Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on 12 March 2011, accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Mbinga (Tanzania), presented by Bishop Emmanuel A. Mapunda, in conformity with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. The Holy Father appointed as Bishop of Mbinga (Tanzania), Fr John Chrisostom Ndimbo, Executive Secretary of the Department of Education at the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania.
Fr John Chrisostom Ndimbo, was born in the village of Kipololo, in the parish of Lundumato, Diocese of Mbinga, on 12 October 1960. In 1966 he began primary school in the parish and from 1970, he continued his studies at the Minor Seminary in Hanga. From 1974 to 1977 he attended the Minor Seminary of Likonde, and then finished his superior schooling at the Nyegezi Seminary in Mwanza. After a year of military service in 1982, he entered the Major Seminary in Peramiho, where he studied Philosophy and Theology (1983 – 1989). He was ordained a priest on 21 June 1989 and appointed to the Archdiocese of Mbinga.
After his priestly ordination he held the following roles: Teacher at the Minor Seminary in Likonde (1989-1990), Rector and teacher at the Minor Seminary in Likonde, and Secretary for Education in the Diocese and Director of St Louis Girls’ Secondary School (1995-2010). From 1991 al 1994 he was sent to the Philippines to study science and a B.A. at De La Sale’s University of Manila and a Master’s Degree in Education Management at the same university. In October 2010 he was nominated Executive Secretary of the Education Department in the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania.
The Diocese of Mbinga, in Tanzania, created in 1986, is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Songea, covering a territory of 11,400 sq. km. It holds about 532,019 inhabitants, of whom 418,000 are Catholic. The diocese is made up of 25 parishes, 64 diocesan priests, 5 religious priests, 5 religious brothers and 265 religious sisters. There are 7 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/03/2011)
