The Archdiocese of Mwanza (in Latin "Archidioecesis Mvanzaënsis") is one of the 34 dioceses of the Catholic Church in Tanzania and like all of them follows the Roman tradition.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza is the Metropolitan, under it are the following diocese:
Bukoba, Bunda, Geita, Kayanga, Musoma, Rulenge-Ngara and Shinyanga.
The Cathedral is in the city of Mwanza, and it is called Epiphany.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Renatus Nkwande since 2019.
History
1880: Establishment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nyanza from the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa in Sudan
1883: Name changed to Victoria-Nyanza
10 April 1929: The name was changed again to Mwanza
25 March 1953: Promotion to diocese
18 November 1987: Mwanza was made the main province
Leadership
Archbishops
Renatus Nkwande since (Since 2019)
Yuda Thaddeus Ruwa'ichi O.F.M. Cap. (from 10 November 2010 until 2018)
Anthony Mayala (from 18 November 1987 until his death 20 August 2009)
Bishops
Renatus Lwamosa Butibubage (15 January 1966 – 18 November 1987)
Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. (25 March 1953 – 15 October 1965)
Vicars Apostolic
Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. (25 June 1950 – 25 March 1953)
Antoon Oomen, M. Afr. (18 March 1929 – 1950)
Statistics
It Spans across Mwanza Region with a catchment area of 19,062 square kilometers, where among the 2,886,642 Population as per 2022 census, baptised faithful are 593,942 (equal to 20.58%). Through 62 parishes, 25 designated parishes and 2 chaplaincies in 11 deaneries. In addition to lay employees, there are 103 diocesan priests and 44 missionary priests rendering services in the Archdiocese. Lay apostolate, prayer groups and other evangelical movements also engage in spiritual endeavours.
There are 132 priests, of whom 103 are provincials and 32 monks. So on average each of them serves 4,500 believers.
The state also has 8 nuns and 209 nuns.
