Fr. Joseph Mathias Mabala (48), a Missionary of the Precious Blood, Province of Tanzania, died on May 3, 2019 at St. Gaspar Hospital, Itigi, Tanzania. He died from Auto Immune Disorder which developed at the later stage to Neuro-Behcet disease which affected his brain. His funeral service was celebrated on May 7, 2019 in the cemetery of the province at Manyoni, Singida.

Fr. Joseph was born on April 18, 1971 at Kahama, Shinyanga. He was baptized on May 25, 1976 at Kahama Town Parish in Shinyanga and received First Communion and Confirmation at Ukonga Parish in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. 

After finishing Primary and Secondary Schools and Diploma in Education he joined the C.PP.S Formation Program to become a missionary priest in the Congregation. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Salvatorian Institute in Morogoro.

Fr. Joseph loved very much working with youth, vocation animation, religious formation, promoting the spirituality of the Precious Blood to youth and lay associates in small christian communities. After definitive incorporation on October 17, 2008 and priestly ordination on May 23, 2009, Fr. Joseph was appointed Spiritual Director of Ven. Giovanni Merlini Vocation Center at Miyuji, Dodoma, where he served for one year before his appointment as the Rector of the same Vocation Center. In 2017 he was appointed as Spiritual Director of St. Gaspar College in Morogoro. Due to his health situation, Fr. Mabala was transferred to the community of Itigi to be near St. Gaspar Hospital for medical care.

We thank God for the life and vocation of Fr. Joseph and for the love, sacrifices and the services he rendered to the people of God. May the Almighty God of mercy forgive him and receive him in His Glorious Kingdom. 

Story and photo courtesy of the Fr. Egidius Seneda, Provincial Secretary