The Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar will be celebrating 150 years of Catholic Faith, a celebration whichcoincides with the closing of the year of Faith for the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
According to TEC Secretary General Fr. Raymond Saba, the conference has organized a three-day celebration (from 8th to 11th November, 2013) to be held in Bagamoyo, Morogoro Diocese.
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| Fr. Raymond Saba |
Fr Saba said the Island of Zanzibar was a stepping stone for the spreading Christianity in Eastern and Central Africa. It was indeed through Zanzibar which has remained predominantly Muslim that Christianity spread to the mainland Tanganyika, presently Tanzania.
“In 1863, the current Mission in Zanzibar was founded and it was from there that faith crossed over to the mainland Tanganyika in 1868,” Fr. Raymond explained adding that the Holy Ghost Missionaries (Spiritan Fathers) were the first, followed by Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) and the Benedictine Fathers.
Speaking about the choice of the place –Bagamoyo- Fr Saba said “Bagamoyo”has a unique history for the Church in Tanzania. It wasthe first Mission that was founded and a gate way of Christianity in the mainland. “We expect that all the Dioceses of TEC will participate. These include all Bishops,Priests, the religious men and women, representatives of the laity from all dioceses, and representatives of youth and children will come for the celebrations,” he said.
Day one of the celebrations will begin with the Eucharistic Celebrations presided over by the president of Tanzania Episcopal Conference, Rt. Rev. Tarsisius Ngalalekumtwa. This will be followed by various presentations of papers regarding faith, sacraments, dialogue, role of media in the Church, and challenges in evangelization etc.
The activities for the second day will include the celebration of the Holy Mass, focus group discussions and more presentations on matters to do with faith; while on the last day; Mass celebrations to mark the end of the occasion will be presided over by H.E Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, the Archbishop of Dar-es-salaam.
Despite the fact that the Church in the Island of Zanzibar will be marking 150 years; it is facing a lot of challenges being a minority in a Muslim predominate region.
Last month a Catholic Priest Fr Anselm Mwangamba was burnt by acid as he became the third priest to be attacked in less than a year period and the third incidence of crime against Catholic Church Priests in Zanzibar. The first attack was on Christmas day of 2012, when Fr Ambrose Mkenda was seriously wounded in an armed attack; While in February 2013, Fr. Evarist Mushi was shot dead in Zanzibar City as he was heading for a Sunday Eucharistic celebration.
Despite the challenge, Fr. Raymond is optimistic that the Church will triumph because it is through the blood of the martyrs that the Church was built.
Source: AMECEA Social Communications