CONDUCTION OF NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE IN MWANZA CITY BETWEEN 24 – 27 OCTOBER, 2023
The National Leadership of the Elderly and Aged Catholics Association of Tanzania in collaboration with the Mwanza Diocese Leadership organized a national pilgrimage that was held in two sites in Mwanza City. 440 pilgrims from 22 (out of 34) dioceses of Tanzania arrived in Mwanza on the 24th October, 2023. Some of the pilgrims stayed at Kristo Mfalme Nyegezi and others at Saint Dominic Nyakohoja hostels.
Pilgrims at Saint Dominic Nyakohoja Hostel
Picture by Raphael Malale
On the 25th October, 2023, the pilgrimage started with the Way of the Cross at Maria-Rita pilgrimage Centre in the morning. This is a hilly like site taken care by the St. Augustine Tanzanian Vicariate where all the 15 stations of the Way of the Cross have been staged at different distances. Several Statues of different Saints are also displayed/engraved along the route of the Way of the Cross. After the Way of the Cross, the Pilgrims attended a seminar
session where they were briefed on the Maria-Rita Pilgrim Centre, about Pilgrimage and Ecumenism. After the seminar, a Mass was celebrated.
Pilgrims listening to a seminar and Mass Ceremony at the Maria-Rita Pilgrim Centre
Photos by Raphaël Malale
On the 26th, October, 2023, the Pilgrims went to Kawe-Kamo Pilgrimage Centre. This is a place where Saint Papa Yohana Paulo II Celebrated Mass in 1990. The Mass was attended by Catholics and other religious groups from the Lake Zone Diocese.
On this day, the Pilgrims started praying the Rosary in the new Bishop’s Church which is under-construction. Thereafter, the Pilgrims Celebrated Mass together with the Mwanza Diocese Archbishop Renatus Nkwande who closed the Pilgrimage.
Archbishop Renatus Nkwande with the Elderly in Mwanza at Kawe-Kamo
Pictures by Raphael Malale
Prof. Alphonce Kyessi
Deputy National Chairperson
The Retired and Elderly Catholics Association in Tanzania