Africa/Tanzania: Strong participation in the closing Mass of the Extraordinary Missionary Month

Dar es Salaam (Agenzia Fides) - More than 2000 faithful participated in the closing Mass of the Extraordinary Missionary Month in Tanzania held yesterday, Sunday 10 November, at the Msimbazi Center in the archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.
Representatives of all the dioceses of the country took part in the national Eucharistic celebration: Bishops, priests, nuns and laity. The Holy Mass was presided over by the President of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania (TEC), His Exc. Mgr. Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga, Archbishop of Mbeya, with all the Bishops of the Country and with His Exc. Mgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, Assistant Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). 15 representatives of Papal Missionary Organizations from the English-speaking countries were also present. At the same time on November 9th -15th this year, there will be a meeting of the Papal Missionary Organizations for English-speaking countries, which is held every two years, and their last meeting was held in Harare Zimbabwe in 2017.
The President of the Episcopal Commission for Missions, His Exc. Mgr. Damian Denis Dallu, Archbishop of Songea, issued a statement on the Extraordinary Missionary Month, saying that the Holy Father urged the Church in Tanzania to continue engaging in activities that will bring the Good News to people who have not yet received it. The National Director of the PMS in Tanzania, Fr. Jovitus Mwijage, informed Agenzia Fides of some of the initiatives launched during the Extraordinary Missionary Month. The PMS published posters in Swahili and translations of the Papal message for World Mission Sunday circulated in radio, whatsap, emails and websites. The same happened for the daily reflections that had been published on the website of the Extraordinary Missionary Month. There was also a strong spiritual renewal through seminars, pilgrimages and retreats organized by the Holy Childhood society and by various local youth and lay movements.
Finally, in various dioceses, charitable acts were carried out by children and their animators, including visits to orphans, the elderly, children in prisons and children affected by AIDS. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 11/11/2019)