Kirumba Parish Overview

Kirumba Parish is one of the 12 parishes that make up the Kirumba Diocese, with 1 mission parish under the leadership of Dean, Father Francis Mtema.

Parish Services

By December 2024, Kirumba Parish serves the Mission Parish of Ibanda along with four sub-parishes: Kirumba, Mt. Lucia (Medical), Mihama, and Kigoto. During this period, Assistant Priests Canicius Milango and Boniphace Herman moved to the parishes of Pasiansi and Mwabagole. Due to the increasing pastoral demands, Kirumba Parish received Priests Busanda and Mabheha as additional Assistant Priests to serve different areas of the parish and reach the faithful.

Pastoral Services

Pastoral services are provided by the priests, assisted by catechists. Despite the insufficient number of priests in the parish in 2024, the faithful have been supported by seminarian priests from various institutions within the Mwanza Diocese and visiting priests. The following services are provided:

  • Holy Mass Celebrations
  • Funeral Services
  • Healthcare Services for the Sick
  • Sacramental Preparation and Administration
  • Bible Seminars and Catechism Classes
  • Religious Education for Children and Youth

Parish Involvement

The parish actively participates in and organizes the following events:

  • Diaconate and Priesthood Ceremonies
  • Parish Jubilees
  • New Parish Launches
  • Diocesan Fundraisers
  • Cathedral Construction Projects

Charity and Support

The parish also engages in charitable acts, including:

  • Supporting the Diocese with food donations for the seminarians.
  • Assisting elderly priests and the Bishop’s residence.
  • Helping those in need, even non-Catholics, with food and other essentials.

Additionally, the parish is supported by four Sisters from the Kilimanjaro Congregation, who manage the following:

  • Parish finances
  • Vocational training college
  • Nursery school
  • Church and Sacristy activities

Catechists’ Roles

Catechists support the priests with various pastoral duties, including:

  • Visiting the sick
  • Visiting the poor
  • Teaching religion in schools
  • Preparing individuals for Sacraments
  • Administrative tasks

Vocational and Spiritual Growth

The parish thanks God for blessing them with the grace to nurture vocations and spiritual growth among the youth. These efforts include:

  • Spiritual retreats and confessions.
  • Preparation for different Church vocations.

Spiritual and Social Services

In 2024, the parish hosted various pastoral and spiritual activities to strengthen faith and fellowship:

  • Apostolic Groups: Examples include WAWATA, UWAKA, VIWAWA, and others.
  • Choirs: 11 parish choirs actively participate in liturgies.
  • Charitable Services: Financial aid for medical bills, transport, food, clothing, and school fees.

Financial Services

The Financial Department, managed by an Accountant and Treasurer, oversees all financial operations, including:

  • Tithes and offerings
  • Charity donations
  • Digital offerings via Mkombozi Bank's "Sadaka Digital" service.

Parish Projects

  1. Construction & Maintenance Projects

    • Church and priest housing construction in Ibanda.
    • Church buildings in the sub-parishes of Kigoto, Mihama, and Medical.

  2. Mission and Pastoral Projects

    • Family Sacred Pilgrimage & Retreat Center: A place for spiritual healing and renewal, attracting numerous faithful each year.
    • Music School: Established to cater to music lovers, offering training in music theory, note reading, and keyboard skills. The school has produced music teachers, choir conductors, and affordable musical instrument sales.

Achievements of 2024

The following achievements were realized in 2024:

  • Preparations for the launch of Ibanda Parish in July 2025.
  • Increase in the number of vocations.
  • Continued construction of church buildings in Ibanda and sub-parishes.
  • Ongoing projects to invigorate faith and pastoral services.