Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Songea

Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Songea / Songean(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Lindi, Mbinga, Mtwara, Njombe, Tunduru–Masasi

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1913.11.12: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Lindi / Lindien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Dar-es-Salaam)
1927.12.15: Promoted as Territorial Abbacy of Lindi / Lindien(sis) (Latin)
1931.12.22: Lost territory to establish Territorial Abbacy of Ndanda
1931.12.23: Renamed as Territorial Abbacy of Peramiho / Peramihœn(sis) (Latin)
1968.02.16: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Njombe
1969.02.06: Promoted as Diocese of Songea / Songean(us) (Latin) (became suffragan of Dar-es-Salaam)
1986.12.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mbinga
1987.11.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Songea / Songean(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Iringa, Lindi, Mbeya, Mbinga, Mtwara, Njombe and Tunduru–Masasi)
2018.12.21: Lost suffragan sees Iringa and Mbeya

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1990.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2014.03.14 – ...):

Archbishop Damian Denis Dallu (69)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Songea (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Damian Denis Dallu (69)
(2014.03.14 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Songea (Tanzania)

Christus spes nostra

Born:	1955.04.26 (Kiponzelo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1984.11.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.07.30

Priest of Geita (Tanzania) (1984.11.15 – 2000.04.14)

Bishop of Geita (Tanzania) (2000.04.14 – 2014.03.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Songea (Tanzania) (2014.03.14 – ...)

Bishop Tarcisius J. M. Ngalalekumtwa (76)
(Apostolic Administrator 2013.05.15 – 2014.03.14)

Archbishop Norbert Wendelin Mtega (79)
(1992.07.06 – 2013.05.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Songea (Tanzania)

Born:	1945.08.17 (Kinyika, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1973.11.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.01.06

Priest of Njombe (Tanzania) (1973.11.14 – 1985.10.28)

Bishop of Iringa (Tanzania) (1985.10.28 – 1992.07.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Songea (Tanzania) (1992.07.06 – 2013.05.15)

Archbishop James Joseph Komba
(1987.11.18 – 1992.02.01)

Ex hominibus pro hominibus

Born:	1922.05 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1954.07.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.05.03
Died:	1992.02.01 († 69)

Titular Bishop of Thignica (1961.12.22 – 1969.02.06)

Auxiliary Abbot of Peramiho (Tanzania) (1961.12.22 – 1969.02.06)

Bishop of Songea (Tanzania) (1969.02.06 – 1987.11.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Songea (Tanzania) (1987.11.18 – 1992.02.01)

Bishops of Songea (Roman Rite)

Bishop James Joseph Komba (later Archbishop)
(1969.02.06 – 1987.11.18)

(see above)

Abbot Ordinaries of Peramiho (Roman Rite)

Bishop Eberhard Spiess, O.S.B.
(1953.09.23 – 1969.02.06)

Born:	1902.05.06 (Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1930.03.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.12.03
Died:	1990.09.17 († 88)

Abbot Ordinary of Peramiho (Tanzania) (1953.09.23 – 1969.02.06)

Titular Bishop of Cemerinianus (1953.09.23 – 1990.09.17)

Bishop Gallus Steiger, O.S.B.
(1931.12.23 – 1952.12.06)

Born:	1879.03.27 (Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1905.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.07.01
Died:	1966.11.26 († 87)

Prefect Apostolic of Lindi (Tanzania) (1922.02.22 – 1927.12.15)

Abbot Ordinary of Lindi (Tanzania) (1927.12.15 – 1931.12.23)

Abbot Ordinary of Peramiho (Tanzania) (1931.12.23 – 1952.12.06)

Titular Bishop of Chalcis in Græcia (1933.12.11 – 1966.11.26)

Abbot Ordinaries of Lindi (Roman Rite)

Abbot Gallus Steiger, O.S.B. (later Bishop)
(1927.12.15 – 1931.12.23)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Lindi (Roman Rite)

Fr. Gallus Steiger, O.S.B. (later Bishop)
(1922.02.22 – 1927.12.15)

(see above)

Fr. Villibrordo Lay, O.S.B.
(1913.11.25 – 1922.02.22)

Prefect Apostolic of Lindi (Tanzania) (1913.11.25 – 1922.02.22)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Abbot: Bishop James Joseph Komba (later Archbishop) (1961.12.22 – 1969.02.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Mathias Mulumba Kalemba Metropolitan Cathedral, Songea, Ruvuma

Mbinga (←), Njombe (↖), Mahenge (↑), Lindi (↗), Tunduru–Masasi (→), Lichinga (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 38,600 km²

Population: 368,004 Catholics (56.3% of 653,414 total)

Pastoral Centres: 35 parishes

Personnel: 98 priests (59 diocesan, 39 religious), 869 religious (310 brothers, 559 sisters), 32 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.02.04

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