On Thursday evening of July 30th, seven CPPS seminarians were definitive incorporated into the Missionaries of the Precious Blood – Province of Tanzania. Two of them consecrated their lives as Religious Brothers and five are candidates for priesthood.
The rite of incorporation was presided by the Provincial Director – Fr. Vedasto Ngowi during the celebration of the eucharist held at Ascension of the Lord Parish of Manyoni. Twenty-four priests concelebrated, numerous faithful from different parts of the country attended, including relatives and friends of the newly incorporated, and lay associates of the congregation.
During the homily, the Provincial Director reminded the new members the theme of the XXI General Assembly – “Becoming New Wine”. “Your contribution as new and young members is precious as we embark to live this message to bring about renewal to our CPPS family. We need to become new wine in New wineskins,” said the Provincial.
On the morning of Friday July 31st, the same date that St. Gaspar was ordained Priest, exactly 212 years ago, five of the newly incorporated members were ordained Deacons. The liturgy was presided by Mons. Edward Mapunda – bishop of Singida. Thirty-six priests members of the Tanzania CPPS Province and members of other Dioceses concelebrated. The sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ and many religious women and men attended. There were numerous CPPS Associates known as Wana Utume wa Damu.
During his homily, Mons. Mapunda exhorted the five missionaries to always do the will of God who called them to the service of the people of God. He emphasized that the Diaconate is not a career but a vocation which only God can grant. Guided by the first reading he said they were chosen right from the womb of their mothers (Jer. 1,5). God chooses and endows the elected with graces so that they can worthily serve God’s people, he stressed. It is the merit of the prayers of the faithful who constantly heed the call of the Lord “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest.” (Mt. 9:37).
The following are the names of the newly ordained members and definitive incorporated Brothers: Br. Edward A. Beno, Br. Benedicto P. Maganga, Deac. Benjamin A. Mwinuka, Deac. Mathias W. Kunyanja, Deac. Titto P. Shirima, Deac. Stephano L. Luvakubandi, Deac. Senen P. Tumainijema.