Diocese of Shinyanga, Tanzania 🇹🇿

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Shinyanga / Shinyangaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mwanza

Neighbouring Dioceses: Kahama (←), Mwanza (↑), Bariadi (↗), Tabora (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1950.06.24: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Maswa / Masvæn(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Musoma-Maswa)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Maswa / Masvæn(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Tabora)
1956.08.09: Renamed as Diocese of Shinyanga / Shinyangaën(sis) (Latin)
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Mwanza
2026.01.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bariadi

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.02.02 – ...):

Bishop Liberatus Sangu (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Shinyanga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Liberatus Sangu (63)
(2015.02.02 – ...)

Bishop of Shinyanga (Tanzania)

Fructus spiritus caritas

Born:	1963.02.19 (Mwazye, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1994.07.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.04.12

Priest of Moshi (Tanzania) (1994.07.09 – 2015.02.02)

Bishop of Shinyanga (Tanzania) (2015.02.02 – ...)

Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (72)
(Apostolic Administrator 2013 – 2015.02.02)

Bishop Aloysius Balina
(1997.08.08 – 2012.11.06)

Born:	1945.06.21 (Isoso, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.01.06
Died:	2012.11.06 (Mwanza, Tanzania † 67)

Bishop of Geita (Tanzania) (1984.11.08 – 1997.08.08)

Bishop of Shinyanga (Tanzania) (1997.08.08 – 2012.11.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Geita (Tanzania) (1997.09.23 – 2000.04.04)

Bishop Castor Sekwa
(1975.01.30 – 1996.06.04)

Born:	1927.03.28 (Sayusayu, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1959.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.05.18
Died:	1996.06.04 († 69)

Bishop of Shinyanga (Tanzania) (1975.01.30 – 1996.06.04)

Bishop Edward Aloysius McGurkin, M.M.
(1956.07.04 – 1975.01.30)

Born:	1905.06.22 (Hartford, CT, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1930.09.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.10.03
Died:	1983.08.28 (North Tarrytown, NY, USA † 78)

Bishop of Shinyanga (Tanzania) (1956.07.04 – 1975.01.30)

Bishop Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr.
(Apostolic Administrator 1950.06.27 – 1953.03.25)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Mater Misericordiae, Shinyanga, Shinyanga

Kahama (←), Mwanza (↑), Bariadi (↗), Tabora (↓)

Statistics (2026)

Area: 14,862 km²

Population: 514,000 Catholics (16.0% of 3,221,539 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes

Personnel: 63 priests (53 diocesan, 10 religious), 51 religious (7 brothers, 44 sisters), 56 seminarians