Vicar General of Kigoma Diocese in Tanzania Appointed Bishop of Kahama Diocese

By Silas Isenjia

Kahama, 23 June, 2022 / 8:50 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Christopher Ndizeye Nkoronko who has been serving as Vicar General and in charge of the Pastoral Department of his native Diocese of Kigoma as Bishop of the Diocese of Kahama in Tanzania.

The appointment of the member of the of the Clergy of Tanzania’s Kigoma Diocese as the Local Ordinary of Kahama Diocese was published by the Holy See Press office on Thursday, June 23 and announced by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) on the same day.

In the one-page message signed by TEC Secretary General, Fr. Charles Kitima, Catholic Bishops in Tanzania wish the Bishop-elect “good health” in his new Episcopal Ministry.

TEC members say they are “praying for the Bishop-elect, Fr. Nkoronko, to have good health of both mind and body in his Apostolic journey.”

The Catholic Diocese of Kahama has been vacant since December 2019 when Bishop Ludovick Joseph Minde who had been at the helm of the Tanzanian Diocese since August 2001 was transferred to Moshi Diocese.

Born in 1970 in Tanzania’s Kigoma Diocese, Fr. Nkoronko was ordained a Priest in 2001 after he had completed his formation program in Philosophy and Theology at Kibosho Major Seminary in Moshi Diocese and Serengea Major Seminary respectively.

Since he was ordained a Priest, the Bishop-elect has served, in his native Diocese, as Parish Assistant, Parish Priest, and in the leadership of the Diocesan Apostolate for the Laity.

He has also served Diocesan Coordinator of the Tanzania Family Strengthening Program and Courses (UFATA), and Diocesan Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, among other responsibilities.

At national level, the alumni Studio Teologico San Paolo in Catania in Italy where he obtained his licentiate in Moral Theology has served formator at St. Paul Kipalapala Major Seminary, and President of the Diocesan Union of Priests (UMAWATA).

Once he is ordained Bishop, Fr. Nkoronko is expected to oversee the Tanzanian Diocese that has a population of 640,270 Catholics, according to 2019 statistics.

The 19,946 square-kilometer Catholic Diocese that was erected in November 1983 is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Tabora.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.