We hereby welcome you to our website. This website offers relevant information to those who wish to know and relate with the Archdiocese of Mwanza.

May God fill you with faith, hope, joy, peace and love.

BACKGROUND

The origin of the Archdiocese of Mwanza can be traced back to 1884 when Mwanza was part of Nyanza Vicariate, which was comprised of Bukoba, Ngara, Biharamulo, Karagwe, Rwanda and Burundi under Monsignor Livinhac. From 1890 Bishop Joseph Hirth led the Vicariate until 1912 when it was divided into Rwanda vicariate and Nyanza vicariate. Nyanza vicariate was led by Monsignor Sweens and was comprised of the present Mwanza Metropolitan with the exception of Shinyanga.

On 10 April, 1929 Nyanza vicariate was divided into Bukoba vicariate and Mwanza vicariate. Bishop Anthony Oomen led Mwanza vicariate until 1948. In 1949, Bishop Joseph Blomjous led the vicariate and later on 25 March, 1953, the diocese of Mwanza. From 1966 Bishop Renatus Butibubage led the diocese of Mwanza until he retired in 1987.
On 18 November, 1987, Mwanza became a Metropolitan See, with Suffragan Dioceses: Mwanza, Bukoba, Shinyanga, Musoma, Geita, Rulenge-Ngara and Kayanga. His Grace Anthony Mayala was installed as its first Archbishop on 28/02/1988. Before that, he was the Bishop of Musoma since 1979.

The Archdiocese of Mwanza covers an area of 19,592 square kilometers, which comprises Ilemela, Magu, Nyamagana, Kwimba, Misungwi ad Ukerewe districts. It is costituted of 33 parishes, which together make a total number of 877,000 Catholics.

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THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MWANZA

The Archdiocese of Mwanza is situated in the northern part of Tanzania. It is currently under the leadership of the Administrator, the Most Rev. Fr. Renatus Nkwande.

THE PRELATES OF MWANZA

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mwanza (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Juda Thadaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (57)
(2010.11.10 – ...)

Born:	1953.12.30 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1981.11.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.05.16

Bishop of Mbulu (Tanzania) (1999.05.16 – 2005.01.15)

Bishop of Dodoma (Tanzania) (2005.02.20 – 2010.11.10)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (T.E.C.) (2006 – ...)
S.A.U.T. Chancellor (2006 - ....)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (2011.01.09 – ...)

Archbishop Anthony Mayala
(1987.11.18 – 2009.08.19)

Born:	1940.04.25 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1970.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.04.22
Died:	2009.08.19 († 69)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania) (1979.01.12 – 1987.11.18)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (T.E.C.) (1982 – 1988)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1987.11.18 – 2009.08.19)

Bishops of Mwanza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Renatus Lwamosa Butibubage
(1966.01.15 – 1987.11.18)

Born:	1918.04.03 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1948.08.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.05.08
Died:	1998.10.02 († 80)

Titular Bishop of Casius (1959.12.19 – 1966.01.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1959.12.19 – 1966.01.15)

Bishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1966.01.15 – 1987.11.18)

Bishop Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr.
(1953.03.25 – 1965.10.15)

Born:	1908.02.10
Ordained Priest:	1934.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.10.06
Died:	1992.11.03 († 84)

Prefect Apostolic of Musoma (Tanzania) (1946.04.11 – 1950.06.25)

Titular Bishop of Bubastis (1946.04.11 – 1950.06.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1950.06.25 – 1953.03.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Maswa (Tanzania) (1950.06.27 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1965.10.15)

Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi (1965.10.15 – 1977.05.13)

Vicars Apostolic of Mwanza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr.
(1950.06.25 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Bishop Antoon Oomen, M. Afr.
(1929.03.18 – 1950)

Born:	1876.02.16
Ordained Priest:	1901.03.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1929.07.21
Died:	1957.08.19 († 81)

Vicar Apostolic of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1929.03.18 – 1950)

Titular Bishop of Zatara (1929.03.18 – 1957.08.19)

Vicars Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Sweens, M. Afr.
(1915 – 1928.11.15)

Born:	1858.05.22 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1882
Consecrated Bishop:	1910.01.20
Died:	1950.04.12 († 91)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Southern Victoria-Nyanza (Tanzania) (1910.01.01 – 1912.12.12)

Titular Bishop of Capsa (1910.01.01 – 1950.04.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Victoria-Nyanza (Tanzania) (1912.12.12 – 1915)

Vicar Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Tanzania) (1915 – 1928.11.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Southern Victoria-Nyanza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Sweens, M. Afr.
(1912.12.12 – 1915)

(see above)

Bishop Jean-Joseph Hirth, M. Afr.
(1894.07.13 – 1912.12.12)

Born:	1854.03.24 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1878.09.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1890.05.25
Died:	1931.01.06 († 76)

Vicar Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Uganda) (1889.12.04 – 1894.07.13)

Titular Bishop of Theveste (1889.12.04 – 1931.01.06)

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Victoria-Nyanza (Tanzania) (1894.07.13 – 1912.12.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Kivu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1912.12.12 – 1920.10.25)

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MWANZA: VISION AND MISSION - STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION - STATISTICS - AFFLIATED BISHOPS - CONTACTS - CHALLENGES

VISION

The Church in mwanza has a vision to become a Family of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that cares and which is responsible.

MISSION

The mission of the Church in Mwanza is to inspire and empower God's Family in the Christian families, Small Christian Communities, parishes and other church institutions to a credible and prophetic witness to Christ through reverential dialogue, inculturation and integral development.

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

The Archbishop of Mwanza, assisted by the Vicar General together with the Judicial Vicar and the Vicar for the Religious, leads the Archdiocese.

The Consultors, the Senate and the Trustees are boards established to advise and assist in leadership.

The daily management is done through the Catholic Secretariat of the Archdiocese of Mwanza (CSAM) under the Moderator.

CSAM consists of nine departments and six commissions.
The departments are: Pastoral, Caritas, Health, Education, Catechetical, Finance and Planning, Lay Apostolate and Liturgy.

CSAM is a Holy Spirit living instrument of the caring and responsible Church as family of God in Mwanza, faithfully committed to coordinate, supervise, facilitate, organise and evaluate pastoral activities toward deeper evangelization in the Archdiocese. Its major responsability is reflected and actualized through the parish set-ups and in the life of the Small Christian Communities (SCCs).

The commissions include: Human Resources Management; Reconciliation, Justice and Peace; Vocations and Youth Ministry; Religious and Society of Apostolic Life; Civil and Church Law; Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue.

STATISTICS: The Archdiocese of Mwanza covers an area of 19,592 square kilometers, which comprises Ilemela, Magu, Nyamagana, Kwimba, Misungwi ad Ukerewe districts of the political regione of Mwanza - Tanzania.

Year	Population			Priests				Deacons	Religious		Parish
Year	Baptised	Total	%	Number	Secular	Religious	Baptised per priest	Deacons	men	women	Parish
1950	29.435	818.600	3,6	51	17	34	577			19	5
1970	117.629	1.057.695	11,1	65		65	1.809		91	90	26
1980	153.938	1.488.000	10,3	83	34	49	1.854		55	81	25
1990	154.000	1.303.000	11,8	63	34	29	2.444		65	113	19
1999	360.232	2.500.000	14,4	63	40	23	5.717		30	112	28
2000	365.777	2.750.000	13,3	66	41	25	5.542		34	119	29
2001	775.000	3.500.000	22,1	66	43	23	11.742		30	112	26
2002	925.000	4.600.000	20,1	76	48	28	12.171		39	112	27
2003	811.900	3.536.000	23,0	76	48	28	10.682		35	112	27
2004	875.000	2.942.148	29,7	66	46	20	13.257		28	181	29
2005	875.500	3.000.500	29,2	75	51	24	11.673		10	186	33
2006	876.800	3.100.800	28,3	81	54	27	10.825		11	202	33
2007	877.000	3.200.000	27,4	82	55	27	10.695		10	219	33

CONTACTS

ORDINARY
Office:

            Archdiocese of Mwanza,

            P.O. Box 1421,

            MWANZA.

            Tel./Fax No. +25528-2501029

            E-mail: info@mwanzaarchdiocese.org/archmwz@gmail.com

Residence:

            St. Anthony of Padua House, Kawekamo

            P.O. Box 1421

            MWANZA

            Phone: +25528-2560257/2563300
            E-mail: info@mwanzaarchdiocese,org\archmwz@gmail.com

DIOCESAN OFFICIALS:
Same address as the Ordinary

DEPARTMENTS:
Caritas Mwanza: P.O. Box 398, Mwanza.
Tel.: +255282500598. Fax: +255282500274.

Education Department: Tel.:+255282540561.

Health Department: Tel.: +255282500156.

Catechetical Department:                  Tel.: +255282500535.

Communication Department:             Tel.: +255282501029.

Finance and Planning Department:   Tel.: +255282500351.

Lay Apostolate:                                  Tel.: +255282501029.

Liturgy:                                               Tel.: +255282501029.

CHALLENGES

The Archdiocese of Mwanza experiences and faces a number of challenges, some of them are:

Making credible and efficient joint venture for deeper evangelization;
Capacity building of all agents of evangelization, especially among the youth and women;
Implementing the Synodal Resolutions;
Self reliance and sustainability by broadening the finincial mechanisms and having sustainable sources of income to guarantee the propagation of Faith;
Contemporary socio-economic, cultural and religious challenges like escalating poverty; provision of education, health and employment especially among the youth; violence; gender injutice; globalization; environmental degradation; HIV/AIDS and other debilitating diseases; democracy; illiteracy; lack of good governance; witchcraft; mushrooming of other religions and seemingly enduring tradition religions;
Primary and deeper evangelization.