AFRICA/TANZANIA - Bishop of Moshi resigns, successor appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, on 21 November 2007, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the diocese of Moshi (Tanzania), presented by Bishop Amedeus Msarikie, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, can. 401 § 1. The Holy Father appointed Bishop of Moshi (Tanzania), Rev. Isaac Amani Massawe of the clergy of Moshi, until now parish priest of the cathedral. The Bishop elect, Isaac Amani Massawe, was born on 10 June 1951 at Mango in the diocese of Moshi. After primary school in Mango he attended St James minor diocesan seminary in Moshi 1966-1969 and later studied philosophy at the major seminary in Ntungamo, diocese of Bukoba (1970-1972) and theology at the major seminary at Kipalapala, archdiocese of Tabora (1972-1975). He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Moshi on 29 June 1975 and has since ministered as follows: 1975-1976: assistant priest at Narumu; 1976-1979: assistant priest at Moshi; 1980-1986: teacher and vice rector at St. James Minor Seminary, Moshi; 1986-1989: Studies in Education and Pastoral Counselling at Walsh University, Ohio, U.S.A.; 1990-2003: chaplain and formator for the diocesan congregation of the Brothers of the Redeemer; 1999-2004: bishops' delegate for religious and since July 2003, parish priest at Christ the King cathedral, Moshi. The diocese of Moshi, suffragan of Arusha, was created in 1953. It has an area of 5,029sq km and a population of 1,053,199 including 658,000 Catholics (62,4%), gathered in 52 parishes, and 121 mission stations, assisted by 161 diocesan priests and 204 religious priests, 56 Brothers non, 1.920 women religious, the diocese has 3 minor seminaries and one major seminary with 83 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2007; Righe 22; Parole 289)