Cultivate Holiness Beyond Worship Spaces, “give off fragrance of holy chrism”: Tanzanian Bishop at Church Consecration

Dar es Salaam, 31 May, 2025 / 11:00 PM

Bishop Michael George Msonganzila of Tanzania’s Catholic Diocese of Musoma has warned that consecrated places of public worship may lose their meaning if the people of God do not draw from the holiness present within them to nurture holiness in their own lives.

In his homily during the Thursday, May 29 consecration of St. Pope Paul VI Bweri Nyabange Catholic Parish of his Episcopal See, Bishop Msonganzila said, “The holiness being established here must not end with these walls or this altar.”

He warned that the holiness in consecrated places of worship would have no meaning “if we are not ready to live it, living our Baptism, our Confirmation, and our vocation.”

“You have already been anointed with holy chrism on the day of our Baptism, on the day of Confirmation, on the day of Ordination, and on the day of Consecration to the Episcopacy,” he said, adding that people of God are “living churches continually called to unite with the living cornerstone that was rejected by the builders, who is Christ Himself.”

Bishop Msonganzila invited the people of God under his pastoral care to have their lives “give off the fragrance of holy chrism,” emphasizing that their character, words, and relationships should be a reflection of their own consecration.

He noted that the Church he was consecrating was being “set apart in a unique and holy way for the celebration of the sacred mysteries of the Church, for the glory, praise of God through these profound acts of worship, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.”

The Tanzanian Catholic Church leader, who has been at the helm of Musoma Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in January 2008 said the decision to place the Bweri Nyabange Parish under the protection of St. Pope Paul VI was informed by, among other reasons, the 263rd Pontiff’s historic visit to Africa.

“He (St. Pope Paul VI) was the first Pope in history to visit the continent of Africa. He came to the neighbouring country of Uganda for a pastoral visit from July 31 to August 2, 1964, just one year into his papacy,” he said, recalling that St. Pope Paul VI also proclaimed the Uganda Martyrs as saints during the maiden Papal visit to the continent.

He added referring to the Pope, who presided over the inauguration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in July 1969, “We chose him to emulate his missionary spirit, to go beyond one’s own territory and recognize the importance of one's mission, and to bring that holiness to others in need.”

“Personal holiness alone is not enough,” said the 68-year-old Catholic Church leader, urging the people of God to foster the missionary spirit of St. Pope Paul VI.

“This is a noble deed we should imitate as a Parish,” he said, and emphasized, “Holiness is given by God,” who shares it with His people to take it to others through their “words, actions, service, and life.”

Bishop Msonganzila further called upon the Parishioners of the new parish to follow the example of their patron saint, whom he also hailed for his “great pastoral wisdom and leadership,” particularly in the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life.

“Defending life was one of the reasons he became a saint,” he said about St. Pope Paul VI, who was canonized in October 2014.

The Tanzanian Catholic Church leader added, “We want this church to be known as a church that defends life, not just the life in the womb, but life outside the womb as well. Any efforts leading to killing or torturing others should not be heard among us. Let us strive to defend life.”