Church Desecration in Tanzania: Diocese Observing Month-long Prayer, Fasting, Reparation

Rulenge-Ngara, 05 September, 2023 / 8:57 PM

The people of God in the Catholic Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara in Tanzania are observing 30 days of prayer and fasting following the desecration of a Parish church. 

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, the Vicar General of the Tanzanian Diocese announces the month long spiritual exercise and the closure of St. Bernadette of Lourdes Nyakato Parish – Buzirayombo – that he says was desecrated after unknown people attacked the premises on the night of September 1.

“I announce the closure of the Church of St. Bernadette of Lourdes Nyakato Parish - Buzirayombo for thirty days from today. During this period, the entire community of believers in Rulenge - Ngara Diocese is encouraged to pray, fast, and repent to God to change the hearts of people with evil intentions against holy things,” Fr. Ovan Mwenge says in the statement dated September 1. 

Fr. Mwenge recalls events of the church's desecration, saying, “Unknown person(s) entered the church by breaking the wall. They broke the tabernacle in which the Holy Eucharist is kept and blasphemed the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist by eating it or leaving it, and others left it on the floor inside and outside the church.”

He adds that the destruction that happened in the church amounts to “blasphemy against the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and has defiled the Cathedral of Nyakato Parish - Buzirayombo.”

Fr. Mwenge says that what happened in the church “significantly affected the sanctity of the Parish church, thus breaking the dignity and respect of the believers and society in general.”

The Parish church will be reopened after minor repairs and renovations have been completed and it has been “blessed and sanctified”, the Vicar General of Rulenge - Ngara Diocese says in the September 1 statement.

He calls upon the people of God in the Tanzanian Diocese to “unite with the parishioners of Nyakato - Buzirayombo Parish in terms and resources to rebuild the Church areas that were destroyed.”