AFRICA/TANZANIA - Appointment of the Bishop of Dodoma

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on 9 January, 2011, appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Dodoma (Tanzania), Father Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga of Mbeya, Assistant Professor at St Augustine's University of Tanzania (SAUT).
The new Bishop was born on 3 November, 1966, in the District of Bunda, Musoma region. From 1976 to 1982 he studied at the Mwenga Primary School in Vwawa. The following year (1983) he entered St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Kaengesa, Diocese of Sumbawanga, for the first classes of superior preparation, which, after 1986, he continued in the Sangu Secondary School in Mbeya. In 1989 he entered the Major Seminary of Philosophy in Kibosho, and in 1991 he continued his theological studies at St Charles Lwanga Major Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam. Ordained a priest on 11 July, 1996, he was placed in the diocese of Mbeya. After ordination he held the following positions: 1996-1998: Assistant parish priest in Itumba, diocesan director of the Scouts and at the same time, a teacher at Mbalizi Junior Seminary, where he also played the role of Spiritual Director; 1998-2001: Courses in the Science of Education at the University of Dar-es-Salaam (SAUT), where he received his BA. During this period, he was appointed Regional Manager of the Scouts for the region of Mbeya; 2001-2006: Teacher at Pandahill Secondary School and Director of the Institute; 2006-2009: post-graduate courses of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, where he received his MA. Since 2009 he is Assistant Lecturer at St Augustine's University of Tanzania (SAUT).
The Diocese of Dodoma (1953), suffragan of the Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam, has an area of 41,311 sq.km and a population of 1,951,000 inhabitants, of whom 407,000 are Catholics. There are 49 parishes served by 168 priests (64 diocesan and 104 religious), 501 sisters and 22 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/01/2011)