Diocese of

Musoma

Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Musoma / Musomen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mwanza

Neighbouring Dioceses: Homa Bay (↑), Arusha (→), Ngong (→), Bariadi (↘), Bunda (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1946.04.11: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Musoma-Maswa (from Apostolic Vicariate of Mwanza)
1950.06.24: Demoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Musoma / Musomen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Maswa)
1957.07.05: Promoted as Diocese of Musoma / Musomen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Tabora)
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Mwanza
2010.11.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bunda

Present Prelates

Bishop (2007.11.10 – ...):

Bishop Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila (69)

Monsignors (4)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Musoma (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila (69)
(2007.11.10 – ...)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania)

Upendo huvumilia yote

Born:	1956.07.17 (Bukumbi, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1984.12.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.01.20

Priest of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1984.12.02 – 2007.11.10)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania) (2007.11.10 – ...)

Bishop Justin Tetmu Samba
(1988.10.25 – 2006.08.23)

Born:	1950.12.12 (Mkuu-Rombo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1974.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1989.01.06
Died:	2006.08.23 († 55)

Priest of Musoma (Tanzania) (1974.06.21 – 1988.10.25)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania) (1988.10.25 – 2006.08.23)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (1994 – 2000)

Bishop Anthony Mayala (later Archbishop)
(1979.01.12 – 1987.11.18)

Born:	1940.04.25 (Ibindo-Kwimba, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1970.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.04.22
Died:	2009.08.19 (Mwanza, Tanzania † 69)

Priest of Mwanza (Tanzania) (1970.12.20 – 1979.01.12)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania) (1979.01.12 – 1987.11.18)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (1982 – 1988)

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

Bishop John James Rudin, M.M.
(1957.07.05 – 1979.01.12)

Born:	1916.11.27 (Pittsfield, MA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1944.06.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.10.03
Died:	1995.06.14 (North Tarrytown, NY, USA † 78)

Bishop of Musoma (Tanzania) (1957.07.05 – 1979.01.12)

Prefects Apostolic of Musoma (Roman Rite)

Fr. Giuseppe Gerardo Grondin, M.M.
(1950 – 1957)

Died:

1957

Prefect Apostolic of Musoma (Tanzania) (1950 – 1957)

Vicars Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr.
(1946.04.11 – 1950.06.24)

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

Vicar Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa (Tanzania) (1946.04.11 – 1950.06.24)

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)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Holy Mary Mother of God, Musoma, Mara

Homa Bay (↑), Arusha (→), Ngong (→), Bariadi (↘), Bunda (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 25,150 km²

Population: 365,472 Catholics (18.8% of 1,945,223 total)

Pastoral Centres: 42 parishes, 7 missions

Personnel: 36 priests (diocesan), 333 religious (17 brothers, 316 sisters), 43 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.06.29

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