**The Parish of St. Luke the Evangelist Kishili is one of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Mwanza. The Kishili parish (the term Kishili comes from the Sukuma word "shiili," meaning "cowpea" – the Kishili area was known for cowpea farming) traces its origins to the Bujora Parish. In 1975, a group of believers led by brother Thobias Mayengela Ndumi (who were members of Bujora) began gathering in the home of a parishioner in the Kishili area due to the distance to the Bujora Parish. Later, a choir was formed that went from house to house to encourage believers to join and pray together. This choir attracted even pagans, and thus the number of believers and those wishing to be baptized increased. The formed choir became a major attraction for many to join Catholicism as it also participated in social events such as funerals. In 1977, they had to request a classroom at Kishili Primary School to use for worship and Mass on Sundays. In 1978, the government of the Kishili village decided to allocate land for various institutions, and the Catholic Church was allocated the area where the current parish church is located. Initially, this land was owned by brother Issa Nhigula. Even after acquiring this land, the believers continued to gather in the classroom until 1993 when they built a chapel under the leadership of the late Father Alexander Mugonya, who was the parish priest of Bujora. Later, the Igoma Parish was established, having been split from Bujora Parish, making the Kishili chapel one of the chapels of the Parish of St. Josephina Bakhita Igoma under Parish Priest Father Andreas Msonge. In 2004, the believers of the Kishili chapel came up with the idea of building a larger chapel because the original chapel was too small due to the increasing number of believers. This idea began to take shape in 2007 when the construction of the larger church commenced with digging foundations and erecting church pillars. This construction has progressed through various stages and is still ongoing. On January 20, 2017, the Kishili chapel was officially declared a Mission Parish by Archbishop Yuda Thaddeus Ruwa’ichi, continuing under the management of Father Kessy Baltazary, who was the parish priest of Igoma. Later, the Mission Parish of Kishili was placed under the management of Father Richard Makungu until October 18, 2019, when it was elevated to full parish status and inaugurated by Archbishop Renatus Nkwande, who also installed Father Richard Petro Mkungu as the first parish priest of St. Luke the Evangelist Kishili. Currently, the Kishili Parish has seven chapels: Bukaga (now a Mission Parish), Kanindo, Fumagila, the main chapel of Kishili, Ndofe, Ng’wanghalanga, and Kanenwa. The Kishili Parish was consecrated on October 22, 2022, an event that coincided with the celebration of the 25th Jubilee of the priesthood of Father Richard Makungu.** **LIST OF PRIESTS WHO HAVE SERVED KISHILI** Since the establishment of the Kishili chapel to its elevation to parish status, the following priests have been significant contributors to our parish: 1. Father Daudi Clement (White Father) 2. Father Alexander Mugonya 3. Father Andrea Msonge 4. Father Julius Kagembe 5. Father Nicasius Sandu - Igoma Parish 6. Father Andrea (Mkanosa) 7. Father Boniphace Mabula. Additionally, there are catechists who assisted the priests in providing spiritual services, including: 1. Pius Thobias 2. Clement Gogogo 3. Costantine Peleka 4. Valentine Thobias 5. Peter Gogo 6. Boniphace Mahona 7. John Gogogo 8. Richard Bunga 9. James Kulamiwa 10. Leonard Joseph Kilala 11. Nicacius Gwido