered a special prayer for their members who died, including those taken by God in an accident on October 22, 2011 in the Ruvu area of the Coast region, which included Brother Luciano Baffig, Corrado Travelli. , Silverio Ghelli and Andrea Ferri.
The origins of the Capuchin Brothers in Tanzania is Switzerland. The missionaries arrived in Tanzania in 1921 accompanied by the Baldegg Sisters. Later in 1923 they were supported by the Austrian and Dutch Provinces (1959) followed by the Tuscan Provinces (1963), Bologna (1965) and India (1966).