Diocese of Sumbawanga, Tanzania 🇹🇿

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sumbawanga / Sumbavangen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mbeya

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mpanda (↑), Mbeya (→), Mpika (↓), Kasama (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1880.09.27: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika / Tangankien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa)
1887.01.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Haut-Congo and Apostolic Vicariate of Unianyembé
1889.07.31: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Nyassa
1910.08.05: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Katanga
1932.07.18: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Tukuyu
1946.05.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Karema (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Kigoma)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Karema (became suffragan of Tabora)
1969.10.24: Renamed as Diocese of Sumbawanga / Sumbavangen(sis) (Latin)
2000.10.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mpanda
2018.12.21: Became suffragan of Mbeya

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.04.19 – ...):

Bishop Beatus Christian Urassa, ALCP/OSS (60)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sumbawanga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Beatus Christian Urassa, ALCP/OSS (60)
(2018.04.19 – ...)

Bishop of Sumbawanga (Tanzania)

Born:	1965.08.02 (Keni Mashati Rombo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1997.07.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.06.24

Bishop of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) (2018.04.19 – ...)

Bishop Damian Kyaruzi (85)
(1997.04.21 – 2018.04.19)

Bishop emeritus of Sumbawanga (Tanzania)

Born:	1940.04.22 (Butainamwa, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1968.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.06.29

Priest of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1968.06.29 – 1997.04.21)

Bishop of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) (1997.04.21 – 2018.04.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Mpanda (Tanzania) (2012.09 – 2014.02.17)

Fr. Walter Liikewille, M. Afr.
(Apostolic Administrator 1995.01.27 – 1997.04.21)

Bishop Charles Msakila
(1969.10.24 – 1994.02.23)

Born:	1919.11.10 (Karema, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1947.08.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.12.27
Died:	1994.02.23 († 74)

Bishop of Karema (Tanzania) (1958.11.13 – 1969.10.24)

Bishop of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) (1969.10.24 – 1994.02.23)

Bishops of Karema (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Msakila
(1958.11.13 – 1969.10.24)

(see above)

Bishop James Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr.
(1953.03.25 – 1958.08.05)

Born:	1910.11.01 (Penarth, Wales)
Ordained Priest:	1935.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.12.08
Died:	1995.05.22 (London, England † 84)

Titular Bishop of Adraa (1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Karema (Tanzania) (1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Karema (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1958.08.05)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1958.08.05 – 1969.12.15)

Titular Bishop of Ardmore (1969.12.15 – 1995.05.22)

Vicars Apostolic of Karema (Roman Rite)

Bishop James Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr.
(1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Tanganyika (Roman Rite)

Bishop John van Sambeek, M. Afr.
(1936.11.19 – 1946.05.10)

Born:	1886.04.23 (Voldhoven, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1911.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1937.03.07
Died:	1966.12.25 (Kabanga, Tanzania † 80)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Lwangwa (Zambia) (1933.05.23 – 1936.11.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1936.11.19 – 1946.05.10)

Titular Bishop of Gergis (1936.11.19 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1946.05.10 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1957.11.22)

Titular Bishop of Tracula (1957.11.22 – 1966.12.25)

Bishop Joseph-Marie Birraux, M. Afr.
(1920.04.22 – 1936.04.22)

Born:	1883.11.27 (Bernex, France)
Ordained Priest:	1908.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.06.23
Died:	1947.04.30 (Alger, Algeria † 63)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1920.04.22 – 1936.04.22)

Titular Bishop of Ombi (1920.04.22 – 1947.04.30)

Superior General of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) (1936.04.22 – 1947.04.30)

Bishop Adolphe Lechaptois, M. Afr.
(1891.06.19 – 1917.11.30)

Born:	1852.06.06 (Cuillé, France)
Ordained Priest:	1878.10.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1894.05.20
Died:	1917.11.30 (Karema, Tanzania † 65)

Titular Bishop of Utica (1891.06.19 – 1917.11.30)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1891.06.19 – 1917.11.30)

Bishop Léonce Bridoux, M. Afr.
(1888.06.15 – 1890.10.21)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1852.01.15 (Henin-Liétard, France)
Ordained Priest:	1874.10.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1888.07.08
Died:	1890.10.21 (Kibanga, Tanzania † 38)

Vicar General of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) (1885? – 1886)

Titular Bishop of Utica (1888.06.15 – 1890.10.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1888.06.15 – 1890.10.21)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste-Frézal Charbonnier, M. Afr.
(1887.01.14 – 1888.03.16)

Born:	1842.05.20 (La Canourgue, France)
Ordained Priest:	1869.05.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1887.08.24
Died:	1888.03.16 (Karema, Tanzania † 45)

Vicar General of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) (1880 – 1885)

Titular Bishop of Utica (1887.01.14 – 1888.03.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1887.01.14 – 1888.03.16)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Tarcisius J. M. Ngalalekumtwa (77) (1988.11.14 – 1992.11.21)

Diocese of

Sumbawanga

Tanzania

Celebrations

History

Present Prelates

Ordinaries

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Statistics (2022.12.31)