Bishop James consecrates site for new Bishop’s House and its progress to date
Bishop James has consecrated and dug a symbolic foundation for the building of a new Bishop’s house at Mtandi. The location overlooked by the famous mountain at Mtandi will in time be the site of the new house so that the existing house can be repurposed for the diocese and the bishop and his family can live in a larger dwelling that is able to provide accommodation for guests. The Vicar general and members of the Mtandi cathedral congregation came to pray and sing blessings over the site. Brick making has already begun. Any support for this project would be gratefully received by the Diocese.
Progress as of August 2023
New Maternity Unit at Ngara Dispensary – Rondo
Three new priests for Masasi Diocese
The ordination of three new priests this month.
Bishop James ordained three new priests for Masasi diocese. Two will go to parishes and Rev Vincent Masimosya (right) will return to Rondo Junior Seminary.
Pleased to announce the appointment of a new Rector at Rondo
Bishop James has appointed Father Linus Buriani to be the new Rector of Rondo School and Seminary, with immediate effect, as the school has been without a Rector for sometime. Fr. Linus is currently the Assistant Diocesan Development Officer, and led a three year project in Tunduru called All Mothers and Children Count, that ended in February, aimed at reducing the incidence of child and maternal mortality.
In Tunduru, Linus worked on creating an holistic approach to developing the welfare of villages, with new clinics established, diets improved through the teaching of livestock husbandry and agricultural techniques, contraception and building classrooms, which has had the hoped for outcomes of improving the life chances for both children, and mothers. Linus is a graduate of University of Dodoma in Tanzania in Development Studies and was educated at Rondo and Lindi High School. He is the son of Canon Buriani. Linus is married to Thabiti who is a Secondary school teacher and they have a son Ethan Joel.
Lambeth Conference Postponed
After the news that the Lambeth Conference has been postponed until 2021, there will therefore not be a visit this year by Bishop James and Veronica from Masasi.
Latest News from Masasi and Newala from Jonathan Rendall
Jonathan Rendell writes:-
News from Masasi:
- The House of Bishops met last week for a briefing on COVID-19 amongst other business
- All the necessary hygiene matters have been clearly explained to all Bishops who will take these instructions back to their Dioceses: +James was meeting with the Rural Deans yesterday who will intern give the messages to their congregations today
- Churches must only meet in small numbers from this week: two services or more each Sunday if that is necessary
- There are at present 6 people infected with COVID-19 in Tanzania: only one is a Tanzanian; the others have entered the country from abroad.
- Schools and Universities are closing across the nation
- Farah is remaining at home and not going to Mbeya now for her pre-Form 5 three months education
- Hugo is coming home today from University
- Farajah is working still at Mtwara: at the Mkapa Foundation – a three months contract
- Veronica came home from her English course in Mombassa this week
- Rondo: students have all gone home
- Revd Vincent Masimoysa returns home today from Kampala Christian University
- +James diary is somewhat curtailed due to CORVID-19 but will travel to parishes on Sundays, Maundy Thursday and Easter Day
- Saturday, 25th April: the Commissioning Service for the 18 Catechist Graduates from Kwitonji Bible School
- The harvest this year will be a reduced one: some people have managed to plant but many have not been able to do so ….. it was still raining in Masasi on Friday
- The flood relief continues to bring real help to the people of Kilwa District. There is still much lying water but people are planting for the harvest. The Diocese has given many bags of seed to the Regional Commissioner for distribution: they met at Lindi. Hope is being restored through the clothes, the food and the seeds from the Diocese. +James was able to meet with the Regional Commissioner with these gifts and to pray with them.
- +Oscar is back home in Newala; he is working as Bishop again so clearly is recovered from his illnesses. Good news. No other news from Newala just now
Kilwa & Liwale District Floods
We have received by letter news from Bishop James of devastating floods in these two districts please see the letters under the NEWS heading on our home page.
Bishop James and Veronica to Visit the UK in 2020
Bishop James, and his wife Veronica, will visit the UK in July 2020 visiting friends before joining the Lambeth Conference, which is to be held in Canterbury from 22nd July until the 2nd August.
Details of his itinerary will be published under our NEWS section.
Christmas Letter from Masasi
We have included Bishop James’ Christmas letter under our NEWS section access from our HOME page.