On July 21-26, 2025, the Provincial Custody of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe in Tanzania held the first part of its 5th Ordinary Custodial Chapter. The event took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Minister General, Friar Carlos Alberto TROVARELLI, officially opened the Chapter. He encouraged the friars to work together and to strengthen their fraternal bonds. He emphasized that while material development was important, unity as brothers was even more essential. He then asked the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of Warsaw, Friar Piotr ZURKIEWICZ, to continue presiding over the Chapter.
During the first afternoon session of the Chapter, Friar Piotr invited the Provincial Custos, Friar Yeromini MUNISHI, to read the report on the life of the Custody over the last four years. This was followed by the report of the Minister Provincial and the report on the general canonical visitation made to the Custody. All of the reports were discussed and clarified as needed. The reports were presented from the afternoon of July 21 through July 23.
On July 24, the Capitulars had ample time to organize themselves into small groups in order to discuss nine guiding questions that would later serve as the basis for preparing the Instrumentum Laboris.
On July 25, the Capitulars reconvened at 9:00 a.m. to listen to the compiled reports from the group discussions. At 12:00 p.m., they paused for thirty minutes of Eucharistic adoration. This was followed by the election of the new Custos of the Custody. At 12:50 p.m., the Capitulars elected Friar Denis Dominic KUNAMBI as the new Custos. His election was confirmed at 7:00 p.m., after which, he made his profession of faith.
On July 26, the last day of the first part of the Chapter, the Capitulars elected the members of the Custodial Definitory. They are: Friars Laurian Gasper LASWAY – Vicar Custos; James Eden MALISA – Custodial Secretary; Grzegorz BYKOWSKI – Custodial Econom; Yeromini Miku MUNISHI – Custodial Exactor; and Francis HIZZA – Custodial Definitor.
The second part of the Chapter will take place August 11-15, 2025.
Friar James Eden MALISA, Chapter Secretary
