PEA Celebrates 25 Years of Ministry in Tanzania with the Ordination of Seven Deacons to the Priesthood at St. Brendan’s Parish, Kitete

The Province of East Africa (PEA) of the Congregation of Holy Cross celebrated 25 years of ministry in Tanzania with the ordination of seven deacons to the priesthood at St. Brendan’s Parish, Kitete, in the Diocese of Mbulu, Tanzania, on 10 October 2026.

The celebration brought together the Bishop of Mbulu, the Provincial Superior of the Province of East Africa, Holy Cross religious, diocesan clergy, religious sisters from various congregations, family members of the ordinands, and the faithful to give thanks to God for the growth of the Holy Cross mission in Tanzania and the gift of seven new priests to the Church.

Brief History of St. Brendan’s Parish, Kitete

St. Brendan’s Parish in Kitete became the Congregation of Holy Cross’s first mission in Tanzania when the Congregation expanded its ministry to the country in 2000. Among the pioneers of the mission were Rev. Fr. Tom Smith, C.S.C., and Rev. Fr. Leonard Olobo, C.S.C.

Located near Ngorongoro National Park, the parish serves more than 200 Small Christian Communities, with pastoral activities extending to seven outstations. Beyond evangelization and sacramental ministry, the parish supports community development through the Audrey Veldman Vocational Training Centre and St. Brendan Nursery and Primary School.

In October 2014, the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of faith and service, and inaugurated a new parish church to accommodate its growing Catholic community.

Over the past 25 years, the Holy Cross mission in Tanzania has expanded beyond Kitete to other areas, including Arusha, Mwanza, and Musoma, contributing to the spiritual and human development of local communities.

The Purpose of the Celebration

The silver jubilee year was launched in July 2025 and culminated in the 2026 celebrations. The occasion was both a thanksgiving for 25 years of Holy Cross ministry in Tanzania and a celebration of the ordination of seven deacons to the priesthood.

The celebration recognized the missionaries, religious, and lay faithful whose dedication has sustained the mission, while looking forward with renewed hope to the future of evangelization and service in Tanzania.

The Seed of Faith

The celebration began with symbolic tree planting, reflecting the growth of the Holy Cross mission and its commitment to nurturing faith for generations to come. The Ordinary of the Diocese of Mbulu, Rt. Rev. Bishop Anton Gaspar Lagwen, and the Provincial Superior of the Province of East Africa, Rev. Fr. Peter Caxton Mayanja, C.S.C., each planted a seedling.

The seedlings symbolized the seed of faith planted in the hearts of God’s people through the ministry of the Congregation of Holy Cross. A foundation stone was also laid and blessed at the site of a new community house under construction.

The Journey to the Sanctuary

The liturgical procession was led by the principal symbols of the silver jubilee: a candle, a crucifix, and the map of Tanzania. Altar servers, the seven ordinands and their parents, priests, the Provincial Superior, and the Bishop of Mbulu followed as the choir led the congregation in liturgical hymns.

Young liturgical dancers from St. Brendan Nursery and Primary School added colour to the celebration, while Pontifical Missionary Childhood flags and Holy Cross symbols reflected the missionary spirit of the occasion.

Among the Holy Cross members in attendance were members of the Province Council: Rev. Fr. Mwenya Lawrence, C.S.C.; Rev. Fr. Julius Mumbere, C.S.C.; Rev. Fr. James Burasa, C.S.C.; Rev. Fr. Leopold Temba Luka, C.S.C., the parish priest; and Rev. Fr. David Eliaona, C.S.C. Other members included Rev. Fr. Leonard Olobo, C.S.C.; Rev. Fr. Peter Qorro, C.S.C., Vocations Director; and Rev. Fr. Tesha Prosper, C.S.C.

Holy Cross Sisters in Tanzania, members of other religious congregations, diocesan clergy, and sisters from various congregations in Tanzania also joined the celebration.

The Lord Himself Calls

The seven deacons presented for ordination were Akampa Victor, C.S.C.; Enock Gabiro, C.S.C.; Mugabe Philbert, C.S.C.; Isaack Makere, C.S.C.; Paul Kilian Bajuta, C.S.C.; Deus Tayebwa; and Richard Birungi, C.S.C.

As each ordinand was called by name, the congregation responded with joy, marking a significant moment in their journey of faith and service. Following the affirmation of their worthiness, the ordination rite proceeded under the leadership of Bishop Anton Gaspar Lagwen.

A Heart Rising in Thanksgiving

In his homily, Bishop Lagwen invited the congregation to give thanks to God for the growth of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Tanzania and for the gift of seven new priests to the Church.

Reflecting on the image of a seed, the Bishop described the Congregation’s ministries, including its parishes, educational institutions, and family ministries, as seeds that have grown and borne fruit through the work of the Holy Spirit.

He encouraged the Holy Cross community and the faithful to remain dedicated to God’s work, emphasizing that the mission’s growth is a testament to God’s grace and the commitment of those who have served over the years.

The Bishop also reflected on the call to holiness, urging the ordinands and all Christians to put aside old ways and embrace the garments of love, peace, and the Word of God. He encouraged the ordinands to remain close to Christ, seek His guidance, and serve God’s people faithfully.

The Provincial Superior’s Message: “Come, Follow Me”

In his message, titled “Come, Follow Me: It Was the Lord Jesus Calling Us” (C.S.C. Constitution 1:1), Rev. Fr. Peter Caxton Mayanja, C.S.C., expressed gratitude for the growth of the Holy Cross mission in East Africa since the arrival of its first missionaries in 1958.

He recalled how the mission, which began in western Uganda, expanded to Kenya and later to Tanzania in 2000. He acknowledged the pioneering work of Holy Cross missionaries in Tanzania, particularly Fr. Tom Smith, C.S.C., and Fr. Leonard Olobo, C.S.C., and celebrated the growth of the mission from Kitete to other dioceses across the country.

The Provincial Superior commended the collaboration between the Congregation and the local bishops, recognizing their pastoral guidance and support. He encouraged Holy Cross members serving in Tanzania to maintain their missionary zeal.

Addressing the ordinands, he thanked them for responding to God’s call and acknowledged their parents, guardians, relatives, formators, and all those who contributed to their formation. He urged the newly ordained priests to remain men of prayer, unite themselves with Christ the true vine (John 15:4–5), and serve the people entrusted to their care with dedication.

He assured them of the support and fraternal closeness of the Province of East Africa and invited the entire Holy Cross family to continue making God known, loved, and served.

A Welcome from the Parish Priest

Rev. Fr. Leopold Temba Luka, C.S.C., the parish priest of St. Brendan’s Parish, welcomed the congregation to Kitete, describing it as the place where the first seed of the Holy Cross mission in Tanzania was planted.

He expressed joy at celebrating 25 years of ministry, noting the significant spiritual and human development witnessed in Kitete since the arrival of the first Holy Cross missionaries. He described this transformation as a manifestation of the mission’s work of resurrection, inspired by Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Fr. Temba thanked the Province of East Africa for choosing Kitete as the venue for the celebrations and expressed appreciation to the Mother Province and the Holy Cross Mission Centre for their contributions to the development of the mission.

He also thanked the Church in Tanzania, particularly the Diocese of Mbulu, for its support and collaboration. Congratulating the ordinands, he prayed that they would receive the grace needed for faithful sacramental ministry and spiritual service in the Lord’s vineyard.

The Rite of Ordination

The ordination continued with the invocation of the saints, the laying on of hands, and the prayer of consecration. Amid solemn silence and light showers of rain, the congregation prayed for the seven ordinands as they were ordained to the priesthood.

The newly ordained priests were anointed with sacred chrism, signifying their consecration for ministry. They then received the chalice and paten, with the accompanying exhortation to understand what they would do, imitate what they would celebrate, and conform their lives to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross.

Through these sacred rites, the Church welcomed seven new priests into the presbyterate, entrusting them with the ministry of Word and Sacrament and the service of God’s people.

Planting Seeds of Hope for the Future

As the celebration drew to a close, the silver jubilee candle was extinguished by the Provincial Superior, symbolizing the conclusion of the anniversary year. The jubilee symbols were then handed over to the directors of the Audrey Veldman Technical College and Holy Cross Family Ministries in Tanzania, whose ministries were preparing to mark their own silver jubilees the following year.

The tree planting and blessing of the foundation stone offered a fitting reminder that the mission of Holy Cross is not only a story of the past 25 years but also a commitment to future generations. Like the seedlings planted during the celebration, the seeds of faith, education, and service must continue to be nurtured so that the mission may grow and flourish.

The ordination of seven priests was a further sign of hope for the future of the Church in Tanzania and the continuing mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

As the Province of East Africa gives thanks for 25 years of ministry in Tanzania, it renews its commitment to its charism of being Educators in the Faith, continuing to make God known, loved, and served.

Ave Crux, Spes Unica, Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope!