Since 1988 till now - history of the mission

Franciscan Friars from Polish Province of Mary Imma­culate (from Warsaw) started their missio­nary work in Tanzania in Octo­ber 1988. Tanzania (country area: 947,300 sq km) has over 45 millions of inha­bitants (January 2013): about 35 % of them are Muslims, over 30 % are Christians. The largest and the most important city in Tanzania is Dar es Salaam, and main spoken languages are English and swahili (kiswahili).

JuT

It was six years after Father Maximilian Kolbe was proclamed saint, so he was taken as a Patron of a new african mission. Polish franciscans started to work in parishes: first in Mwanga (1988, in the diocese of Same), later in Arusha (1991), Dar es Salaam (1999) and in many chapels situated away or far away from the main centers. In 1994 in Arusha there was opened a formation house for candidates (postulants) to the Order. Two years later (July 1996) there was accepted a first Tanzanian candidate.

2first

In 2003, 15 years after the mission was found, first young Tanzanian friars made their solemn vows. Two years later (in August 2005) - in the presence of many guests from Poland, Uganda, Kenya and local guests - two Tanzanian friars: Josaphat Mmbaga and Francis Mumburi were ordained priests in Dar es Salaam. It was a great, unforgettable day for the whole mission.

Church

In April 2006, the main church in Mwanga was declared the Diocese Sanctuary of Divine Mercy by the bishop of Same. In December 2006 there was opened a new Franciscan Formation House, located in Morogoro. Finally, in August 2009, a new provincial Custody of St. Maximilian Kolbe was erected in Tanzania.