With great joy and thanksgiving to God, the Catholic Diocese of Singida celebrated its Golden Jubilee on the 21st August, 2022, together with the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of priestly ordination of Rt. Rev. Edward Mapunda, the Bishop of Singida at Bernard Mabula Camp in the grounds at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The Holy Mass was presided over by his Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, the retired Archbishop of Dar es Salaam. Very. Rt. Rev. Gervas Nyaisonga, the Archbishop of Mbeya, the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, thirty two Tanzanian bishops, Abbot Octavian Masingo O.S.B from Hanga Abbey-Songea, more than a hundred priests and a great number of religious brothers and sisters from the Singida Diocese and beyond, as well as thousands of lay faithful from all corners of the country participated in the joyful celebration.
In his homily, Cardinal Pengo congratulated the Catholic Church in Singida for the progress and success shown in the various sectors in the diocese and wished them a bright future. He stressed that Singida is one of the Catholic Dioceses in Tanzania with a steady progress in matters of faith, and in the establishment of Institutions of Health, Education and Rehabilitation Centers which reveals the determination of the diocese. The motto of the Jubilee “Jubilee Singida – Umoja na Mapendo” i.e (Jubilee Singida – Unity and Love) is realized in the everyday living of the people of Singida.
The retired Tanzanian Head of Defense and Security forces, General Venance Salvatory Mabeyo, who was the guest of honor at this celebration, insisted that the source of success and development in any society begins from the family level. With the achievement of fifty years of existence of the Singida Diocese, he encouraged the Church to invest in the moral formation of the children from the family level to the national level, so as to have a healthy and productive society.
The Singida diocese was officially established by his Holiness Pope Paul VI on March 25, 1972. Before its establishment it was part of Mbulu, Dodoma and Tabora Dioceses. The Late Bishop Bernard Mabula was appointed the first Bishop of Singida by Pope Paul VI on July 09, 1972. He led the Diocese from 1972 – 1999, and Rt. Rev. Desderius Rwoma was the second bishop from 1999- 2013 when he was appointed the Bishop of Bukoba. He was succeeded by Rt. Rev. Edward Mapunda in 2015 up to the present.
At its establishment in 1972 the Singida Diocese had 59,000 Catholics, nine Parishes and 200 outstations with only four Diocesan priests and eleven from the religious congregations of the Pallottines, the Precious Blood, the Passionists and the Missionaries of Africa. At this time only three congregations of religious sisters were in the diocese; the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Precious Blood sisters and sisters of St. Gemma Galgani. The diocese had seven seminarians and one minor seminary, St. Patrick’s in Dung’unyi.
Now as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee, it is truly a moment of thanking God for the inspirations and achievements of the Diocese, for its radical transformation in matters of faith and social welfare. The number of Christians has increased to 196,797, there are thirty parishes, seven designated parishes and 361 outstations. Today the diocese has seventy six diocesan priests and thirty two priests from different religious congregations. It has also been a favorable ground for the establishment of many missionary activities, undertaken by the thirty two religious congregations of men and women active in evangelization. In the medical field the Church has established four hospitals, three Health Centers and nine Dispensaries. The Diocese now owns seven Secondary Schools, one Teaching College, twelve Primary Schools and three Vocational Training Centers, one Catechetical Institution, one Social and Pastoral Center and three Rehabilitation Centers for children and the elderly.
The congregation of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters was well represented at the Jubilee celebration with the presence of our Superior General from Rome, Rev. Sr. Josephine D’Souza, SAC, Sr. Mary Mc Nulty, SAC, from England who was a missionary in Singida for 28 years. From 1990 Sr. Mary witnessed the progress and development of the Diocese since she had the privilege of working with all three Bishops who transformed the diocese. Our Provincial Superior from Queen of Peace Province, Sr. Basilisa Jacob, SAC, with most of the sisters and formees attended the celebration.
The celebration of the Jubilee marks the beginning of a new era in the Singida Diocese. Those who participated prayed and wished the diocese a bright future. We congratulate and wish our Bishop Mapunda good health of mind and body as he serves the people of God with great simplicity and humility.
Text and photos: Sr. Ernestina Patrick Lasway, SAC
