“Although the fourth commandment of God says, ‘Honor your father and mother’, honoring a person does not mean accepting everything they tell you, even if it is wrong,” Bishop Msimbe warned at the newly established Tanzanian Catholic Parish named after Blessed Francis Jordan, the founder of the Salvatorians.
He went on to acknowledge with appreciation efforts put into preparing the Confirmation candidates, saying, "Parents along with Catechists and Priests, I commend you greatly for preparing your children for the Sacrament of Confirmation."
"Let us continue to nurture these children so that they may grow and become stronger in their Catholic faith," the Catholic Church leader, who has been at the helm of Morogoro Diocese first as Apostolic Administrator following his February 2019 Papal appointment and later as Local Ordinary after his Episcopal Consecration in September 2021 appealed.
He called upon Parishioners of the newly established Catholic Parish to seek the intercession of Blessed Francis Jordan for growth and sustainability.
"We are praying for you today, that under the patronage of Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, may he pray for you, and may you pray that he guides you and enlightens you, so that you may help nurture your Parish to grow and mature both spiritually and economically," the Salvatorian Bishop told the Parishioners of the new Parish he elevated from an outstation.
He added, “It is not the number of parishioners that makes a parish prosper, but rather a small group of Christians with a heart full of love for God and for others."
The Tanzanian Catholic Bishop termed the naming of the new Parish after the founder of his Religious Congregation, the Salvatorians, as “historic” and explained, "This is the very first Parish in the entire world to have Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan as its patron."
It was the very first time that the relics of Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan had been placed beneath the altar in a Parish church since Pope Francis beatified him on 15 May 2021, Bishop Msimbe further said about the German-born founder of the Salvatorians, who also founded the Sisters of the Divine Savior.
The 60-year-old Tanzanian Salvatorian Bishop appealed to the people of God under his pastoral to look to Blessed Francis Jordan for intercession and to report “any significant events or miracles.”
These, he said referring to reports of miracles, "will help hasten the process of his canonization."
