Five CPPS members ordained Priests in Tanzania

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118,24). This day was Saturday on 30 January the day our Province celebrated the ordination of five of our new missionaries at Our Lady of the Most Precious Blood of Christ Parish. Fr. Benjamin Angelus Mwinuka, Fr. Mathias William Kunyanja, Fr. Stephano Lucas Luvakubandi, Fr. Titto Philip Shirima and Fr. Senen Pius Tumainijema. During the same liturgy, Florence Mbwani and Julius Sotery, the two diocesan seminarians were ordained Deacons. The ordination was conferred by the Archbishop of Dodoma Mons. Beatus Kinyaiya, OFM, Cap., and was attended by a number of missionaries, priests, religious, Lay Associates, friends and faithful from different dioceses and parishes where the Missionaries of the Precious Blood render services.

During the homily Mons. Kinyaiya exhorted the ordinands to preach the Gospel of Christ with courage as Philip did since it is the Holy Spirit that acts in them. Do not preach and do ministry just to please people but give witness of what the Lord is doing in God’s people, he said. Do not be allured by worldly benefits, but stick to the truth and if necessary be ready to give your life for the gospel, he emphasized. He also told the deacons to be Christ’s mouth and hands to speak, serve and defend the poor, to help them address the challenges they are facing in their daily life. You have received the Holy Spirit and he is the “healer” (Mt. 11:28), there are many wounded people you will meet, make sure you bring the healing power of God to them, he said. You will need a lot of patience because the fruits of your ministry will not be automatic, he cautioned them. Lastly, he advised the new ministers of the word of God to pay special attention to youth ministry, saying that there are many young people in need of guidance counselling.

The new priests received their pastoral assignments where they will do their ministry in our different places where we are present. Fr. Benjamin Mwinuka will work at Bl. Isidor Bakanja Boko Parish in Dar-es-salaam; Fr. Mathias Kunyanja will continue to work at Our Lady of the Most Precious Blood Kisasa Parish in Dodoma; Fr. Titto Philip will continue to work at the Winery Project in Miyuji Dodoma; Fr. Senen Pius is assigned to Chibumagwa Parish in Singida diocese. Fr. Stephano Lucas Luvakubandi, for a while, he will remain at Bahari Beach Parish in Dar-es-salaam where he has been doing his pastoral exercise, while preparing to go for Missionary work in Italy.