Priestly Ordination in Tanzania
On July 16, 2019, the Provincial Custody of St. Maximilian M.Kolbe in Tanzania, celebrated the ordination of its tenth local priest, Friar Francis Daniel HIZA. Friar Francis began his formation in 2008. He made his first profession of vows on August 2, 2011, his solemn profession on September 3, 2017, and was ordained a priest on July 16, 2019. The ordination took place at his home parish with the Most Reverend Anthony BANZI, Bishop of Tanga, presiding.
The celebration included a good number of friars from Tanzania and Kenya, some diocesan priests and many religious sisters and lay faithful.
Friar Francis has been assigned to the Friary of St. Francis of Assisi in Mwanga.

New Novices and First Profession in Tanzania
July 25, 2019, was a day of joy and celebration for the Provincial Custody of Tanzania. On that day, sixteen postulants were given the habit of probation and began their novitiate year. The new novices were received by Friar Joseph Kikuyu MUNGUTI, the Vicar Custos of the former Custody (now Province) of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya.
There are six new novices from Tanzania, five from Kenya, four from Uganda and one from Rwanda who joined the Order through the mission in Uganda. The novitiate is located in Arusha and accepts novices from the Order’s Jurisdictions in East Africa.
On the following day, July 26, eight novices professed their first vows. Three of them were from Kenya and professed their vows into the hands of Friar Joseph Kikuyu MUNGUTI. Alternatively, Friar Benson Gideon MAPUNDA received the vows of the other novices, three of whom were from Tanzania and two from Uganda.
The newly professed friars will be sent to study at various schools of philosophy.

Solemn Profession in Tanzania
On August, 3, 2019, a beautiful day, the Custody of Tanzania added five more friars to its number of those in solemn vows. The celebration was presided over by Friar Dariusz SZYMBORSKI, the Provincial Custos of Tanzania. Friar Yeromini Miku MUNISHI, the Custody’s Vocation Director and Econom, delivered the homily. In it, he reminded the five friars about the importance of living their vowed life and commiting themselves to various apostalates for the sanctification of their lives and glorification of God.
The friars professing their solemn vows were Friars Simon Leons NAKEI, Marcus MAGOHO MASOUD, Ayubu Longinus MAHAY, Stevin Richard KASHINJE and Abraham Nestorius MSOFFE. With them, the number of local friars in solemn vows has risen to sixteen. However, these new solemnly professed friars will be continuing their theology studies at Tangaza University College, in Kenya.

Friar Benson MAPUNDA, Custodial Secretary