Musoma (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 5 July 1957
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 25,150 (9,714 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://dioceseofmusoma.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 93, Musoma, Tanzania
Telephone: (028)2622.017

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa
- Latin Name: Musomensis-Masvaensis
- Erected: 11 April 1946
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma
- Latin Name: Musomensis
- Split: 24 June 1950
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (11 Apr 1946 Appointed - 24 Jun 1950 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Mwanza)
Joseph Gerard Grondin, M.M. † ( 1950 Appointed - 1957 Resigned)
John James Rudin, M.M. † (5 Jul 1957 Appointed - 12 Jan 1979 Resigned)
Anthony Peter Mayalla † (12 Jan 1979 Appointed - 18 Nov 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Mwanza)
Justin Tetmu Samba † (25 Oct 1988 Appointed - 23 Aug 2006 Died)
Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila (10 Nov 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa
11 April 1946	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza (Musoma and Maswa along with part of Watyerewe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma
24 June 1950	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa	Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma (Musoma and Nord Mara) Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
Diocese of Musoma
5 July 1957	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma	Diocese of Musoma
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Musoma (from Tabora)
27 November 2010	Territory Lost	Diocese of Musoma (Saragana and Mabui) Archdiocese of Mwanza (Ukerewe and Ukara)	Diocese of Bunda (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma

1950 10,448 254,416 4.1% 14 14 746 5 1 ap1951

Diocese of Musoma

1970 98,949 535,000 18.5% 5 38 43 2,301 41 53 18 ap1971

1980 104,400 745,000 14.0% 10 21 31 3,367 24 55 19 ap1981

1990 168,271 917,000 18.4% 15 22 37 4,547 29 97 23 ap1991

1999 200,190 1,165,000 17.2% 35 21 56 3,574 28 142 25 ap2000

2000 204,946 1,170,110 17.5% 37 23 60 3,415 30 154 25 ap2001

2001 211,946 1,200,000 17.7% 36 24 60 3,532 37 181 26 ap2002

2002 220,946 1,200,000 18.4% 36 28 64 3,452 41 190 29 ap2003

2003 230,046 1,200,000 19.2% 38 27 65 3,539 33 190 30 ap2004

2004 250,000 1,400,000 17.9% 40 27 67 3,731 50 193 34 ap2005

2010 215,000 1,040,000 20.7% 38 20 58 3,706 12 200 30 bul27nov2010

2013 289,481 1,381,579 21.0% 39 22 61 4,745 47 260 31 ap2014

2016 308,400 1,505,646 20.5% 40 22 62 4,974 38 295 34 ap2017

2019 343,130 1,564,580 21.9% 35 25 60 5,718 39 302 35 ap2020

2021 354,982 1,875,972 18.9% 40 40 8,874 25 309 36 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma
1950	10,448	254,416	4.1%		14	14	746		5	1	ap1951
Diocese of Musoma
1970	98,949	535,000	18.5%	5	38	43	2,301	41	53	18	ap1971
1980	104,400	745,000	14.0%	10	21	31	3,367	24	55	19	ap1981
1990	168,271	917,000	18.4%	15	22	37	4,547	29	97	23	ap1991
1999	200,190	1,165,000	17.2%	35	21	56	3,574	28	142	25	ap2000
2000	204,946	1,170,110	17.5%	37	23	60	3,415	30	154	25	ap2001
2001	211,946	1,200,000	17.7%	36	24	60	3,532	37	181	26	ap2002
2002	220,946	1,200,000	18.4%	36	28	64	3,452	41	190	29	ap2003
2003	230,046	1,200,000	19.2%	38	27	65	3,539	33	190	30	ap2004
2004	250,000	1,400,000	17.9%	40	27	67	3,731	50	193	34	ap2005
2010	215,000	1,040,000	20.7%	38	20	58	3,706	12	200	30	bul27nov2010
2013	289,481	1,381,579	21.0%	39	22	61	4,745	47	260	31	ap2014
2016	308,400	1,505,646	20.5%	40	22	62	4,974	38	295	34	ap2017
2019	343,130	1,564,580	21.9%	35	25	60	5,718	39	302	35	ap2020
2021	354,982	1,875,972	18.9%	40		40	8,874	25	309	36	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Apr 1946 to 24 Jun 1950)
Joseph Gerard Grondin, M.M. † (Prefect: 1950 to 1957)
Anthony Peter Mayalla † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1979 to 18 Nov 1987)
John James Rudin, M.M. † (Bishop: 5 Jul 1957 to 12 Jan 1979)
Justin Tetmu Samba † (Priest: 21 Jun 1974; Bishop: 25 Oct 1988 to 23 Aug 2006)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 76, and Page 77
Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 65, and Page 66
Diocese of Musoma
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 137, to Page 139
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 354, and Page 355

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Diocese of Musoma

Dioecesis Musomensis