Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Mbeya

Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Mbeya / Mbeyaën(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Iringa, Mafinga, Sumbawanga

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mpika (↙), Sumbawanga (←), Singida (↑), Iringa (↗), Mafinga (↗), Njombe (→), Karonga (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1932.07.18: Established as Mission sui juris of Tukuyu (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika)
1938.03.29: Promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Tukuyu
1949.07.14: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Mbeya / Mbeyaën(sis) (Latin)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Mbeya / Mbeyaën(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Tabora)
1972.03.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Singida
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Songea
2018.12.21: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbeya / Mbeyaën(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Iringa and Sumbawanga)
2023.12.22: Gained suffragan see Mafinga

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2018.12.21 – ...):	Archbishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (59)
Auxiliary Bishop (2024.03.09 – ...):	Bishop Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga (50) Titular Bishop of Thuburbo minus

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mbeya (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (59)
(2018.12.21 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbeya (Tanzania)

Ut vitam habeant

Born:	1966.11.03 (Bunda, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1996.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.03.19

Priest of Mbeya (Tanzania) (1996.07.11 – 2011.01.09)

Bishop of Dodoma (Tanzania) (2011.01.09 – 2014.02.17)

Bishop of Mpanda (Tanzania) (2014.02.17 – 2018.12.21)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (2018.06.23 – 2024.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbeya (Tanzania) (2018.12.21 – ...)

Bishops of Mbeya (Roman Rite)

Bishop Evaristo Marc Chengula, I.M.C.
(1996.11.08 – 2018.11.21)

Born:	1941.01.01 (Mdabulo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1970.10.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.02.02
Died:	2018.11.21 (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania † 77)

Bishop of Mbeya (Tanzania) (1996.11.08 – 2018.11.21)

Bishop James Dominic Sangu
(1966.05.03 – 1996.11.08)

Born:	1920.07.14 (Zimba, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1947.09.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.09.11
Died:	1998.07.26 († 78)

Bishop of Mbeya (Tanzania) (1966.05.03 – 1996.11.08)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (1970 – 1976)

Bishop Anthony van Oorschot, M. Afr.
(1953.03.25 – 1964.12.10)

Ut cognoscant te

Born:	1899.01.28 (Heeswijk, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1923.07.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.10.30
Died:	1964.12.10 († 65)

Prefect Apostolic of Tukuyu (Tanzania) (1947.10.17 – 1949.07.14)

Titular Bishop of Cenæ (1949.07.14 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Mbeya (Tanzania) (1949.07.14 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Mbeya (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1964.12.10)

Vicars Apostolic of Mbeya (Roman Rite)

Bishop Anthony van Oorschot, M. Afr.
(1949.07.14 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Tukuyu (Roman Rite)

Fr. Anthony van Oorschot, M. Afr. (later Bishop)
(1947.10.17 – 1949.07.14)

(see above)

Fr. Ludwig Haag, M. Afr.
(1938.04.08 – 1947.05.12)

Prefect Apostolic of Tukuyu (Tanzania) (1938.04.08 – 1947.05.12)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Tukuyu (Roman Rite)

Fr. Max Theodor Franz Donders, M. Afr.
(1932.11.11 – 1938)

Died:

1938

Ecclesiastical Superior of Tukuyu (Tanzania) (1932.11.11 – 1938)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Christ the King Cathedral, Mbeya, Mbeya

Mpika (↙), Sumbawanga (←), Singida (↑), Iringa (↗), Mafinga (↗), Njombe (→), Karonga (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 60,348 km²

Population: 602,233 Catholics (20.3% of 2,969,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 61 parishes

Personnel: 102 priests (84 diocesan, 18 religious), 328 religious (18 brothers, 310 sisters), 68 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

© 2026 GCatholic.org